Tammy McLeod from Los Angeles, who won the national championship, works on her puzzle Saturday at the Sudoku tournament in Philadelphia.

PHILADELPHIA — Tammy McLeod solved an advanced puzzle in 7 minutes, 41 seconds to defeat former world and U.S. champion Thomas Snyder and win the third Philadelphia Inquirer Sudoku National Championship on Saturday.

McLeod, 32, of Los Angeles, won $10,000 and a spot on the U.S. World Sudoku Team that will compete in the Fifth Annual World Sudoku Championship next spring in Philadelphia.

Natan Tsyrulnik, 31, of Shelton, Conn., won the beginner division and $1,000. Davis Borucki, 15, of Columbia, S.C., claimed the intermediate division and $3,000.

The tournament drew 646 contestants ranging in age from 8 to 93.