Our Christmas Eve cryptic challenge has been set by eimi, perhaps better known to many for his general knowledge puzzles in the i at the weekend. It has been a while since I have solved one of his cryptics, and I am wondering if there is any significance in his name being spelt with a lower-case “e”, both alongside the puzzle and in the clue at 6.
Day: 24 December 2025
Enigmatic Variations 1725 10 Across by Raffles
Two clue devices this week. Extra letters in the wordplay and misprints in some definitions. Also 10 unclued entries and a piece of encryption to solve at the end. The gentleman amateur cracksman is our setter – for those who remember the novels by E W Hornung or Anthony Valentine on TV in the early 70s
Financial Times 18,248 by MONK
Thanks to Monk for a fabulous puzzle.
Guardian 29,886 / Pangakupu
An entertaining puzzle from Pangakupu to accompany the festive preparations