World Sudoku and Puzzle Championship 2026 Results: Ken Endo Wins Puzzle Crown, Ming Letian Takes Sudoku Title

The World Sudoku and Puzzle Championship (WSPC) 2026 has finally concluded. China’s Ming Letian won his first World Sudoku Championship (WSC) title this year, as China took home the WSC team title, whereas Japan took the WPC team title.

At the same time, multi-time champ, Japan’s Ken Endo won his sixth World Puzzle Championship (WPC) title with a late upset of defending champion Freddie Hand of the UK.

The 19th World Sudoku Championship and 33rd World Puzzle Championship ran from October 11 – 18, 2026, in Kolkata, India, and were hosted by Logic Masters India (LMI). The WSPC 2026, powered by Matiks, drew 35 nations in the largest edition so far, making it the third edition to be hosted by India.

Ming Letian Leads China’s Sudoku Charge in Mahabharata-Themed Puzzles

The 19th World Sudoku Championship, which returned to India for the third time, was held on October 12 and 13, with a Mahabharata theme, and drew 153 competitors. After intense battles in rounds that included unique Sudoku puzzles that required teamwork, instinct during blindfold rounds, and speed, China’s Ming Letian was declared the winner at the WSC 2026, ahead of compatriot Hu Yuxuan.

Japan’s Kota Morinishi, a four-time world champion, was third, and China’s defending champion Tantan Dai was fourth on the leaderboard. Endo, the puzzle champion, finished seventh in Sudoku.

China also grabbed the WSC team title with Hunag Mingrui, Ming, Wang Weifan, and Hu Yuxuan. The USA took silver with Lucy Epstein, Selene Luo, Yoseph Mak, and Jordyn Hyde. Japan, with Endo, Morinishi, Rintaro Matsumoto, and Rio Fujimoto, took home the bronze.

Ken Endo Dominates Ramayana-Themed Puzzles to Score Sixth WPC Title

Coming to the 33rd World Puzzle Championship, it ran from October 15 to 17 on Ramayana-themed puzzles. In the playoffs, finalists advanced across eleven tables representing Ravana’s heads, moving on as each game was finished.

UK’s Freddie Hand led across nine tables, but Japan’s Ken Endo caught up despite a two-minute delay and took home his sixth title and was crowned the WPC 2026 winner. Germany’s Christian König finished third, for the second time after the Beijing 2024 championships.

Japan won the team title with Endo, Naoki Sekiya, Taigo Ando, and Takuma Muto. Muto finished fourth and Ando eighth individually, so Japan had three of the top eight. Germany took home silver with Susanne Koderisch, König, Martin Merker, and Verena Möhler. The UK’s bronze, with Hand, James McGowan, Neil Zussman and Peter Roder, was its first team medal in WPC history.

Earlier rounds followed episodes from the epic. Team Round 18 (Individual) was linked to Indrajeet and used magic and “invisible” deception inside grids. Team Round 20, “Bridge to Lanka,” used Hashi, also known as Bridges.

Players solved several puzzles, then placed their solutions on a box as stepping stones to Lanka. A block-based pyramid symbolizing Mt. Dronagiri, which Hanuman lifted to find the Sanjeevani Booti, featured on the final day.

Not every competitor faced the grids alone. Participants carried their beloved plushies from home, with soft toys shaped like animals, objects and fantasy creatures, keeping watch beside the puzzles and helping solvers keep their nerves in check. It may well be the only mind sport that welcomes an emotional support animal, of the stuffed variety.

Away from the tables at the WSPC 2026, Will Shortz, Editor of The New York Times Crossword and founder of the World Puzzle Championship, noted that the event fell during Durga Puja and said DURGA and PANDAL, two of the culturally rich words in Kolkata’s history, may soon appear in an NYT Crossword grid.

On October 17, he and Thomas Snyder, Principal Puzzlemaster at LinkedIn Games, met the winners of Puzzle Palooza tournaments, which were held on October 14.

Coming to the next edition, the 20th World Sudoku Championship and the 34th World Puzzle Championship in 2027 will be held in France. More info about the same will be revealed by the World Puzzle Federation at a later point in time.

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