Filbert has been seen regularly on Sundays recently in the Independent cryptic crossword series, so it is a pleasure to see him again midweek.
duncanshiell
Financial Times Sunday 104 – World by Gaff
This is my first venture into the Financial Times Sunday World puzzles that focus on a particular place in the World, with a number of the clues just providing wordplay to an answer associated with that particular place. It’s a different place each month.
The full blog is now available
Guardian Prize 29757 / Philistine
The Guardian Prize Crossword, published on Saturday 26th July, was set by Philistine.
Independent 12108 / Eccles
In the independent cryptic crossword world, Eccles is to Wednesday as Phi is to Friday.
Inquisitor 1917: By-blow by Ruli
We have a new setter for this week’s Inquisitor. Welcome to Ruli!
Independent 12104 / Ouroboros
I think this is a debut puzzle by Ouroborus, so Welcome!. Dictionaries tell me that ouruboros means a representation of a serpent with its tail in its mouth, symbolizing completion, totality, endlessness, etc. This puzzle therefore may be tricky.
Independent 12098 / Phi
As usual for a Friday Independent cryptic crossword, we have a puzzle from Phi
Inquisitor 1915: Circle Line/Central Line by Cranberry
One of the joys of solving Inquisitors is learning about the stories behind some of the quirky themes that setters use. Cranberry’s puzzle is an excellent example of scientific theory giving rise to an interesting practice.
Independent 12089 / Lette
Lette is a setter who first appeared in January this year and has since given us a puzzle every two months.
Azed 2767
We have a plain Azed puzzle this week. There is no competition and there are no controversial grid entries that I can see.
Independent 12084 / Eccles
Eccles provides the challenge today in his usual Wednesday slot, serving up a crossword with many well-known words as entries, but as usual, also with couple of entries that are not heard in conversation very often.
Inquisitor 1913: What Goes Around by Charybdis
Charybdis is a fairly prolific setter of Inquisitor crosswords with interesting end games.
Independent 12079 / Bluebird
The Independent crossword site has now been updated to show the correct puzzle.
We have a puzzle from Bluebird today, Thursday, a day when there is sometimes a theme in the clues or the grid.
Independent 12074 / Magus
This is the second Independent puzzle from Magus
Independent 12065 / Angel
Angel is an infrequent setter of Independent cryptic crosswords. This looks like the tenth since the first in 2020