There is something captivating about the simplicity of the nine-by-nine grid that is Sudoku. For some people it is a hobby, but for others it is a challenge that allows them to compete at the global level. In Bengaluru, the founding members of the Logic Masters India (LMI) — the Indian representative of the World Puzzle Federation — are trying to spread awareness on just how much fun a puzzle can be.
Amit Sowani, Prasanna Seshadri and Deb Mohanty started LMI in 2008 and organise contests across the country. This year, LMI will host the World Sudoku and Puzzle Championship 2017, to be held in Bengaluru in October.
Mr. Sowani and his friends decided to start LMI when they met each other at national tournaments. “Both Sudoku and other forms of puzzles have a sporting element in them. They are competitive and people need continuous practice in order to get better at solving them. We wanted more puzzle solvers to understand this aspect of the game, and hence we started LMI,” said the 30-year-old, who works with an analytics company.
Apart from conducting offline events, LMI also conducts online contests every two weeks, which often see over 500 participants. According to Mr. Sowani, Bengaluru is a hub for puzzle solvers. “A lot of the participants in our online contests hail from the city. Prasanna and Rohan, who moved to Bengaluru a few years ago, have figured in the world top 10 ranking for Sudoku and puzzle [solving]. A few others from the city have represented India in international events,” he said.
LMI also conducts local meetings for Sudoku and puzzle enthusiasts in Bengaluru, Kolkata and Chennai. “In Bengaluru, it is held every month, with 20 to 25 people coming together to discuss strategies to solve complex puzzles. Also, people can interact with us on the online forum and learn from professionals,” Mr. Sowani added.
To rope in youngsters, the team has been reaching out to schools. “We went to a few schools in six cities and picked children for the inaugural World Sudoku Junior Championship held in Beijing in 2015. Six of them were selected and trained for three months before the event. They came back with a silver medal. Now, we want to reach out to more children through schools, especially in Bengaluru,” said Mr. Seshadri, a 26-year-old professional Suduko solver and puzzle master who creates puzzles for international events.
LMI wants more people to take up puzzle solving as the numbers remain low in India. Only around 50 people have had the opportunity to perform on international platforms. “People are still unaware that entry into the World Sudoku and Puzzles Championship and the Grandprix is free and open to all. Also, people only know about the classic Sudoku, but there are numerous variants. Creating awareness about Sudoku and puzzles is a big challenge for us,” said Mr. Seshadri.
