Patna: The Final Scoring Round (Round 2) of the US Cryptic Crossword Championship 2026 (US Triple-C 2026) and the Canada Cryptic Crossword Championship 2026 (Canada Triple-C 2026) has concluded, with Erik Agard securing the highest score in the US competition and Rupert Marten Morrish emerging as the top performer in the Canadian event.
The championships are organised by EXTRA-C and the World Cryptic Crossword Federation (WCWF), with sponsorship from the Bihar Foundation and the Bihar Tourism Department. According to the organisers, the event drew experienced cryptic crossword solvers from across the United States and Canada, highlighting the expanding international reach of competitive cryptic crossword solving.
Final Round Results
The championships were conducted in two rounds. During the Final Scoring Round, participants were given 90 minutes to solve a specially designed cryptic crossword.
The overall championship standings will be determined by combining scores from Round 1 and Round 2. Organisers said accuracy will be the primary criterion for ranking participants, while speed will be used as the tie-breaker where required. The final leaderboard is scheduled to be announced next Sunday following the completion of the score verification process.
US Triple-C 2026 – Final Round (Round 2)
The top three performers in the United States championship were:
- Erik Agard
- Dan Schwartz
- Matthew Theodore Marcus
Canada Triple-C 2026 – Final Round (Round 2)
The leading performers in the Canadian championship were:
- Rupert Marten Morrish
- Noah
- Daniel Currie Hall
Growing International Participation
According to the organisers, the championships attracted accomplished cryptic crossword solvers from across North America, reflecting the increasing popularity of competitive cryptic crosswords. Participants were required to apply advanced linguistic, analytical and problem-solving skills to complete the championship puzzle within the allotted time.
Organisers Acknowledge Support
The organisers congratulated the leading performers in the Final Scoring Round and thanked all participants for contributing to the championships.
They also expressed gratitude to the Bihar Foundation and the Bihar Tourism Department for sponsoring the event. In addition, they acknowledged the efforts of EXTRA-C and the World Cryptic Crossword Federation in planning and conducting the championships, which they said provided an international platform for cryptic crossword enthusiasts.
