Puzzles in the News | StickyPuzzles Puzzles in the news ------------------- A hand-picked roundup of the most interesting news, trends, and talking points in puzzles, games, and brain teasers. [ All News ](https://www.stickypuzzles.com/news) [ Weekly Puzzle Digest ](https://www.stickypuzzles.com/news/category/weekly-puzzle-digest) All tags The business of Puzzles Research Paper Sticky Puzzle Technology Health Education Lifestyle Science Media Crosswords Sudoku Accessibility People & Personality History Books Puzzle Products Social Media & Influencers AI Travel Puzzle Launches Copyright & Legal Solving Strategies - [ ![RNZ - Esther Zweifel | Image Creit - RNZ](https://media.rnztools.nz/rnz/image/upload/s--4snW7g5E--/t_kt-lifestyle-article-photo/w_1920/f_auto/q_auto:eco/4JPRS8A_crossword_jpg) ](https://www.rnz.co.nz/life/screens/games/how-to-solve-a-cryptic-crossword) - [ Solving Strategies ](https://www.stickypuzzles.com/news/tags/solving-strategies) ### [ How to solve a cryptic crossword ](https://www.rnz.co.nz/life/screens/games/how-to-solve-a-cryptic-crossword) April 2026 | RNZ - Esther Zweifel | Image Creit - RNZ Cryptic crosswords might seem like gibberish at first glance, but there is method to the madness, with patterns that you can learn to identify to break down the puzzles. Steve Godsiff, a teacher from Timaru, has been doing cryptic crosswords for 30 years, and now retired, they’re part of his morning ritual. [ Read Article ](https://www.rnz.co.nz/life/screens/games/how-to-solve-a-cryptic-crossword) - [ ![Britannica - Tommy Conroy](https://www.stickypuzzles.com/news/will-we-ever-run-out-of-sudoku-puzzles/thumbnail) ](https://www.britannica.com/story/will-we-ever-run-out-of-sudoku-puzzles) - [ Sudoku ](https://www.stickypuzzles.com/news/tags/sudoku) - [ Solving Strategies ](https://www.stickypuzzles.com/news/tags/solving-strategies) ### [ Will We Ever Run Out of Sudoku Puzzles? ](https://www.britannica.com/story/will-we-ever-run-out-of-sudoku-puzzles) April 2026 | Britannica - Tommy Conroy Realistically, no! There are 6,670,903,752,021,072,936,960 possible solvable Sudoku grids that yield a unique result (that’s 6 sextillion, 670 quintillion, 903 quadrillion, 752 trillion, 21 billion, 72 million, 936 thousand, 960 in case you were wondering). That’s way more than the number of stars in the universe. [ Read Article ](https://www.britannica.com/story/will-we-ever-run-out-of-sudoku-puzzles) - [ ![Eonline - Gabrielle Chung | Image - NY Times](https://www.stickypuzzles.com/news/a-new-york-times-magazine-sunday-crossword-error-causes-first-ever-unsolvable-puzzle/thumbnail) ](https://www.eonline.com/news/1431212/new-york-times-sunday-crossword-mistake) - [ Media ](https://www.stickypuzzles.com/news/tags/media) - [ Crosswords ](https://www.stickypuzzles.com/news/tags/crosswords) - [ Solving Strategies ](https://www.stickypuzzles.com/news/tags/solving-strategies) ### [ A New York Times Magazine Sunday Crossword Error Causes First-Ever Unsolvable Puzzle ](https://www.eonline.com/news/1431212/new-york-times-sunday-crossword-mistake) April 2026 | Eonline - Gabrielle Chung | Image - NY Times A misprint in the April 19 issue of New York Times Magazine rendered the publication's crossword unsolvable for the first time in its 84-year history. The puzzle—created by Michael Lieberman and titled "Nuclear Fusion"—was published in the April 19 issue of the New York Times Magazine without a clue for 5-across. [ Read Article ](https://www.eonline.com/news/1431212/new-york-times-sunday-crossword-mistake) - [ ![Grand Pinnacle Tribune | Image Credit - NY Times](https://static01.nyt.com/images/2022/01/31/crosswords/wordle-art/wordle-art-superJumbo.jpg) ](https://evrimagaci.org/gpt/wordle-puzzles-challenge-players-with-drama-and-ankle-533832) - [ Solving Strategies ](https://www.stickypuzzles.com/news/tags/solving-strategies) ### [ Wordle Puzzles Challenge Players With Drama And Ankle ](https://evrimagaci.org/gpt/wordle-puzzles-challenge-players-with-drama-and-ankle-533832) March 2026 | Grand Pinnacle Tribune | Image Credit - NY Times Recent Wordle solutions spark lively debates as players grapple with tricky double letters and uncommon starting points, highlighting the game’s enduring popularity and strategic appeal. But as the week of March 14 to March 16, 2026, demonstrated, simplicity doesn’t always mean easy—especially when a tricky letter or an unexpected double vowel comes into play. [ Read Article ](https://evrimagaci.org/gpt/wordle-puzzles-challenge-players-with-drama-and-ankle-533832) - [ ![The Times - Constance Kampfner |Image Credit - The Times](https://www.thetimes.com/imageserver/image/%2Fe5bb5f0c-7b07-41b9-90a3-60a7579e868a.jpg?crop=8249%2C4640%2C0%2C430&format=webp&quality=9&resize=1500) ](https://www.thetimes.com/life-style/food-drink/article/pub-quiz-team-cheat-manchester-fc36wn5q9?t=1763378707545) - [ Solving Strategies ](https://www.stickypuzzles.com/news/tags/solving-strategies) ### [ How pub staff finally rumbled a cheating quiz team ](https://www.thetimes.com/life-style/food-drink/article/pub-quiz-team-cheat-manchester-fc36wn5q9?t=1763378707545) November 2025 | The Times - Constance Kampfner |Image Credit - The Times It felt unlikely that the small group of middle-aged players would know both obscure Frank Sinatra songs and the rapper Chris Brown’s back catalogue. Yet on the pub quiz’s music round, and on every other round, they rarely faltered. “It just seemed very suspicious,” said Rob Hardie, where staff claim to have solved the 'crime of the century' [ Read full article ](https://www.thetimes.com/life-style/food-drink/article/pub-quiz-team-cheat-manchester-fc36wn5q9?t=1763378707545) - [ ![Observer - Caitlin O'Kane | Image Credit - Antonio Olmos](https://www.stickypuzzles.com/news/how-azed-and-gemelo-create-their-crosswords/thumbnail) ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpcMqY71UVE&t=3s) - [ Crosswords ](https://www.stickypuzzles.com/news/tags/crosswords) - [ People & Personality ](https://www.stickypuzzles.com/news/tags/people-personality) - [ Solving Strategies ](https://www.stickypuzzles.com/news/tags/solving-strategies) ### [ How Azed and Gemelo create their crosswords ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpcMqY71UVE&t=3s) October 2025 | Observer - Caitlin O'Kane | Image Credit - Antonio Olmos The Observer sat down with Azed himself, Jonathan Crowther, for his first video interview with us. We visited Jonathan at his home, spending time in his study and garden, talking about 52 years of setting puzzles and what goes into creating the crossword that crossword compilers love most. [ Watch Video ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpcMqY71UVE&t=3s) - [ ](https://www.indiatoday.in/information/story/international-sudoku-day-how-to-improve-your-sudoku-skills-in-5-minutes-2784358-2025-09-09) - [ Sudoku ](https://www.stickypuzzles.com/news/tags/sudoku) - [ Solving Strategies ](https://www.stickypuzzles.com/news/tags/solving-strategies) ### [ International Sudoku Day: How to improve your Sudoku skills in 5 minutes ](https://www.indiatoday.in/information/story/international-sudoku-day-how-to-improve-your-sudoku-skills-in-5-minutes-2784358-2025-09-09) September 2025 | India Today - Smarcia Pant | Image Credit - India Today Every year, puzzle lovers celebrate International Sudoku Day on September 9, a date that matches the 9x9 grid of the classic puzzle. Sudoku is not only fun but also helps improve memory, focus, and problem-solving skills. While some players take hours to crack a puzzle, there are easy techniques that can help you solve it faster. [ Read full article ](https://www.indiatoday.in/information/story/international-sudoku-day-how-to-improve-your-sudoku-skills-in-5-minutes-2784358-2025-09-09) - [ ![Readers Digest - Lauren Cahn](https://www.stickypuzzles.com/news/10-sudoku-tips-for-beginners-according-to-experts/thumbnail) ](https://www.rd.com/article/sudoku-tips/) - [ Sudoku ](https://www.stickypuzzles.com/news/tags/sudoku) - [ Solving Strategies ](https://www.stickypuzzles.com/news/tags/solving-strategies) ### [ 10 Sudoku Tips for Beginners, According to Experts ](https://www.rd.com/article/sudoku-tips/) August 2025 | Readers Digest - Lauren Cahn With the right Sudoku tips, tricks and strategies, you can ace the puzzle every time! Here's your chance to become a Sudoku pro. Whether you’re a total beginner with no clue at all as to how to solve Sudoku or an experienced player in search of Sudoku tips and tricks to get you to the next level, you’re in luck. [ Read full article ](https://www.rd.com/article/sudoku-tips/) - [ ![The Times - Mick Hodgkin (Puzzle Editor)](https://www.thetimes.com/imageserver/image/%2Fmethode%2Ftimes%2Fprod%2Fweb%2Fbin%2F2a7673aa-d502-4b06-a3ad-b31aa0663a5f.png?crop=300%2C300%2C0%2C0) ](https://www.thetimes.com/comment/columnists/article/cryptic-clues-too-tricky-start-at-the-beginning-02prjjt7p) - [ Sudoku ](https://www.stickypuzzles.com/news/tags/sudoku) - [ Solving Strategies ](https://www.stickypuzzles.com/news/tags/solving-strategies) ### [ Cryptic clues too tricky? Start at the beginning… ](https://www.thetimes.com/comment/columnists/article/cryptic-clues-too-tricky-start-at-the-beginning-02prjjt7p) December 2024 | The Times - Mick Hodgkin (Puzzle Editor) Ispent a week in November giving cryptic crossword workshops to passengers travelling from Southampton to New York on board Queen Mary 2 as part of The Times and Sunday Times Cheltenham Literature Festival at Sea. Those new to cryptic crosswords wanted to know how to identify which part of the clue is the definition. It is normally at the beginning or end of the clue, [ Read full article ](https://www.thetimes.com/comment/columnists/article/cryptic-clues-too-tricky-start-at-the-beginning-02prjjt7p) - [ ](https://www.theguardian.com/media/commentisfree/2024/dec/10/loaded-for-bear-online-puzzles-are-puzzling-enough-without-all-this-american-lingo) - [ Crosswords ](https://www.stickypuzzles.com/news/tags/crosswords) - [ Solving Strategies ](https://www.stickypuzzles.com/news/tags/solving-strategies) ### [ ‘Loaded for bear’? Online puzzles are puzzling enough without all this American lingo ](https://www.theguardian.com/media/commentisfree/2024/dec/10/loaded-for-bear-online-puzzles-are-puzzling-enough-without-all-this-american-lingo) December 2024 | The Guardian - Zoe Williams [ Read full article ](https://www.theguardian.com/media/commentisfree/2024/dec/10/loaded-for-bear-online-puzzles-are-puzzling-enough-without-all-this-american-lingo) - [ ![Business News This Week - Praveen](https://businessnewsthisweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/David-Shawn-Quicks-Newly-Released-A-Journey-through-Classic-Sudoku-Techniques.jpeg) ](https://businessnewsthisweek.com/education/david-shawn-quicks-newly-released-a-journey-through-classic-sudoku-techniques/) - [ Sudoku ](https://www.stickypuzzles.com/news/tags/sudoku) - [ Books ](https://www.stickypuzzles.com/news/tags/books) - [ Solving Strategies ](https://www.stickypuzzles.com/news/tags/solving-strategies) ### [ David Shawn Quick’s Newly Released A Journey through Classic Sudoku Techniques ](https://businessnewsthisweek.com/education/david-shawn-quicks-newly-released-a-journey-through-classic-sudoku-techniques/) December 2024 | Business News This Week - Praveen “A Journey through Classic Sudoku Techniques”: a thoughtfully crafted guide that takes readers on an educational and enjoyable journey through the art of solving Sudoku puzzles. “A Journey through Classic Sudoku Techniques” is the creation of published author, David Shawn. [ Read full article ](https://businessnewsthisweek.com/education/david-shawn-quicks-newly-released-a-journey-through-classic-sudoku-techniques/) - [ ![MailOnline - William Hunter | Image Credit - Numberphile - YouTube](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/11/01/08/91424009-14012007-Just_as_we_did_with_the_simple_example_we_can_get_rid_of_the_ove-a-79_1730451114158.jpg) ](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-14012007/secret-pattern-hidden-Sudoku.html) - [ Sudoku ](https://www.stickypuzzles.com/news/tags/sudoku) - [ Solving Strategies ](https://www.stickypuzzles.com/news/tags/solving-strategies) ### [ The secret pattern which could help you solve your daily Sudoku faster ](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-14012007/secret-pattern-hidden-Sudoku.html) November 2024 | MailOnline - William Hunter | Image Credit - Numberphile - YouTube Mathematicians have uncovered a powerful pattern known as the 'Phistomefel Ring' - and it's hidden in every Sudoku ever made. Best of all, puzzle experts say the pattern could help you solve the hardest challenges much faster. This pattern means that the 16 squares around the central 3x3 ring will always contain the same digits as the 2x2 squares in the corners. [ Read full article ](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-14012007/secret-pattern-hidden-Sudoku.html)