Shyam Krishna Shenoy Tops ACAD+ Cryptic Crossword Contest, Patna Students Shine in ACAD August Edition

Virginia Tech student Shyam Krishna Shenoy triumphed over time zone challenges to secure the top spot in the August edition of the A Clue A Day Plus (ACAD+) Cryptic Crossword Contest 2024, while students from Patna made a strong showing in the standard ACAD contest. The ACAD and its variants have been a daily platform for cryptic crossword enthusiasts for over a decade, fostering talent and competition across various age groups.

Winners of ACAD – August 2024:

Rank 1: Shraddha Shree (St. Michael's High School, Patna)

Rank 2: Dhairya Pandey (Don Bosco Academy, Patna)

Rank 3: Bhargav Vinayak (BCM Arya Model Sr. Secondary School, Ludhiana)

Patna students, Shraddha Shree and Dhairya Pandey, claimed the top two ranks in the ACAD competition, reinforcing the city's reputation for excellence in cryptic crossword contests.

In the more challenging ACAD Plus category, which caters to international participants, Shyam Krishna Shenoy from Virginia Tech emerged as the winner, demonstrating his prowess despite the time zone difference.

Winners of ACAD Plus – August 2024:

Rank 1: Shyam Krishna Shenoy (Virginia Tech, USA)

Rank 2: Aryan Singh (IIT Kanpur)

Rank 3: Samruddhi Salgaonkar (Goa Dental College, Goa)

The ACAD Senior category saw R Nagendra Prasad from Bangalore taking the top position, followed by strong competitors from Noida and Vellore.

Winners of ACAD Senior – August 2024:

Rank 1: R Nagendra Prasad (Bangalore)

Rank 2: Rakesh Verma (Noida)

Rank 3: Venkatesan P (Vellore)

ACAD, ACAD Plus, and ACAD Senior post daily clues on crypticsingh.com, giving participants 24 hours to submit answers. Scores are accumulated, and top performers are awarded monthly, with the grand finale set for December, where the year's best cryptic crossword solvers will compete for the top honors.