India's Premier Crossword Championship Returns: Indian Crossword League 2025 Opens Registrations
13th edition begins August 23 with global participation, culminating in Bengaluru finale on December 21 for ultimate word puzzle crown
The much-anticipated Indian Crossword League (IXL) returns with its 13th edition in 2025, continuing its legacy as India’s most prestigious crossword-solving competition. The contest, known for its intellectual rigor and stimulating problem-solving challenges, invites word enthusiasts, puzzle solvers, and sharp minds from across the globe to participate.
Registrations for the Indian Crossword League 2025 open on August 23, 2025 at crypticsingh.com. The competition will unfold in two phases:
Phase-1 (Online Rounds): The contest will kickstart with a Practice Round on Sunday, September 7, 2025 followed by 10 weekly online rounds. Each round will remain open from Sunday 11:00 AM IST to Wednesday 11:59 PM IST, giving participants ample time to attempt the puzzles at their convenience.
Online Round's Schedule
- Practice Round: September 7, 2025
- Round 1: September 14, 2025
- Round 2: September 21, 2025
- Round 3: September 28, 2025
- Round 4: October 5, 2025
- Round 5: October 12, 2025
- Round 6: October 19, 2025
- Round 7: October 26, 2025
- Round 8: November 2, 2025
- Round 9: November 9, 2025
- Round 10: November 16, 2025
Phase-2 (Grand Finale): The top 30 performers across the online rounds will be invited to Bengaluru for the Grand Finale, scheduled for Sunday, December 21, 2025 (tentative). Here, the ultimate crossword champion of 2025 will be crowned in front of a live audience.
Over the years, the Indian Crossword League has witnessed participation from some of the most celebrated names in the world of crosswords, making it a truly global stage. International cruciverbalists such as Eric Agard (USA), Philip Coot (Australia), Neville Fogarty (USA), and Koh Ting Sween Kenny (Singapore) have featured alongside India’s finest talents. On the domestic front, stalwarts like Ramki Krishnan of Chennai, a multiple-time champion, and Shashwat Salgaoncar of Goa, who has lifted the trophy in recent editions, have left an indelible mark on the competition, inspiring a new generation of solvers.
Launched in 2013 by Extra-C, a civil society initiative, to mark the 100th year of the crossword, the Indian Crossword League (IXL) has since become the country’s most celebrated platform for competitive crossword solving. Open to cruciverbalists of all ages and from any country, the League draws participants from diverse academic and professional backgrounds, united by their passion for wordplay, problem-solving, and intellectual challenges.