Will Shortz
NPR's Puzzlemaster Will Shortz has appeared on Weekend Edition Sunday since the program's start in 1987. He's also the crossword editor of The New York Times, the former editor of Games magazine, and the founder and director of the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament (since 1978).
Will sold his first puzzle professionally when he was 14 — to Venture, a denominational youth magazine. At 16 he became a regular contributor to Dell puzzle publications. He is the only person in the world to hold a college degree in Enigmatology, the study of puzzles, which he earned from Indiana University in 1974.
Born in 1952 and raised on an Arabian horse farm in Indiana, Will now lives near New York City in a Tudor-style house filled with books and Arts and Crafts furniture. When he's not at work, he enjoys bicycling, movies, reading, travel, and collecting antique puzzle books and magazines.
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NPR's Ayesha Rascoe plays the puzzle with Weekend Edition Puzzlemaster Will Shortz and WUSF listener Wendy Belkin of Clearwater, Fla. -
NPR's Ayesha Rascoe plays with puzzle with Weekend Edition Puzzlemaster Will Shortz and WBUR listener John Byrne of Watertown, Massachusetts.
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NPR's Ayesha Rascoe plays the puzzle with NPR Puzzlemaster Will Shortz and listener John Meissner of Estes Park, Colorado. -
NPR's Ayesha Rascoe plays the puzzle with Weekend Edition Puzzlemaster Will Shortz and WERN listener Bob Jahn of Blue Mounds, Wisconsin. -
NPR's Ayesha Rascoe plays the puzzle with Puzzlemaster Will Shortz and KUOW listener John Weaver of Tacoma, Wash. -
NPR's Ayesha Rascoe plays the puzzle with Puzzlemaster Will Shortz and Northwest Public Broadcasting listener Midge Komenda of Lacey, Washington.
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NPR's Ayesha Racsoe plays the puzzle with Puzzlemaster Will Shortz and KNPR listener Lisa Rock of Las Vegas, Nev. -
NPR's Ayesha Rascoe plays the puzzle with WLRN listener Ann Kritzer of Coral Springs, Fla., and Puzzlemaster Will Shortz. -
NPR's Ayesha Rascoe plays the puzzle with this week's winner, DJ Boyd of Northville, Michigan, and puzzle master Will Shortz. -
NPR's Ayesha Rascoe plays the puzzle with this week's winner, Franny Bavaro of Long Island, New York, and puzzle master Will Shortz.
