Atrica sets the Tuesday challenge this week.
Cryptic crossword No 29,777 by Philistine
Philistine is today’s setter.
Financial Times 18,136 by SLORMGORM
SLORMGORM kicks off the week…
Independent 12,124 by Hoskins
This was a fairly gentle puzzle with no particularly difficult clues.
Cryptic crossword No 29,776 by Brummie
The puzzle may be found at https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/29776.
Financial Times 18,135 by Guy
Puzzle from the Weekend FT of August 16, 2025
Listener No 4877, “Romantic Piece”, A Setter’s Blog by Pandiculator
I wrote this puzzle in July 2023, so my memory of parts of the setting process is a little hazy. That said, the folder on my PC that I used for constructing it allows for a bit of archaeology, so I’ll outline the setting process here.
Guardian Quiptic 1,343/Chandler
Chandler has the Quiptic for us this week. Let’s see what the beginners and less experienced solvers made of this one.
Independent on Sunday 1,851 by Filbert
In the words of 3dn, another nutty dish from Filbert
Everyman 4,112
It seems that Everyman is now closer to producing the sort of pleasant sound straightforward crossword that we used to see in the Everyman slot and which had seemed to be things of the past.
Definitions in crimson, underlined. Indicators (anagram, homophone, juxtaposition, reversal, etc) in italics. Anagrams indicated *(like this) or (like this)*. Link-words in green,
Gemelo 4
Gemelo presents his fourth Observer Sunday cryptic crossword and gives me my first opportunity to blog his Sunday work. I have, however, blogged a number of puzzles under his alter ego, Twin, in the Independent series.
Independent 12023 by Coot
Coot – a new name for me to blog. As the premiership season begins.
Quick Cryptic 72 by Maskarade
This week’s 11 x 11 crossword from the Guardian, intended to teach cryptic crosswords, found here
Private Eye (Cyclops/810) Big? A Bit Much.
Cyclops still on puerile form with an Eye puzzle I found on the hard side this time.
Guardian Saturday Prize Crossword 29,769 by Brendan (9 August 2025)
Are you a methodical solver – start at the first A, work through to the last D – or a ‘flitter’ – eyes darting around the clues and looking for a quick way in?