By Jas Ayles
Think you’re good at crosswords? Have you been quietly dominating The Westsider’s monthly crossword for the past year?
Do you have a pencil in your bag at all times? Do you regularly mutter things like “four-letter word for sunburn solution” while ignoring your coffee going cold?
Then it’s time to put your word-nerd skills to the test.
As part of this year’s Willy Lit Fest, the West is hosting its first-ever live crossword tournament — and whether you’re a crossword veteran or a casual solver, you’re welcome to compete.
The tournament takes place on Saturday June 21, 10.00am–11.30am at Williamstown Town Hall, and will see players face off in three rounds of puzzles, each a little trickier than the last.
Solvers will compete individually, racing against the clock to complete the grids with both speed and accuracy. The top three scorers will then go head-to-head in a live showdown — solving on giant whiteboards in front of a cheering audience. It’s part battle of wits, part spectator sport, and all wordy fun.
The puzzles are written by Eliesha Rae, the regular setter of The Westsider’s crossword and author of Across It — a beginner-friendly guide to solving NYT-style crosswords. Her signature style blends clever cluing with irreverent Aussie humour and local in-jokes. If you’ve solved her puzzles before, you’ll know to expect a few sneaky nods to the western suburbs… and maybe a DROPBEAR or two.
Entry is open to all skill levels, but brushing up on your solving speed is highly recommended — especially if you’re keen to make it to the final.
Not sure where to start? Practice on past Westsider crosswords.
Prizes (yes there will be prizes!) and bragging rights are up for grabs, and spaces are limited, so be sure to register early to secure your spot.
Tickets can be purchased in advance via the Willy Lit Fest website — or at the venue right up until 10 minutes before the event, unless it sells out first.
Ready to see how your skills stack up? Sharpen your pencil, swot up on your Aussie slang, and prepare to get Across It.
