I didn’t realise that Twin’s first Listener was back in 2017. Since then he has had pretty much one a year, including two wins of the Ascot Gold Cup (Tip-top Condition in 2020 and Singles Only in 2022). He was also one of the five finalists in last year’s Times Crossword Championship.
Independent 12,008 / Mog
Unusually, Mog is occupying the Friday slot today, with a puzzle which, for me at least, was towards the higher end of the Indy difficulty spectrum.
Guardian 29,660 / Enigmatist
It was a bit of a shock to see Enigmatist on a Friday, after three consecutive Prize puzzles fairly recently.
Financial Times 18,017 by SOLOMON
A solid challenge from SOLOMON this fine Friday morning!
Guardian Cryptic 29,659 by Brockwell
A nice, slow, solve…
Independent 12007 / Twin
Puzzles by Twin are appearing monthly in the Independent cryptic series at the moment.
Financial Times 18,016 by STEERPIKE
Steerpike is today's FT setter.
Enigmatic Variations No. 1687: I Am What I Am by Artix
Did anyone else have Gloria Gaynor’s ‘I AM WHAT I AM’ earworming as they solved this pretty tough jigsaw puzzle?…
Independent 12,006 by Eccles
Eccles is back in his usual Wednesday slot this week, which means he’s found me blogging again . . .
Guardian 29,658 – Paul
A rather tricky puzzle, though one where the clues eventually led satisfyingly, if sometimes deviously, to the answers. Thanks to Paul.
Financial Times 18,015 by JULIUS
A fine puzzle from Julius this morning!
Important maintenance notice
Important maintenance notice
New crossword site added to links page
I’ve added a new link to the links page. The new link is: Bob Rotheram’s crosswords. For all links, see here: https://www.fifteensquared.net/links/
Inquisitor 1900: Nine in One Hundred by PINK
PINK – what other combo would we expect for a centenary puzzle?
Preamble: Clues are in normal order. Solvers must temporarily insert the same letter into each of the barred-off cells such that it could be plugged correctly into the circumscribing 8-letter words; a phrase describing the outcome (6, 9) must be written under the grid.
Financial Times 18014 Monk
Thank you to Monk. Definitions are underlined in the clues.