Ultimate Typewriter Showdown

The 5h Annual Poetry Downtown Festival honors John Trudell from September 23 - 28, 2025!

Ultimate Typewriter Showdown: A Test of Skill and Speed
One of the festival’s most anticipated events, the Ultimate Typewriter Showdown, will take place each night from 10 to 11 PM in Boston, Philadelphia, and Baltimore. In New York, this lively competition will be held aboard the Poetry Train from 5 to 6 PM. Over the course of three days, 16 players per city will put their speed, accuracy, and typewriting skills to the test, battling it out to become America’s ultimate typewriter champion.

September 27 Boston from 10-11 pm
– Boston September 27 from 10 till 11 pm
1. Erik van Loon
2. Brandon Seo
3. Oluwatofe Akinyanmi
4. Lina Kahtane

September 28 New York from 5-6 pm
1. Erik van Loon
2. Charissa Collazo
3. Jonathan Kay
4. Pierce Logan

September 28 Philadelphia from 10-11 pm
1. Erik van Loon
2. Len Schaffer
3. Maria Santilli
4. Helen Liu

September 29 Baltimore from 10-11 pm
1. Erik van Loon
2. Nicholas Roher

One Rule
In this tournament, the keyboard warriors must follow just one rule: everything is allowed, except touching your opponent, their typewriter, table, or chair.

Edgar Allan Poe Poem
The 16 keyboardwarriors will play a bracket tournament of max 4 rounds and together they will type 2 complete Edgar Allan Poe poems.
first round:
– 8 rounds of each 2 players will type each one stanza of The Raven. In the first round they will type 8 stanza’s together 
second round:
– 4 rounds of each 2 players will type each one stanza of the Raven. in the second round they will type 4 stanza’s together
third round:
– 2 rounds of each 2 players will type each two stanzas of the Raven. In the third round they will type 4 stanza’s together
fourth round:
– final round of 2 players will type a stanza of the Raven. In the fourth round they will type 2 stanza’s together
Winner
– The Ultimate Typewriter Showdown Champion will type his name under the poem.  

All players will be credited at the poem they wrote together.

The Raven
By Edgar Allan Poe
Typed out by the following 8 players

The winner will type his or her name beneath the poem, and it will be signed by Erik van Loon to certify its authenticity. Additionally, Erik van Loon will type his name and sign the poems of the runners-up as well.

Sponsor
Sponsor of the Ultimate Typewriter Showdown is Cambridge Typewriter Co