Crossword News September 2021
The August Prize Puzzle was Diet by Curmudgeon. This was
based on the film, Blade Runner, and Roy Batty’s famous final speech had to be
highlighted diagonally in the grid. His final words were “Time to Die”,
referenced in the title. One thing that we did not notice was that the speech
was one letter short. Sorry about that.
Here are some of the comments from solvers.
While I have never seen the film, (it has been on my to-see
list for a while), I did know the character and quote beforehand, which was in
turn helpful in figuring out some of the extra letters. After that, the shading
was not a problem. To fit that much hidden material into the grid was
fantastic. Thanks to Curmudgeon for the
challenge.
Having never seen Blade Runner, and so never heard of Roy
Batty, as the message began to emerge from the clues, I briefly thought we were
looking for some royal battle or other. Eventually our old friend Google came
to the rescue, so thanks to Curmudgeon for helping fill a gap in my education.
An excellent puzzle.
Wonderful puzzle, and excellent grid construction, I just
marvel at the skill involved in that, getting so many thematic letters
seeded. I was initially surprised that
the grid did not have rotational symmetry, but later could appreciate why,
given the limitations imposed by thematic material. This puzzle kept its secrets well hidden,
managed to find the theme only at the very end, the end-game was truly an
end-game. It appears that there could be 3 possibilities for the cell
containing 2 letters, I chose one using a certain rationale, but am not sure if
there's some other logic involved that's escaped me. Nice workout, thanks.
There were 54 entries, of which 7 were marked incorrect. Our
marker assures me that any solution of the missing letter were marked correct.
The lucky winner , picked form the electronic hat was Pam Dudgeon, from
Saxmundham, who will be receiving a prize of a copy of Chambers Crossword
Dictionary next month.
A full solution is available at https://crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2021/09/solution-to-diet-by-curmudgeon.html
You still have time to email a solution to this month’s
challenge, Juggling Jellyfish by Chiffchaff.
The October Prize Puzzle will be Masterpiece by Craft. Craft
is one of the many new pseudonyms that have emerged during the lockdown
period. After learning to solve cryptics as a teenager, from a
thick book of Telegraph puzzles, Craft quickly progressed to advanced cryptics,
and has been a keen solver for over 20 years. Recent developments have
given Craft the opportunity to "turn gamekeeper" and put into
practice the ideas collected over those years.
This is Craft's first puzzle on crossword.org.uk, and
eagle-eyed solvers may have spotted a similar debut in the September
Magpie. Craft would very much welcome feedback on either of these debuts.
Outside the grid, Craft is a parent to two young children
and now lives in Wimbledon, having grown up in Cheshire.
***
I have followed with interest the huge success of Cracking the Cryptic, the
YouTube channel run by Mark Goodliffe and Simon Anthony. They started by
tackling cryptic crosswords but gained most of their following by solving
sudokus. Now Simon, an accomplished gamer, has started to tackle the puzzle-solving
video game the Witness.
https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/these-sudoku-youtubers-are-about-to-become-your-favourite-game-streamers
***
It is interesting to note that Mark Goodliffe has been
recorded in the Urban Dictionary with the verb ‘to goodliffe’.
Goodliffe (verb) the act of pencil marking all possible
candidates in all cells of a sudoku before solving
I've run out of logical steps, so I'm going to goodliffe
this sudoku, and hope to spot some patterns.
https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=goodliffe
***
The results of the Azed Annual Honours List have been announced.
Congratulations to Richard Heald for winning in a close-run competition.
Richard ended up with 14 points, including two second places. In second place
with 12 points were M Barley, Dr S J Shaw and R C Teuton.
http://www.andlit.org.uk/azed/ann_hons_table.php?year=2020
***
On our CC Clue-Writing Competition the results of the July challenge, a clue to
MACARONI, are out now. The winner was Joe Rees with this cue.
Tuck, Marian and co made merry (8)
In third place was Simon Griew with this clue.
Micra on rank accepts a fare in Rome
By a remarkable coincidence, Simon followed a link to
Ximenes’s MACARONI competition in June 1957. There, also in 3rd place,
was his father, E J Griew. This was a very touching coincidence for Simon,
whose father died 25 years ago. In 1957 he would have been only 26.
http://www.andlit.org.uk/azed/cluelist.php?series=X&comp_no=438
Your challenge for SEPTEMBER is a STANDARD CRYPTIC clue to
CICERONE (8) by the closing date of MIDNIGHT BST WEDNESDAY 29th SEPTEMBER.
http://www.andlit.org.uk/cccwc/main.php
***
It is looking increasingly likely that there will be a York S & B meeting
next month. John Henderson has pencilled in the 29th and 30th
October and is looking to see how many people would come. You can find much
more information at this link http://www.fifteensquared.net/2021/08/24/sb-york-2021-friday-29th-and-saturday-30th-october-2021/
***
Alan Connor has interviewed the prolific
setter Phi this month and it is very interesting. Phi, of course, is Paul
Henderson, who had a puzzle on the Crossword Centre this year and has a record
of over 1500 published cryptic crosswords. I first met him 20 years ago at the
2001 Listener/Azed Dinner. You might like to compare his photo http://www.crossword.org.uk/dinner.htm
***
I always enjoy solving the Sunday Times cryptic crosswords with their team of
setters, each with a different style. In fact, I have won 3 gold pens in the
past 5 years from the crosswords. Crossword editor, Peter Biddlecombe, has
produced a new collection which was published at the beginning of this month. The Sunday Times Cryptic Crossword Book 1 is
a collection of 100 cryptic crosswords, at a bargain price of £6.99.
***
On Twitter, Daniel Peake, master quizzer and question writer for Only Connect,
announced that he will soon be working as Assistant Puzzles Editor for The
Telegraph.
Best wishes
Derek
