Comments on: Inquisitor 1130 – The Magnificent Seven by Raich

By: Dave Wichall

Dave Wichall — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 10:55:53 +0000

Correction to previous: soldiers once = YEOMEN, dumping old = YEMEN. Apologies.

By: Dave Wichall

Dave Wichall — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 10:53:08 +0000

As a newcomer to this excellent site, I enjoyed above analyses and comments, having just reached this puzzle in my backlog. But disagreed with Peter’s reading of 17A. Instead, old soldiers = YEOMEN, dumping old = YEMEN.

By: Peter Biddlecombe

Peter Biddlecombe — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 10:07:21 +0000

Sorry Raich, I missed your comment until reviewing this when blogging another puzzle with the same theme.

For me, “cheeky” as used in relation to 14A means that something is cheeky but on the right side of the imaginary line between fair and unfair.

On the easiness of the theme, I think the puzzle would have worked better for me without the green/white background and “seven” in the title. Then the theme would have been very probable given the date and two sets of eleven treated answers (never mind my extra advantage from personal knowledge), but it would have needed confirmation.

By: Raich

Raich — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 08:27:09 +0000

There is a long tradition in the thematic crossword word of puzzles to mark special occasions eg centenaries etc etc. In such cases the solver will often have an inkling before starting of what the theme of the puzzle might be. The puzzle still has to be solved however and hopefully enjoyed.

While one can but admire the blogger’s ability to work it all out in five minutes, other feedback, in this blog and otherwise, suggests this was not a general experience. It must be remembered that the blogger is a distinguished former holder of the Times Crossword (speed-solving) Championship.

Raich has rarely seen a case in which one clue in a Raich puzzle has been selected by such a high proportion for favourable mention as the ARLOTT clue here (14A). Regarding the accent (umlaut), in fohn (forgive its absence here), I did not notice it when setting, but, if I had, would still have run with it, I think, on the basis surmised, ie the convention that accents are ignored in grid answers. The misprint gave the J of JULES RIMET. J is not an easy letter to find a misprint for!

By: HolyGhost

HolyGhost — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 21:01:45 +0000

Concur in general with Pete B, and in particular with his comment #4 and also accent in the clue for 14a.

By: Hi of Hihoba

Hi of Hihoba — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 22:59:59 +0000

Pretty straightforward, though I didn’t realise until solving this how few world-cup winning teams there were!
I just loved the definition of ARLOTT as “Test-describing John”!!

By: Peter Biddlecombe

Peter Biddlecombe — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 08:09:45 +0000

Mike: Perhaps it would have been more accurate to say that anyone remotely … should have been able to name the seven if they were told that there were seven. All bar Uruguay seem very easy to remember, and Uruguay won the first one.

By: Hypnos

Hypnos — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 18:50:15 +0000

Only understood the topical theme when I saw WORLD appearing in the NW diagonal. Some great clues, particularly liked
the disguise in the reference to John Arlott in 14ac. Also liked the subtle red herrings in some clues to the film
with the title. Wonder whether there might be an “Awesome Eight” by the end of SA 2010…

By: Mike Laws

Mike Laws — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 13:18:07 +0000

“which anyone with the remotest interest in sport must know has been won by seven countries – Uruguay, Italy, Brazil, England, West Germany, Argentina and France”

Even the most ardent footy fanatics in my local couldn’t remember that off the cuff, and struggled to name them accurately. The landlord was convinced there were eight!

But that was last year, when I was solving Raich original submission, so perhaps they have an excuse.

Wetherspoon’s don’t, though. Their promotion of wines from World-Cup-winning countries only featured six flags. There’s now perhaps a minor irony in the fact that it was France they’d omitted.

By: Bannsider

Bannsider — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 21:28:36 +0000

Although as Peter says the theme came out quite readily, I enjoyed this, particularly as I was on holiday when I solved it, so appreciated the fact that is wasn’t TOO complicated! I forgot about the “W” to be added to Germany, and was considering the possibility of “Italia” before the pfennig dropped