Welcome to the 10th Annual Orca Awards, honoring outstanding achievement in crossword construction and editing from puzzles published in 2020! Winners in ten different categories will be announced after the jump.

Anagram fans are quick to point out that Orcas anagrams to Oscar, and longtime readers will remember that the Orca Awards are usually released on the same day as the Academy Awards broadcast. But looking ahead to this weekend, there’s already the virtual American Crossword Puzzle Tournament taking place on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Rather than cram even more crossword content into your weekend, we’re making like Greenpeace and releasing the Orcas early. So join us for a look back at the highlights from a year we may not otherwise want to revisit anytime soon. Continue reading →