Dan Feyer
| Sport | |
|---|---|
| Country |  United States |
| Sport | Cruciverbalism, Other puzzling |
| Event(s) | Solving |
| Achievements and titles | |
| National finals | 2010–2015, 2017, 2019: American Crossword Puzzle Tournament Champion |
'''Dan Feyer''' is an American crossword puzzle solver, editor, constructor, and competitive puzzler. He is best known for his dominance at the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament (ACPT), where he won eight championships between 2010 and 2019. Feyer holds the tournament records for both the most overall championships and the longest consecutive championship streak, having won six titles in a row from 2010 through 2015.
Widely regarded as one of the fastest crossword solvers in history, Feyer gained national recognition for his extraordinary solving speed and consistency. His achievements have been covered by major media outlets including ''The New York Times'' and ''Time'', and he has been recognized by ''Guinness World Records'' for his accomplishments in competitive crossword solving.
Crossword career
Feyer became interested in competitive crossword solving after watching the 2006 documentary ''Wordplay'', a film that explored the culture surrounding crossword puzzles and the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament. Inspired by the documentary, he began solving puzzles more seriously and quickly developed a reputation for exceptional speed and accuracy.
He made his ACPT debut in 2008, finishing in 45th place. The following year he improved dramatically, placing fourth overall and establishing himself as one of the strongest competitors in the field.
Beginning in 2010, Feyer embarked on one of the most dominant runs in crossword tournament history. He won six consecutive ACPT championships from 2010 through 2015, surpassing previous records and becoming the most successful competitor in the event's history. His streak ended in 2016 when he finished second to Howard Barkin, but he returned to win the championship again in 2017. After another runner-up finish behind Erik Agard in 2018, Feyer captured his eighth title in 2019.
The 2021 tournament, held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic, marked a departure from his previous dominance, with Feyer finishing eighth overall.
Solving speed
Feyer is known for solving some of the most difficult crossword puzzles in remarkably short times. According to published reports, he has averaged just over four minutes on the notoriously challenging Saturday edition of ''The New York Times'' crossword and less than six minutes on the larger Sunday puzzle.
His speed has made him one of the most recognizable figures in the crossword community and a benchmark against which other elite solvers are frequently measured.
Rivalry with Tyler Hinman
Throughout the 2010s, Feyer developed a highly publicized rivalry with fellow crossword champion Tyler Hinman. The competition between the two solvers attracted attention beyond the crossword community and was described by ''Time'' magazine as one of America's most elite crossword rivalries.
Crossword editor Will Shortz praised both competitors for their exceptional abilities, noting that they belonged to a small group of solvers capable of completing even the most difficult crossword puzzles in only a few minutes.
Puzzle construction and editing
In addition to solving crossword puzzles competitively, Feyer has worked as a puzzle constructor and editor. He has contributed puzzles to various crossword and word-game events and has been associated with the annual Lollapuzzoola crossword tournament, where he has both competed and helped create puzzles.
His involvement in puzzle construction has given him a unique perspective on both the creation and solving sides of the crossword world.
Legacy
Feyer is widely considered one of the greatest competitive crossword solvers of all time. His eight ACPT championships and six consecutive titles remain unmatched and have helped define an era of competitive crossword solving.
His achievements contributed to increased public awareness of crossword tournaments and inspired a new generation of puzzle enthusiasts to participate in competitive solving.
References
This article "Dan Feyer" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Dan Feyer. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.
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