0-5, I take it?

Wait, it already says.

Yes, each row is 0 to 5, and there can be multicell subtraction and division (but no division by 0)

The scoring curve was a lot steeper than I expected (i.e. I thought I'd be about 40 places lower).

Likewise. I thought many of the regulars would have their scores
creep up, and a lot of relative newcomers would pass me. Are their
mental processes deteriorating as fast as mine? Scary thought.

Gerhard Paseman, 2009.06.28

Are we to take the "0 to 5"-ness of this one to mean you'll be retiring after next year's title?

Winning by nearly 100 points is immensely impressive. Maybe this is the year of the WPC breakthrough.

Retire from the one test I don't have to travel to take? Not likely. Since I want to write for the test sometime too, I might just make my own TSPC to occur half a year away from the USPC.

Very impressive to win by that much.

And a puzzle: How many squares (of any size) are in this picture:
http://picasaweb.google.com/carljohanr/Puzzles#5352478396193739842

Unlike the one on the test, there is a way to do this one where it is not so easy to miscount :)

135?

Nope, 5 short. This is why I triple check

Only that you have time to triple check :)

http://picasaweb.google.com/carljohanr/Puzzles#5352487818632677410

is only slightly harder

723? No way I'm even single checking that. You lost you patented counting lines though (which was a good addition on the first one).

I managed to get them back in
http://picasaweb.google.com/carljohanr/Puzzles#5352500952136448482

The answer is 695, and the general solution 5*N^2 + (N-1)*N*(2N-1)*19/6 (the two puzzles are n=3 and n=5.

Each square either contains no 3x3 squares (5 for each block) or "a square block of 3x3 squares" (19 for each choice)

Nice puzzle! Nice achievement!

Congratulations on #4.

I'll add myself to the list of people who was pleasantly surprised by their placing. My 144 wouldn't have put me in the top 50 last year, but was good enough for 27th, and only 1 mouse difference away from a top 25 score.

The Nikoli practice definitely paid off.

Great job on winning by a near 100 points! The puzzle is nice, too.

I was also surprised by my placing, that I made top 25, so I have a question for anyone else who knows more about this. The rules say that the top 25 will receive prizes. Could someone explain the logistics of how this works? Does the organization just mail them to everyone, or is there anything else involved?

Anderson W.

At some point in the future (its typically months after the championship) you'll be asked to confirm your mailing address and then will receive a puzzle from ThinkFun, a google t-shirt, or other knick-knacks. It varies each year.