Sudoku fan Roy is hoping his numbers come up

NUMBER cruncher . . . Roy Taylor

SUDOKU superfan Roy Taylor is gearing up to put his love of the mind-boggling puzzle to the test.

The 65-year-old number cruncher has made the final of The Times Sudoku Contest and will travel to London on Saturday to take on 99 other competitors.

Roy, of Beck Grove, Shaw, will be tasked to complete eight puzzles as fast as he can at the Institute of Education.

The papers will then be marked and the top eight contestants will be selected for the grand final.

Roy entered the competition last year but didn’t make it past the first round. He says he is more confident this year. The father-of-three added: “I got into Sudoku when my wife Denise brought home newspapers with the puzzles in. I find it very satisfying when I can complete one but it is really frustrating when you just can’t finish a grid.

“At the final, there will be a prize for the overall winner, the best under-16 and the best over-65 so I have a chance of winning the last category as the best contestants seem to be the younger ones.”