That Breton-striped bespectacled bean pole has managed to do what Bin Laden couldn’t – evade the world for years while all eyes look for him.
Blending seamlessly into crowds on the beach and in city squares amongst many, he is single-handedly the reason why toilet trips at your Nan’s take at least an hour.
But there’s now a way you can outsmart him. Computer scientist Randal S.Olson has created a data map of an optimal search route with will guarantee you expose Wally every single time.
Read more: You can now play ‘Where’s Wally?’ in Google Maps
By using data from all seven Where's Waldo (the American Wally) books, Olson mapped Wally's 68 locations and then used a genetic algorithm to find the best route.
He also shared some pearls of wisdom on the best method to finding the man:
Start at the bottom of the left page. If Wally isn’t on the bottom half of the left page, then he’s most likely not on the left page at all.
Next look at the upper quarter of the right page - Wally prefers hiding here.
Then check the bottom right half of the right page
Wally hates the bottom left half of the right page. Look there last.
Obviously, the joy is in the journey but if your legs have started to go numb it might be time to deploy the algorithm.
