Crossword News July 2025
The June Prize Puzzle was Current Affairs by Hedge-sparrow.
Choosing the correct letters in clashes gave WIND. The names of four winds were
entered in the correct direction and solvers had to highlight four more winds,
also in the correct directions. We accepted BUSTER as an alternative for AUSTER
as they are both names for south winds. This elegant crossword was chosen for
June as on the 15th of June it was World Wind Day.
Here are some of the comments from solvers.
I am amazed at the construction of the grid with all the
winds symmetrically placed and moving in the right direction and the bar
pattern also having 90° symmetry, I don't see how anyone can set another puzzle
about winds after this one.
Isn't it strange how these sets of directional winds are of
equal length? The end product is beautifully symmetrical. Many thanks to
Hedge-sparrow and The Crossword Centre.
A very nicely crafted puzzle. Gosh it took me forever to
realise the 'directions' of the winds. Very satisfying to finally crack it.
There were 57 entries, of which 10 were marked incorrect.
The lucky winner is John Doylend who will be receiving a prize of Chambers
Crossword Dictionary which was donated by Chambers. I am happy to tell you that
Chambers have sent me another dozen copies which will keep us in prizes for the
next year.
There is a solution to Current Affairs here.
And what do solvers think of our new entry method?
I much prefer this way of entering.
This new method of entry is BRILLIANT! You could teach the
newspapers a thing or two!
I have just discovered this website in my crosswording
adventures and this is my first entry! Very user-friendly and intuitive entry
form, great!
What a great design for inserting answers, highlighting
& submitting our entries.
It certainly saves us a lot of time & effort.
I think perhaps you should teach The Guardian how you’ve designed it!
I am indebted to Adam Vellender for designing this fantastic
marking app.
There is till lots of time for you to submit your solution
to the July puzzle – Dame by Skylark.
https://crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2025/06/july-2025-prize-puzzle-dame-by-skylark.html
The August Prize Puzzle will be Birthday Party by Arcadia.
Our pipeline is looking very dry at the moment and we would welcome new
submissions.
***
The inaugural World Cryptic Crossword Championship (WCCC) 2025, organized by
Extra-C, took place in London on 29 June. 17 participants from nine nations
fought it out at the Indian high commission’s Nehru Centre over two difficult crosswords.
Then the six finalists moved into the final round. They were Mark Goodliffe,
Colin Thomas, John Henderson, representing the UK, Matthew Marcus (USA), Shashwat
Salgaonkar (India) and Phil Coote (Australia).
In the final round the contestants had to solve a clue in a
blank grid, with no crossing letters. When they failed to solve they had to
pass the clue to the next contestant. The winner was Mark Goodliffe with Colin
Thomas in second place and John Henderson in third.
The whole event is filmed on YouTube and you can watch it
here https://www.youtube.com/live/V0cIy6qCPX0?si=HLxHogQvLfgxO_4D
***
There are lots of changes at The Observer.
The biggest change of all, though, will be that Azed from now on will be
setting only the competition puzzles, the remaining ones being set by Colin
Thomas under the new pseudonym of Gemelo, with his debut puzzle due to appear
on 13th July. 'Gemelo' is Spanish for Twin, which many of you will
know has for some years been the alter ego he has adopted for crosswords that
he's had published in the likes of the Magpie and the Listener. Among his
many achievements, he is a two-time winner of the Ascot Gold Cup for best
Listener puzzle of the year, and just last weekend in London finished runner-up
(to Mark Goodliffe) in the inaugural World Cryptic Crossword
Championship. For those who haven't yet had the pleasure of meeting
Colin, he's due to make his debut as a contestant on Channel 4's Countdown on
Friday 25th July.
After 53 years of setting, Azed deserves a breather. It has been an incredible
achievement to produce high-quality crosswords every week.
In the Observer, it was announced that from the 7th
July, for Azed crosswords. online entries will be accepted as well as postal
entries (to be addressed to Tortoise rather than to PO Box 518). You
might not yet be aware, however, that from this month onwards Azed will be
judging the competition 'blind', from an anonymized list of clues sent to him
by the Observer, from which he will choose the winning three entries plus VHCs;
once the results have been published in the paper, he will then write the
Slip as usual.
The latest slip with the results of the clues for CONCISION
is available on the Crossword Centre. http://www.crossword.org.uk/Azed2763.pdf
Making it two months in a row, the winner was Richard Heald
with this clue.
Brevity is the soul of wit should stop offender using palillogy?
(is i in con⁵, con⁵)
***
John Henderson has announced details of the legendary York S &B for 24th
and 25th October.
Friday 24th: Quiz Night
As last year, Gustav’s excellent Quiz will take place in the
upstairs function room at Stableside from 630-830pm. Food (home-made pizzas and
sides) will be provided (£5 per head). There are no draft ales available at the
bar, but I have ordered some “tried and tested” local craft beers for the
event.
Afternoon arrivers will be meeting in the nearby Fox &
Roman pub. No doubt there will be post-quiz drinks here too …
Saturday 25th: Puzzle Day
Our venue is again the downstairs bar and function room at
the Marcia Inn in Bishopthorpe (www.marciainnbishopthorpe.co.uk). We will be
following last year’s Saturday timetable for Puzzle Day from opening time
(11am). A hot (meat or vegetarian) lunch (£14, tbc) will be available.
John is asking for potential attenders to register, which
you can do at the link below.
https://www.fifteensquared.net/2025/07/07/sb-york-2025-friday-24th-saturday-25th-october-2025/
***
The next Listener Gathering will be on Saturday 26th July, from
about midday onwards, at the Sir John Oldcastle in
Farringdon. This is always a great chance to meet the Listener team and
chat to solvers and setters.
Cryptic Corner with Susie Mesure will be on Tuesday, 15
July·18:30 – 20:30 at The Montpellier, 43 Choumert Road, London SE15 4AR. A
friendly meeting to discuss cryptic crosswords and solve a puzzle.
***
Yet another comedian has started setting crosswords. Angela Barnes has had her
first puzzle published in The Guardian under the pseudonym of Ariel. You can
read the article here.
***
Best wishes
Derek
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