Sudoku Challenge Highlights: Preliminary Contest of 2010

The year 2010 marked an exciting chapter in the world of Sudoku enthusiasts as the 1st Preliminary Contest of the Serbian Sudoku Championship took place on January 3rd. Held from 15:00 to 16:30 GMT (20:30 to 22:00 IST), this contest brought together puzzle solvers from around the globe to test their Sudoku-solving mettle.

The contest featured an array of Sudoku puzzles that challenged participants' logical reasoning and number-placement skills. From the beloved Classic Sudoku, which forms the foundation of Sudoku solving, to the intriguing Diagonal Even Sudoku, where even numbers had to follow diagonal patterns, each puzzle posed a unique set of challenges.

Here's a glimpse of the Sudoku puzzle types that appeared in the contest:

Outside Sum Sudoku

Non-Consecutive Sudoku

Even Sudoku

Diagonal Even Sudoku

Participants had to navigate through these diverse Sudoku variants, each with its own rules and strategies, to secure their place in the championship. The 1st Preliminary Contest of the Serbian Sudoku Championship 2010 served as a thrilling showcase of Sudoku's enduring popularity and the incredible skills of its solvers.

In summary, the contest was a testament to the universal appeal of Sudoku and the passion it ignites among puzzle enthusiasts. The varied Sudoku puzzles presented a formidable challenge, and participants displayed their dedication and strategic thinking throughout the competition.

Results

1. Predrag Stanojevic (Serbia) - 800 (00:51)

2. Jason Zuffranieri (USA) - 800 (01:10)

3. Florian Kirch (Germany) - 800 (01:10)

4. Taro Arimatsu (Japan) - 800 (01:10)

5. Demiger Matus (Slovakia) - 800 (01:15)

6. Rohan Rao (India) - 800 (01:26)

7. Karel Tesar (Czech Republic) - 800 (01:27)

8. Debiak Przemyslaw (Poland) - 800 (01:30)

9. Jakub Ondrousek (Czech Republic) - 760

10. Agnieszka Buczma (Poland) - 725

Indian participants