Crossword News October 2026
The September Prize Puzzle was I am the Eggman by Henri. Dots
replacing the nine letters omitted from clues form a 3x3 square in the middle
of the grid. Omitted letters rearrange to INVENTIVE, here meaning
"thinking outside the box". Twelve answers are too long for their
grid space and extend beyond the edges of the grid, spelling SAM LOYDS DOTS,
referring to 'Nine Dots’ (original name: ‘Columbus Egg Puzzle’), a classic
mathematical puzzle that is the origin of the phrase "thinking outside the
box”. Solvers must solve the Nine Dots puzzle, i.e. draw four straight lines
connecting the dots in a single pen stroke. There is more than one correct
solution but they all involve moving the pen beyond the space bounded by the nine
dots.
Here are some of the comments from solvers.
For me this was a sophisticated puzzle which gradually
revealed what was required. Excellent cluing built around a very clever
presentation of the theme. Top marks all round.
Obviously I couldn't know what to do with the long answers
until I had some checking letters, so it didn't bother me too much when I found
that 8d could be AUGER or AUGUR and 28d could be WEILS or WIELS. Once I had
some checking letters it seemed that the first letter needed to be removed, but
then I found some which needed the last letter to go and I then noticed that
the "removed" letter would be correctly positioned if placed next to
the entry outside the grid. It possibly helped that a recent Guardian Genius
puzzle used the same idea, also linked to 'thinking outside the box'. I didn't
notice until I had finished that the long answers were symmetrically placed. I
remembered solving a Crossword Centre puzzle based on the Nine Dots puzzle and
I eventually found it was Beyond the Pale by Curmudgeon (April 2013)
Wonderful grid construction. Management consultants would
love your thinking "outside the box". This gave what seemed to be the
appropriate way to solve Sam Loyd's puzzle. One with which I was familiar, but
glad to be introduced to broader oeuvre of the designer.
There were 51 entries and all were marked correct. The first
name out of the hat was Andie Johnson, who will be receiving a prize of Chambers
Crossword Dictionary which was donated by Chambers.
There is a full solution at https://crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2026/10/am-eggman-by-henri-solution-dots.html
You still have lots of time to enter the October puzzle, Bad
Actors by Pandiculator. https://crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2026/09/october-2026-bad-actors-by-pandiculator.html
The November puzzle will be Higher Calling by Hedge-sparrow.
At present, we have no puzzles for 2027. Any submissions
would be appreciated.
***
When the Independent went online in 2016, it was pleasing that the cryptic
crossword was available on the website. The editor, Mike Hutchinson, had a
knack for finding new talent and he gave many of our current setters their
first publication. However, we now know that from the end of October, the
cryptic crossword will cease.
It was suggested that writing to the Independent would,
perhaps, change their mind and there are lots of comments on https://fifteensquared.net/2026/09/21/independent-cryptic-crossword-the-future/
Those that wrote have received this reply.
Dear reader
Thank you for contacting us regarding The Independent cryptic crossword.
As you know, we have decided to end our cryptic crossword
from later this year. The decision was not one taken lightly, but we could see
that relatively small numbers of people were starting the crosswords each day,
making them financially unsustainable.
We will, however, be adding several different types of
new puzzle to our offering to members also later this year. We will
additionally retain the daily concise crossword, and there will be a weekly
general knowledge crossword. I realise that for some people this will not make
up for the loss of the daily cryptic.
I am sorry this will not be the response you were hoping
for, but thank you for taking the time to write in and make your feelings
known.
Yours faithfully,
Richard Best
***
The newly revived CCCWC has got off to a promising start and the website, designed
by Adam Vellender, is working beautifully.
For October the challenge is to write a normal cryptic clue
to PRACTICAL.
The results are in for the voting for clues to COMEBACK.
1st Chris Lancaster 66.5 pts
Return and order starter of Big Mac and Coke (8) {B(ig) MAC COKE}
2nd Steve Randall 59 pts
Champion trails lively outsiders in Monte Carlo Rally
3rd Phil Stephenson 39 pts
Common drug to help recovery
4th Mike Heddon 34 pts
Husband discharged from chemo treatment to spine makes recovery
5th Oliver Brown 33 pts
Timeless heavenly body with tail makes reappearance (8)
6th Will Manson 32 pts
Spooner’s behind crap quip (8)
Also voted into the top 10 were John Appleton, Satyen Nabar,
John D Walsh and Erik Dawid.
Voting has started on the clues to CHARACTER. So far 92
users have registered and there are 47 excellent clues to judge.
It is easy to sign up. Just enter your email address and
choose your own password.
When voting, you'll see that you can award up to 15 points
in total with no more than five to any single clue. You can also give
"merits" to any clues you feel deserve some praise but don't quite
earn your points. You can also leave comments on clues; these should be kind
and constructive please. You'll likely find the voting interface a bit nicer on
a bigger screen (e.g. laptop) than on a smaller one (e.g. phone). Happy voting!
https://clue.vellender.com/
***
The 2027 3D Crossword Calendar is published now. You can order a printed
calendar for £14.50 or a virtual one for £12.50. As usual, you get a 3D
crossword for every month and all profits go to RNIB and BBC Children in Need.
https://3dcalendarpuzzles.co.uk/shop/
If you are going to the York S & B you can buy the
calendar in person.
***
With only
two weeks until the York S & B, John Henderson is asking for final
confirmation of bookings for catering. It looks likely that there will be almost
80 people attending and it is fantastic that the event has become so popular.
https://fifteensquared.net/2026/10/02/sb-york-2026-friday-23-saturday-24-october-important-update/
***
THE TIMES LISTENER CROSSWORD SETTERS’ DINNER 2027 will take place on Saturday 3
April 2027 at St George’s Hotel, The Promenade, Llandudno. The cost of the
dinner will be £62 per head for three courses (plus coffee), with a choice at
each course, and any special dietary needs catered for. A menu will be sent out
nearer the time.
***
I would like to recommend MyCrossword (https://www.mycrossword.co.uk/
), a site which is encouraging new setters to design their own grids and produce
their own puzzles. There is lots of advice, with lists of anagram, hidden, and container
indicators etc. There are always crosswords to solve and I quite liked this one
by Ruskin. https://www.mycrossword.co.uk/featured/21
Best wishes
Derek
·
Beyond the Pale by Curmudgeon http://www.crossword.org.uk/beyond.html
