Boy, 17, crowned America's fastest texter
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Austin Wierschke competes blindfolded in an elimination round during the 6th Annual LG US National Texting Championship August 8, 2012 in New York's Times Square. -- PHOTO: AFP
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A contestant looks down after finishing a text message during the 2012 U.S. National Texting Championship in New York, Aug 8, 2012. Austin Wierschke, the 2011 champion, won the competition for the second year in a row, earning a $50,000 prize. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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Two contestants talk while competing in the 2012 U.S. National Texting Championships in New York, Aug 8, 2012. Austin Wierschke, the 2011 champion, won the competition for the second year in a row, earning a $50,000 prize. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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A participant reacts during the 2012 U.S. National Texting Championship in New York on Aug 8, 2012. Austin Wierschke, the 2011 champion, won the competition for the second year in a row, earning a $50,000 prize. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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Contestants compete in the 2012 U.S. National Texting Championships in New York, Aug 8, 2012. Austin Wierschke, the 2011 champion, won the competition for the second year in a row, earning a $50,000 prize. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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Two contestants talk during the 2012 U.S. National Texting Championships in New York, Aug 8, 2012. Austin Wierschke, the 2011 champion, won the competition for the second year in a row, earning a $50,000 prize. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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A contestant competes in the 2012 U.S. National Texting Championship in New York on Aug 8, 2012. Austin Wierschke, the 2011 champion, won the competition for the second year in a row, earning a $50,000 prize. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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2011 U.S. National Texting Champion Austin Wierschke, (left), and Kent Augustine compete in the final round of the 2012 U.S. National Texting Championships in New York on Aug 8, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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Participant Kent Augustine competes in the 2012 U.S. National Texting Championships in New York, Aug 8, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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Austin Wierschke, (left), and Kent Augustine, (right), in the final round during the 6th Annual LG US National Texting Championship August 8, 2012 in New York's Times Square. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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2011 U.S. National Texting Champion Austin Wierschke competes in the final round of the 2012 U.S. National Texting Championships in New York, August 8, 2012. Wierschke won the competition for the second year in a row, earning a $50,000 prize. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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2011 U.S. National Texting Champion Austin Wierschke, (left), celebrates beside host Stuart Brazell, (center), after winning the 2012 U.S. National Texting Championships in New York, Aug 8, 2012. Wierschke won the competition for the second year in a row, earning a $50,000 prize. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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2011 U.S. National Texting Champion Austin Wierschke, (left), holds a check after winning the 2012 U.S. National Texting Championship in New York Aug 8, 2012. Wierschke won the competition for the second year in a row, earning a $50,000 prize. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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2011 U.S. National Texting Champion Austin Wierschke holds a check after winning the 2012 U.S. National Texting Championship in New York, Aug 8, 2012. Wierschke won the competition for the second year in a row, earning a $50,000 prize. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Austin Wierschke competes blindfolded in an elimination round during the 6th Annual LG US National Texting Championship August 8, 2012 in New York's Times Square. -- PHOTO: AFP
A contestant looks down after finishing a text message during the 2012 U.S. National Texting Championship in New York, Aug 8, 2012. Austin Wierschke, the 2011 champion, won the competition for the second year in a row, earning a $50,000 prize. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Two contestants talk while competing in the 2012 U.S. National Texting Championships in New York, Aug 8, 2012. Austin Wierschke, the 2011 champion, won the competition for the second year in a row, earning a $50,000 prize. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
A participant reacts during the 2012 U.S. National Texting Championship in New York on Aug 8, 2012. Austin Wierschke, the 2011 champion, won the competition for the second year in a row, earning a $50,000 prize. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Contestants compete in the 2012 U.S. National Texting Championships in New York, Aug 8, 2012. Austin Wierschke, the 2011 champion, won the competition for the second year in a row, earning a $50,000 prize. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Two contestants talk during the 2012 U.S. National Texting Championships in New York, Aug 8, 2012. Austin Wierschke, the 2011 champion, won the competition for the second year in a row, earning a $50,000 prize. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
A contestant competes in the 2012 U.S. National Texting Championship in New York on Aug 8, 2012. Austin Wierschke, the 2011 champion, won the competition for the second year in a row, earning a $50,000 prize. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
2011 U.S. National Texting Champion Austin Wierschke, (left), and Kent Augustine compete in the final round of the 2012 U.S. National Texting Championships in New York on Aug 8, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Participant Kent Augustine competes in the 2012 U.S. National Texting Championships in New York, Aug 8, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Austin Wierschke, (left), and Kent Augustine, (right), in the final round during the 6th Annual LG US National Texting Championship August 8, 2012 in New York's Times Square. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
2011 U.S. National Texting Champion Austin Wierschke competes in the final round of the 2012 U.S. National Texting Championships in New York, August 8, 2012. Wierschke won the competition for the second year in a row, earning a $50,000 prize. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
2011 U.S. National Texting Champion Austin Wierschke, (left), celebrates beside host Stuart Brazell, (center), after winning the 2012 U.S. National Texting Championships in New York, Aug 8, 2012. Wierschke won the competition for the second year in a row, earning a $50,000 prize. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
2011 U.S. National Texting Champion Austin Wierschke, (left), holds a check after winning the 2012 U.S. National Texting Championship in New York Aug 8, 2012. Wierschke won the competition for the second year in a row, earning a $50,000 prize. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
2011 U.S. National Texting Champion Austin Wierschke holds a check after winning the 2012 U.S. National Texting Championship in New York, Aug 8, 2012. Wierschke won the competition for the second year in a row, earning a $50,000 prize. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
NEW YORK (AFP) - A 17-year-old boy retained his title as America's fastest texter Wednesday in a duel of the thumbs staged before yelling fans in New York's Times Square.
Austin Weirschke took home US$50,000 (S$62,300) in prize money for the second time in two years when he bested 10 other texting demons in feats of thumb speed, memory and fluency in texting shorthand.
One round was performed with contestants blindfolded and having 45 seconds to type the verse: "Twinkle, twinkle, little star, how I wonder what you are, up above the world so high, like a diamond in the sky."
The event, sponsored by LG Electronics and using the company's cell phones, took place on a traffic island in Times Square.
