Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Hot on Facebook
Uproar After NC State Agent 'Fixes' Girl's Lunch Preschooler has to eat chicken nuggets instead of mom's meal »

Sudoku Champ Eyes Tougher Puzzles

Young scientist hopes to make his name in DNA research

By Will McCahill,  Newser Staff

Posted May 10, 2008 5:41 AM CDT
Email

(Newser) – Beating all comers—for the second year in a row—at the world's top sudoku tournament is nothing to scoff at, but champ Thomas Snyder has loftier goals, the San Jose Mercury News reports. The 28-year-old Stanford scientist is hoping he can solve complex DNA puzzles instead: "I hope I can take advantage of my skills and be someone who changes people's lives."

The bioengineering post-doc says he wants to find a method to help diagnose, and perhaps prevent, gene-borne illnesses; sudoku has sharpened his mind for the task. Snyder plans to keep at the DNA puzzle, but he expects his sudoku dominance to wane: I don't know if I'll hold this position for all of my life—but for now, I think it's a real hoot."

I tend to get very frustrated if I look at a puzzle for a few minutes and can't solve it, a friend says of Snyder. But Thomas, he'll stick with it, and do all-night puzzle sessions.
"I tend to get very frustrated if I look at a puzzle for a few minutes and can't solve it," a friend says of Snyder. "But Thomas, he'll stick with it, and do all-night puzzle sessions."   (AP Photo/ Joseph Kaczmarek)
It's maybe a bit spiritual, says Thomas Snyder, a Stanford scientist who last month won his second consecutive world sudoku title.
"It's maybe a bit spiritual," says Thomas Snyder, a Stanford scientist who last month won his second consecutive world sudoku title.   (AP Photo/ Joseph Kaczmarek)
If I think something is going to beat me, sudoku champ Thomas Snyder said, I just persevere and work my way through it. I like to take on the impossible and say, 'No, I can do this too.'
"If I think something is going to beat me," sudoku champ Thomas Snyder said, "I just persevere and work my way through it. I like to take on the impossible and say, 'No, I can do this too.' "   (AP Photo/ Joseph Kaczmarek)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Be the first to comment on this story.

Keep up with sudoku champ Snyder on his blog
Almost Famous

World Sudoku Championship official site
World Sudoku Championship 2008

US • Health • Lifestyle

 
Stanford • sudoku • DNA • Thomas Snyder

More Newser Stories

DNA Ties 1991 Murder to 17th-Century Family

For Just $1K, You'll Soon Be Able to Map Your Genes

How Much Caveman DNA Do You Have?

Gacy Victim Identified 35 Years Later

Amanda Knox Edges Closer to Freedom
NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne