Crossword News April 2024

 

Crossword News April 2024.

The March Prize Puzzle was our 16^th Round Robin, at Sixes and Sevens. For 12 answers the first six letters were used jumbled to form the entry. The last letters of these answers formed the unclued row - SHORT-CHANGED - which could describe the modifications. Solvers had to highlight CUT LOOSE, which also could describe the modifications.

Here are some of the comments from solvers.

Thank you to all of the setters and grid designer for a splendid challenge.  I always approach the Round Robins with a mixture of pleasure and fear.  There is no opportunity for the solver to get on the wavelength of the setter and the different approaches can be bewildering.  Always a challenge, they are among my favourite puzzles.   I am relieved that I took the trouble to check the last letters of the modified answers because I had SHORTCHANGES instead of SHORTCHANGED across the middle.    Phew!  That was close.

A simple idea beautifully executed.  I guess a lot of 6-letter words jumble to a 7-letter word when an additional letter is thrown in, but the number that have that letter at the end of the new word must be much smaller.  Adding the complicating demands of two thematic phrases makes this a complex composition, yet one that presents so simply.  Many delightful clues.  I found 36a particularly amusing.

An excellent challenge, with high-quality clues throughout. Many thanks to all the contributors and The Crossword Centre.

And a word of congratulation to John Nicholson for managing to incorporate so many unfamiliar (to me anyway) words into the grid.

There were 63 entries, of which 2 were marked incorrect. The lucky winner, picked from the electronic hat, was Craig Fothergill, who will be receiving a prize of Chambers Crossword Dictionary donated by the publishers.

Solvers were asked to vote for their favourite clues. Here are the results. The voting was more spread out amongst the clues than ever before, with only 12 clues failing to trouble the scorer.  Three clues did stand out from the chasing pack though:

1. 23pts - OMINOUS - John Walsh
2. 18pts - CLOSING – Pandiculator
3. 17pts - ORGANIC – Phylax
4. 11pts - ACUSHLA - Brian Betker
5. 10 pts - LAMPERN- Keiron Callaghan

If John sends me a mailing address I shall send him a prize book. If you would like to see all the votes, email me.

There is a solution at https://crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2024/04/solution-to-rr-xvi-at-sixes-and-sevens.html

The May challenge will be Singing by popular setter, Chalicea. Unfortunately, that will be the end of our pipe-line. As I write, there is no puzzle for June.
***
Robert Teuton has released the results of our 2023 Crowther Cup competition.

The Crowther Cup 2023

Four solvers managed to continue their unbeaten streaks in 2023 and were joined by two more solvers who were all correct for the year.  In order of last time since an error/omission they are:

• Matthew Auger
• Brian Betker
• Philip Wood
• Keith Williams
• Clive Walker
• Dave Howell

As mentioned, the top four have already received the Cup previously, so the next in line is someone whose last error was in March 2022...

...congratulations to Clive Walker!

Close behind were those entrants with just one error/omission:

• Tim Coates
• Craig Fothergill
• Gerry Murtagh
• Bhalchandra Pasupathy
• Julian Stradling
• Adam Vellender

After this there were six solvers on 10/12:

• Rod Beards
• Christopher Edwards
• RJ Green
• Andie Johnson
• Geoff Lee
• John Reardon
• Christine Thomas

Just behind these we had:

• 9 correct - 6 solvers
• 8 correct - 3 solvers
• 7 correct 5 solvers

Many thanks to all entrants for their continued support! individual statistics are available for anyone who wants - email me at toots@tinyworld.co.uk.

http://www.crossword.org.uk/crowther.html
***
The Guardian has introduced a Saturday crossword which will be an easier access for beginner solvers. The Quick Cryptic has only four types of wordplay, or tricks, and these are explained in a preamble.
https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/quick-cryptic/1

On Sundays the on-line Guardian will also have a Quiptic crossword – “a cryptic crossword for beginners and those in a hurry”.

In a similar vein, Raider has introduced a new aid for solvers. On the fantastic Mycrossword site, there is now a button on puzzles which will underline the definition part of the clues.
https://www.mycrossword.co.uk/
***
Scrabble is set to change for the first time in its 75-year history as part of a new 'inclusivity' drive to deter those who find the word game too 'intimidating' from abandoning the game. The much-loved board game will now be printed with a simpler version on the back of the original board for those whose knowledge of dictionaries and thesauruses are limited.

The new game from its owners Mattel is called Scrabble Together and will feature a second side 'to make gameplay more accessible for anyone who finds word games intimidating'. Scrabble is set to change for the first time in its 75-year history as part of a new 'inclusivity' drive to deter those who find the word game too 'intimidating' from abandoning the game.

The much-loved board game will now be printed with a simpler version on the back of the original board for those whose knowledge of dictionaries and thesauruses are limited. The new game from its owners Mattel is called Scrabble Together and will feature a second side 'to make gameplay more accessible for anyone who finds word games intimidating'.
***
For many years, I have been solving John Nolan’s monthly crosswords. John, an exiled Scot who now lives in Farmington, New Hampshire, often breaks Ximenean rules but always creates a fun puzzle with a theme. He acknowledges all his solvers and offers a monthly prize. Ian Simpson is planning a holiday in the USA and hopes to meet John during his visit. You can try the Very Logical Puzzle at http://www.stephaniepiro.com/Crossword%20Page.htm
***
As well as his interest in crosswords, Stephen Sondheim loved all sorts of puzzles and games. He had a huge collection of antique games, many of which adorned the walls of his house. Some of his collection is in an auction at Doyles of New York on the 18^th of May. You can see the items and place a bid at this link.
https://www.doyle.com/auction/search/?au=8984
***

Best wishes
Derek