From Japanese “sû” which means figure and “doku” which means unique, Sûdoku is played by filling in a grid with figures from 1 to 9, while following a number of rules.

Though its creation dates back to the 18th century, this game only appeared in Japan in April 1984 in the magazine Monthly Nikolist under the name of “Sûji wa dokushin ni kagiru” (数独).
 

Rules

The grid of this puzzle is made of 9 columns and 9 lines. It is divided into 9 areas, each one of those made of 9 cells.

The aim of this puzzle is simple: a figure cannot appear more than once in each line, column or area. 
 

Click to see an example of Sûdoku

See the solution of this example

 

Information

Participation by mail

Send your grid to the following address:

 

JAPAN EXPO
Concours de Sûdoku
14 place Georges Pompidou
93160 Noisy-le-Grand - FRANCE

Frequency: 3 sessions are organized from April 6th to June 6th 2010.

Session 1: from April 6th to 25th
Session 2: from April 26th to May 16th
Session 3: from May 17th to June 6th

Contest deadline: the mails sent after June 6th, 2010, considering the postmark, won’t enter the contest.

Prizes and prizegiving
At the end of each session, 3 winners are going to be selected. They will get a free entrance ticket for Japan Expo 11th Impact each, valid for the day they choose, sent by mail after the end of the contest.

To be rewarded: the first one to send her/his grid, as well as 2 others drawn among all the right grids sent during the session.
 

First Session

Here is the first grid 

And there is its solution

The winners are:

• Pauline FILIBERTI
• Tyffanie GUENEE
• Alexandra UETERAN

Congratulations!

 

Second Session

With a little delay and our apologies, here is the second grid.

And there is its solution

The winners are:

• Amélie THURIES
• Claudia MENEY
• Emilien THURIES

Congratulations!

 

Third Session

The third and last grid of this contest: Click to download.

Ans click to see the solution.

The winners are:

• Angeline GRAS
• Aurore HERSERANT
• Hervé RICHARD

Congratulations! The free entrance will be sent in a few days!
 

Frequently Asked Questions

Q.: Can I participate to several sessions?
A.: Yes, you can participate to each session. Yet you can participate only once to each session.

Q.: Will you give the solutions?
A.: Yes, the solutions will be given at the end of each session and the winners will be announced at the same time.

Q.: When will you give the results?
A.: They should be given about a week after the end of each session.

Q.: Is it possible to send the grid by e-mail?
A.: No you can only participate in this contest by mail.

Q.: Can we copy the grid?
A.: Yes, if you don’t have a printer but wish to participate to the contest, you can copy the grid on paper. And don’t forget to give your name and address.