On finals day, October 12, Cheltenham, there will be two preliminary one-hour sessions, with 125 competitors in each, during which contestants will be given three puzzles to solve.

The fastest 12 in each session who solve all three puzzles correctly will go through to the grand final in the afternoon, where again there will be one hour in which to solve three puzzles.

The fastest 25 all-correct solvers in each of the preliminary sessions will be given free qualifying places for finals day for the 2009 championship.

This year the 50 qualifiers from the 2007 championship (the fastest 25 all-correct solvers from each preliminary session), plus the fastest 50 correct solvers from each of the four qualifying puzzles, will qualify for finals day.

Everyone who qualifies through one of this year's qualifying puzzles will be notified in good time before the closing date for the subsequent qualifying puzzle.

The entry fee is £15 for each qualifying puzzle attempted. Cheques should be made payable to The Times National Crossword Championship. Those who qualify will then pay a further £10 when they accept their place for finals day.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS: The entry fee for each qualification puzzle is £15. Entrants may enter each qualification puzzle, but only one entry per puzzle. Each entry incurs an entry fee. Entrants must state the time it took to solve the puzzle. Only published qualification puzzles will be accepted as entries. Unpaid entries will not be considered. All qualification entries must be received by the date stated in the paper for that puzzle.

Entries must be postmarked before the date of the publication of the solution, as follows:

Qualifier 1 Thursday April 3 - entry postmarked by Thursday April 10, Qualifier 1 solution live Friday 11.

Qualifier 2 Thursday May 1 - entry postmarked by Thursday May 8, Qualfier 2 solution Friday 9.

Qualifier 3 Thursday May 22 - entry postmarked by Thursday May 29, Qualifier 3 solution Friday 30.

Qualifier 4 Thursday June 26 - entry postmarked by Thursday July 3, Qualifier 4 solution July 4.

The qualifying puzzle can be accessed online by members of the Crossword Club but entries must be submitted by post to The Times National Crossword Championship, P.O. Box 59229, London NW3 9FT, with the entrant's name, address and the time taken to complete the crossword puzzle.

Finals entrants will be notified within 10 days of each closing date and must confirm their place in accordance with the notification. The fastest 50 correct answers to each qualification puzzle will qualify for entry to the final. Entry to the final will incur an additional £10 fee.

The final will consist of a preliminary round and a grand final that afternoon. All entrants to the final day must comply with the terms and conditions of the day. The winner will be the fastest contestant who solves all three puzzles correctly in the grand final. There will be two runners-up, who will be selected from the next two fastest with three correctly completed answers in the grand final. The winner will receive a trophy and a cheque for £1,000 and the runners-up will each receive a Times Book of Crosswords.

Entrants will be responsible for their travel, accommodation and other expenses at the final. Any entrant under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

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