The South Zonal Final of the prestigious National Inter College Crossword Expedition (NICE) 2025 successfully held at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM), bringing together the sharpest young minds from the southern states of India in a unique display of wit, vocabulary, and teamwork.

Participants for the zonal finals were shortlisted based on their performance in the online round, which saw a large number of college students from across the South Zone competing as individuals. At the zonal stage, however, the format allowed them to form teams of two, resulting in exciting new collaborations and intense competition.

The event began with a written preliminary round, in which all qualified participants competed. Based on their performance in this round, the top six teams advanced to the much-anticipated on-stage finale, which tested not only their crossword-solving skills but also their ability to perform under pressure.

After a gripping on-stage contest, the top honors went to the following teams:

• 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 out of the three qualifying teams hailing from IIT Madras, the host institution proved to be a stronghold of crossword talent, setting high standards for the rest of the competition.

All three winning teams have earned their berth in the Grand Finale, which is scheduled to be held later this year in New Delhi, where they will face off against other zonal champions from across the country.

The National Inter College Crossword Expedition (NICE) is a one-of-its-kind initiative aimed at promoting cryptic crosswords among the student community. The contest not only challenges vocabulary and reasoning abilities but also fosters critical thinking, lateral problem-solving, and collaboration.