Will Shortz, master of puzzles and ping pong

CBS Sunday Morning
19 Feb 201705:59
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRWill Shortz, renowned for his passion for crossword puzzles and his role at the New York Times, has another love: table tennis. Starting from his childhood basement, Shortz's dedication to the sport led him to open the Westchester Table Tennis Center. His intellectual approach to the game is mirrored in his crossword crafting. At 64, he's in the top 25% of players over 60 in the US. Shortz also guardians a young prodigy, Kai, and dreams of setting a world record for the longest consecutive days playing table tennis, a goal that has led him to play in over 250 clubs globally.

Takeaways
  • 🧩 Will Shortz is a world-class crossword puzzle enthusiast, editing the daily puzzle in the New York Times and authoring over 500 puzzle books.
  • 🌍 Solving crosswords provides Shortz with a sense of satisfaction akin to putting the world in order, which he finds hard to achieve in everyday life.
  • 🏆 His passion for puzzles has made him a renowned figure, constantly in demand for traveling and participating in global puzzle-related events.
  • 🏓 Shortz's other passion is table tennis, which he describes as his favorite sound, and he started playing at a young age in his family's basement.
  • 🏅 By high school, Shortz was winning table tennis trophies, and his love for the sport continued into adulthood.
  • 🇺🇸 In 2011, he opened the Westchester Table Tennis Center in Pleasantville, New York, creating a space for people of all ages and skill levels to play and enjoy the game.
  • 🤼‍♂️ Shortz sees table tennis as an intellectual challenge, focusing on opponents' weaknesses and strategizing to maximize his game.
  • 🥇 At age 64, Shortz is ranked in the top 25% of table tennis players over age 60 in the United States.
  • 🌟 He has taken on the role of guardian and mentor to Kai, a young, top-ranked American table tennis player from a Chinese family.
  • 🌍 Shortz has a goal to set a record for the longest consecutive number of days playing table tennis and has played in over 250 clubs worldwide.
  • 🎮 Both crossword puzzles and table tennis provide Shortz with a form of relaxation, allowing him to focus intently on the game and forget about everything else.
Q & A

  • What is Will Shortz's passion besides crossword puzzles?

    -Will Shortz's other passion is table tennis, also known as ping pong.

  • How does Will Shortz describe the feeling of solving a crossword?

    -He describes it as satisfying as putting the world in order, which is a feeling not often found in everyday life.

  • How many crossword puzzle books has Will Shortz authored or edited?

    -Will Shortz has authored or edited more than 500 crossword puzzle books.

  • When did Will Shortz start playing table tennis?

    -He started playing table tennis as a kid in the family basement.

  • What significant achievement did Will Shortz accomplish in 1966 related to table tennis?

    -In 1966, he won his first table tennis prize at the age of 14.

  • How did Will Shortz's involvement with table tennis evolve over time?

    -His involvement evolved from playing a few games a week to an everyday habit, eventually leading to opening his own Westchester Table Tennis Center in 2011.

  • What is the age and national ranking of Will Shortz in table tennis?

    -At the age of 64, Will Shortz is ranked in the top 25% of table tennis players over age 60 in the country.

  • What unique record is Will Shortz aiming to set in table tennis?

    -He aims to set a record for the longest consecutive number of days playing table tennis.

  • How does Will Shortz plan his travels to ensure he can play table tennis daily?

    -He meticulously plans his travels by mapping out available clubs and sometimes even bringing along his own playing partner.

  • What personal record did Will Shortz attempt to set in Bratislava?

    -He attempted to set a personal record by playing in two countries on the same day.

  • How does Will Shortz describe the relaxation aspect of playing table tennis and solving crosswords?

    -He describes both activities as relaxing because they allow him to get completely wrapped up in the game, forgetting everything else in the world, and feeling refreshed and ready to go back to other tasks after.

  • What is the current status of Will Shortz's consecutive days of playing table tennis?

    -As of the script's information, it is 1,600 days and counting.

Outlines
00:00
🧩 Will Shortz: The Puzzle Master's Passion for Crosswords and Ping Pong

This paragraph introduces Will Shortz, renowned for his love of crossword puzzles and his significant contributions to the field, including editing the daily puzzle in the New York Times and authoring over 500 puzzle books. It also delves into his passion for table tennis, which began in his youth and has continued into his adulthood, leading him to open the Westchester Table Tennis Center. The paragraph highlights Shortz's intellectual approach to both puzzles and ping pong, emphasizing the strategic thinking involved in both activities. It also mentions his impressive achievement of playing table tennis daily for over four years, aiming to set a world record.

05:03
🏓 The Relaxing and Challenging Nature of Will Shortz's Hobbies

This paragraph explores the relaxing and challenging aspects of Will Shortz's hobbies, particularly crossword puzzles and table tennis. It explains how Shortz finds solace in both activities, as they allow him to focus intensely and forget about everything else, leading to a sense of relaxation and refreshment afterwards. The paragraph also discusses the physical exercise component of table tennis, as Shortz chases the ball around the table, and his ambition to have his consecutive days of playing table tennis recognized by the Guinness World Records.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Crossword Puzzles
Crossword puzzles are a type of word game that require solving definitions and clues to fill a grid with words or phrases, each in a horizontal or vertical line. In the context of the video, Will Shortz's passion for crossword puzzles is highlighted, emphasizing his role as a world-class editor and author of over 500 crossword puzzle books. His love for puzzles is likened to a desire to put the world in order, which reflects his dedication to this intellectual pursuit.
💡Ping Pong
Ping pong, also known as table tennis, is a sport where players hit a lightweight ball back and forth across a table using small rackets. In the video, Will Shortz's second passion for ping pong is explored, detailing his journey from childhood gameplay to opening his own table tennis center. The sport is described as an intellectual challenge that requires strategy and skill, mirroring his love for puzzles.
💡World-Class
The term 'world-class' refers to a level of quality or performance that is among the best in the world. In the video, it is used to describe Will Shortz's expertise and success in both crossword puzzles and ping pong, indicating that he is recognized globally for his skills and contributions in these areas.
💡New York Times
The New York Times is a daily newspaper renowned for its journalistic integrity and comprehensive coverage of news. In the context of the video, it is significant as the platform where Will Shortz edits the daily crossword puzzle, showcasing his expertise and influence in the world of puzzles.
💡Table Tennis Center
A table tennis center is a facility dedicated to the sport of table tennis, providing tables, equipment, and a space for players to practice and compete. In the video, Will Shortz's own Westchester Table Tennis Center is mentioned as a place that fosters a diverse community of players who share a love for the sport, indicating his deep commitment to promoting and developing ping pong.
💡Intellectual Challenge
An intellectual challenge refers to a task or activity that requires cognitive skills, such as problem-solving, critical thinking, and strategizing. In the video, both crossword puzzles and ping pong are described as intellectual challenges, emphasizing the mental engagement and strategic thinking involved in both activities.
💡Guinness World Record
The Guinness World Record is a recognition awarded by the Guinness World Records organization for a wide range of records, from the most to the fastest, across various categories. In the video, Will Shortz's aspiration to set a record for the longest consecutive number of days playing table tennis is mentioned, indicating his pursuit of an extraordinary achievement in the sport.
💡Travel
Travel refers to the act of moving from one place to another, often over long distances, for various purposes such as leisure, work, or personal pursuits. In the context of the video, Will Shortz's travels are significant as they are meticulously planned to include playing ping pong in different clubs around the world, showcasing his dedication to the sport and his quest for a world record.
💡Mentorship
Mentorship is a relationship in which an experienced or more knowledgeable person (the mentor) guides, supports, and helps the development of a less experienced or less knowledgeable person (the mentee). In the video, Will Shortz's mentorship is evident in his role as a guardian to Kai, a young table tennis player, illustrating his commitment to nurturing talent and supporting the dreams of aspiring athletes.
💡Relaxation
Relaxation refers to the release of tension and the attainment of a state of calmness and restfulness. In the video, relaxation is discussed as a benefit of engaging in activities like crossword puzzles and ping pong, where the focus and immersion in the game provide a mental break from everyday stressors.
Highlights

Will Shortz's passion for crossword puzzles led to a world-class editing career with the New York Times.

He finds satisfaction in solving crosswords, comparing it to putting the world in order.

Shortz's success has made him a renowned puzzle master, constantly in demand for traveling and appearances.

His other passion is table tennis, which he started playing as a child and continued into high school, earning trophies.

In 1966, at the age of 14, Shortz won his first ping pong prize and also began his career in crossword puzzles.

In 2011, he opened the Westchester Table Tennis Center in Pleasantville, New York, fostering a diverse community of players.

Shortz sees table tennis as an intellectual challenge, focusing on opponents' weaknesses and maximizing one's game strategy.

At age 64, Shortz is ranked in the top 25% of table tennis players over age 60 in the country.

He has taken on the role of guardian and mentor to Kai, a young Chinese player pursuing Olympic dreams.

Shortz plays about two hours a day and has a dream of setting a record for the longest consecutive number of days playing table tennis.

He has played in over 250 table tennis clubs worldwide, using meticulous planning to ensure he can maintain his streak.

Shortz's consecutive days playing streak reached 1,400 and counting, with aspirations to have it recognized by the Guinness World Record.

He finds relaxation in both crossword puzzles and table tennis, as they allow him to focus deeply and forget about everything else.

Shortz's unique streak of playing table tennis every day has reached 1,600 days.

Transcripts

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PuzzleSolvingPingPongWillShortzNewYorkTimesTableTennisCenterGuinnessWorldRecordMentalStimulationPhysicalExerciseTravelAdventureCommunityBuilding