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Video length: 4 min
Crossword: 110 years after its creation, this game still has fans
Crossword puzzles were invented in England in 1913. Quickly imported to France, they have since gained many fans and continue to delight many players today. – (France 2)
Crossword puzzles were invented in England in 1913. Quickly imported to France, they have since gained many fans and continue to delight many players today.
Crossword puzzles are sometimes defined as a brainteaser, like chess. “I’m not patient, so honestly I prefer Sudoku.”says a woman, not really a fan. This year they are celebrating their 110th anniversary. In 1913, the very first crossword puzzle was created in England in the shape of a diamond with a hole in the middle. The game was quickly exported to France, became a square, then black squares appeared. Very serious championships are emerging, and even television is picking up on the phenomenon.
“Patience, rigor and a little cleverness”
At 80 years old, Hervé Hardouin still fills between three and four grids a day. In order to be successful, he identifies three essential characteristics: “Patience, precision and a bit of cleverness. When we have solved everything in the grid, we are happy. If we can also learn things on the grid, that’s even better.”, he believes. We sometimes find large signatures among the creators of these crossword puzzles. In particular, the writer Georges Perec and the journalist Robert Scipion took part in the exercise.
