Chennai/Patna: The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM) was a hub of intellectual competition as it hosted the South Zonal Final of the National Inter College Crossword Expedition (NICE) 2025. The event brought together some of the sharpest young minds from across southern India for a unique contest of wit, vocabulary, and teamwork.
Participants for the zonal final were initially selected through a large online round. At the IITM event, they formed teams of two, leading to a day of intense and collaborative competition. The contest began with a written preliminary round, from which the top six teams advanced to a final on-stage showdown. This final round tested not only their ability to solve crosswords but also their composure under pressure.
After a thrilling final, teams from IIT Madras emerged victorious, clinching both the top and third-place honors. The results were as follows:
- Winners: Hargun Kaur & Varshini, IIT Madras, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
- First Runners-up: Ashwath & Mahalakshmi, SASTRA University, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu
- Second Runners-up: Navya Garg & Ashish, IIT Madras, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
With two of the three qualifying teams hailing from the host institution, IIT Madras demonstrated its stronghold of crossword talent, setting a high standard for the national competition.
The top three teams have now secured their spots in the NICE 2025 Grand Finale, which is slated to be held later this year in New Delhi. There, they will compete against other zonal champions from across the country.
The NICE is a unique initiative aimed at promoting cryptic crosswords among students, challenging their vocabulary, reasoning, and critical thinking skills while also fostering teamwork and lateral problem-solving.
