MATHS graduate David McCrea, from Beckenham, proved that he is master of all these Sudoku solving strategies when he beat more than 130 other contestants to become the Asahi Pure Logic Sudoku Champion.

Asahi gathered together more than 100 Sudoku fans at The Freemason’s Arms in Covent Garden for the Asahi Pure Logic Sudoku Championship.

More than 400 people entered the competition by completing the qualifier puzzle making it the biggest UK Sudoku competition to date.

David completed his puzzle in the final in just five minutes and 16 seconds.

As well as the coveted title, 21-year-old David won an expenses-paid trip to Japan. He said: “I’m totally amazed. I never thought I’d get through to the final, let alone win it.

"I’m currently enjoying a gap year after graduating in Pure Maths from Reading University. I was planning to go travelling and I’ve always wanted to go to Japan, so this is absolutely fantastic.”

Hosted by Daily Telegraph Sudoku expert Michael Mepham, qualifiers in the competition scored over 197 out of a possible 243. The ten highest scoring finalists competed in a time trial, with the runner-up, Cate Detheridge, finishing one minute 19 seconds behind David.