The modern version of Sudoku shares a past that goes back further than most people might think. In the late 19^th century, a French newspaper had a game in its pages where magic numbers were lifted and then replaced. Within three years the game was redefined in the French media to the point where it closely resembled a predecessor of the modern Sudoku game. It’s clear that the public’s fascination with the numbers game did not start recently with this puzzle, but this early version disappeared around the time of the First World War. At the time, no one knew what kind of comeback it would make.

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You’ve more than likely already heard about the latest craze in puzzle games that’s called Sudoku. This latest craze has the blessings of the all the players who find it challenging and stimulating as well as the parents who see how Sudoku helps to sharpen the minds of their children. The makers of the game tout it as simple, easy to play, and yet challenging, and the craze is attracting some pretty big attention.
 

The World Puzzle Federation is starting to pay attention to Sudoku to the extent that their website has just announced the members that have been selected for the 2008 US Sudoku team which will travel to India for the third World Sudoku Championships to be held this April. The puzzle game is attracting the kind of attention that is usually reserved for bigger team oriented sports and one of the members picked for the American team going to India has had another major success with Sudoku.

Thomas Snyder won the Philadelphia Inquirer’s National Sudoku Championship recently and the contest was held in the city of Brotherly Love in front of over one hundred spectators. There were a reported 900 contestants. Winning the contest brought more to Snyder than just bragging rights and a trip to the Third Word Championship in India too.

He should be able to travel in style as the first place finish netted him a $10,000 dollar first prize.

Snyder is no stranger to being a champion. Last year he won the individual honors in the second annual world championship that was overseen by the President of the Czech Republic where the contest was held. Even the larger news outlets are starting to pay attention.

In 2006, ESPN featured the United States puzzle team as part of its feature on the best American athletes for its magazine.