Patna: The 12th edition of the Indian Crossword League (IXL 12.0) concluded on Sunday with an electrifying display of wit and strategy, as Shashwat Salgaoncar, an alumnus of IIM Ahmedabad from Goa, secured the championship trophy for the second consecutive year. The grand finale, held in Patna, saw Ramki Krishnan, a consultant from Chennai, and Madhup Tewari, an IPS officer from New Delhi, share the runner-up position in a competition marked by intellect and intensity.
The championship began with written preliminaries, where 24 registered qualifiers battled it out by solving cryptic crossword grids within a set time. The six best performers advanced to the on-stage final round, where speed and accuracy determined the ultimate victor.
Finalists of IXL 12.0
- Shashwat Salgaoncar – Goa
- Ramki Krishnan – Chennai
- Madhup Tewari – New Delhi
- Sohil Bhagat – Bengaluru
- Venkat Raghavan S – Mumbai
- Narayan Mandayam – Mumbai
Esteemed dignitaries and supporters
The event was graced by several distinguished guests, including Vivek Kumar Singh and Rakesh Singh, both IAS officers and Chairmen of RERA, Bihar, as well as Amar Pandey, IPS, President of the Crossword Association of Karnataka. Other prominent attendees included IPS officers Umesh Kumar and Seemant Singh.
Their speeches highlighted the cultural and intellectual significance of the IXL platform, which continues to inspire and engage crossword enthusiasts across the country. The event was supported by the State Bank of India, with coordination by hosts Kushagra Singh and Robin Kumar of Extra C and Venkat and Rajesh from Vikas Global.
A decade of “Explore and Excel”
Since its inception on December 21, 2013, to commemorate the centenary of World Crossword Day, the Indian Crossword League has become a cornerstone of intellectual engagement in India.
As IXL 12.0 draws to a close, it celebrates a legacy of uniting crossword enthusiasts from all walks of life, fostering a love for language and strategy, and leaving an indelible mark on India’s crossword-solving landscape.
