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Fastest Texters In America Face Off In New York

Reporter: Associated Press

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

The reigning 16-year-old champion of cellphone texting has reclaimed the title of fastest texter in America.

Austin Weirschke of Queens, N.Y., won after eight rounds at the texting competition Wednesday in Times Square. He gets $50,000 in prize money.

Eleven contestants from around the U.S. competed. The competition tested three skills: speed, accuracy and dexterity.

There were three rounds, including texting while blind-folded and texting with hands behind their backs.

The third round is called "text blitz." Phrases were shown to the contestants for a length of time and they copied them as fast as they could.

The annual competition is sponsored by cellphone-maker LG Electronics.

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

The nation's fastest texters are facing off in an annual texting contest.

Eleven contestants from all over the country are coming to Times Square for the Wednesday afternoon competition. The winner gets $50,000. Competitors range from 16 to 24 years old. Last year's champion, Austin Weirschke, is coming back to defend his title.

The competition tests three skills: speed, accuracy and dexterity. There are three rounds: texting while blind-folded, texting with hands behind their backs and "text blitz," where phrases are shown to the contestants for a length of time and they have to copy it as fast as they can before the next one.

The competition is sponsored by cellphone-maker LG Electronics.