Beginners can try out the first preliminary puzzle here.
Keys are : definition in BOLD , wordplay in italics and keywords in italics and in brackets ( ).
Advanced solvers can try out here.
Jay
Monday, December 3, 2012
Sunday, November 18, 2012
The Times Crossword Championship 2012- Part 3
Typically, a crossword is set to be completed over breakfast or on the way to work in a bus or train.
So, most crossword solvers would be very happy to finish a Times crossword in 1 hour. That would be an admirable feat in and of itself - day in , day out to solve some of the best deceptive surface readings ever.
A Times crossword is also fairly set - having a mixture of straightforward clues like anagrams and hidden words as well as employing witty definitions. Half the battle is won if you can identify what the definition is! In every clue, the definition is either at the start or the end of the sentence.If you can narrow it down to one side, the brain has something manageable to do - scan for synonyms.
One of the ways to speed up the solving process is to develop a broad vocabulary so that synonyms are reachable. When you are starting solving crosswords, ( and for a number of years after that ) you absolutely need a thesaurus and a crossword dictionary. Don't be ashamed to refer to it constantly.
In the competition, of course, there is no recourse to any sort of reference material. The calibre of the competitors is apparent. They all have a huge vocabulary. However, I am told that these days, crosswords of all sorts have 'dumbed down' to accommodate the masses who do not have Latin and Greek at their fingertips! So just imagine - the scale of difficulty that was accepted before is unacceptable now.
This was neatly illustrated when Mark Goodliffe ( winner of 5 championships in a row from 2008 to 2012 ) was asked to solve 3 Times puzzles from different eras. He could not quite finish the earliest one!
This is a champion who is now in a league of his own. The comparison to Usain Bolt is apt. Here is a direct quote from the Times article the day after Mark won his sixth title.
"Not content with dashing off the answers to three cryptic puzzles in only 20 minutes, he reached down,picked up the Saturday Review, and turned to the Jumbo cryptic crossword.
Just after the runner-up, Jason James, completed his puzzles in a time of 30 minutes, Mr. Goodliffe had rattled off all 60 answers to the additional double-sized grid. It was as if Usain Bolt had reached the finishing line so far ahead of his rivals that he decided to turn back and do the last two thirds of the race again"
There you go. Do we stop running just because there is a Usain Bolt? No, we don't. The Times Crossword is an everyday challenge that you and I can do and improve on.
When I first started doing it in the NST a few years back it was because I had reached the point where I was solving the Star crossword pretty fast. It was not that challenging anymore. However, theStar Crossword is a good place to begin for new solvers. Stay at it for a couple of years before you even look at the NST crossword!
In the early days , it was very hard going. The 2 hours i would just set aside for 1 puzzle would be fruitless. On average - just 5 clues solved out of 30 or so. But doing it every day over a couple of years has made it reachable by way of completing it. Granted, some days the challenge is phenomenally hard but on most days it is doable.
So, in a way, the time it took to solve one of the crosswords had come down drastically over the 2 years. Literally from an infinite period of time I was able to bring solving time to a matter of hours.
If the sporting metaphor is to be used, I would compare it to a paralysed person who completes the marathon where a few years before he could not imagine himself running.
While we admire ferocious speed, the thing to take back from this competition is the unique journey undertaken by 180 contestants or so to finally take part in the Times Crossword Championship and in looking back - see how far they have come.
Jay
So, most crossword solvers would be very happy to finish a Times crossword in 1 hour. That would be an admirable feat in and of itself - day in , day out to solve some of the best deceptive surface readings ever.
A Times crossword is also fairly set - having a mixture of straightforward clues like anagrams and hidden words as well as employing witty definitions. Half the battle is won if you can identify what the definition is! In every clue, the definition is either at the start or the end of the sentence.If you can narrow it down to one side, the brain has something manageable to do - scan for synonyms.
One of the ways to speed up the solving process is to develop a broad vocabulary so that synonyms are reachable. When you are starting solving crosswords, ( and for a number of years after that ) you absolutely need a thesaurus and a crossword dictionary. Don't be ashamed to refer to it constantly.
In the competition, of course, there is no recourse to any sort of reference material. The calibre of the competitors is apparent. They all have a huge vocabulary. However, I am told that these days, crosswords of all sorts have 'dumbed down' to accommodate the masses who do not have Latin and Greek at their fingertips! So just imagine - the scale of difficulty that was accepted before is unacceptable now.
This was neatly illustrated when Mark Goodliffe ( winner of 5 championships in a row from 2008 to 2012 ) was asked to solve 3 Times puzzles from different eras. He could not quite finish the earliest one!
This is a champion who is now in a league of his own. The comparison to Usain Bolt is apt. Here is a direct quote from the Times article the day after Mark won his sixth title.
"Not content with dashing off the answers to three cryptic puzzles in only 20 minutes, he reached down,picked up the Saturday Review, and turned to the Jumbo cryptic crossword.
Just after the runner-up, Jason James, completed his puzzles in a time of 30 minutes, Mr. Goodliffe had rattled off all 60 answers to the additional double-sized grid. It was as if Usain Bolt had reached the finishing line so far ahead of his rivals that he decided to turn back and do the last two thirds of the race again"
 | ||
| Mark "12 secs a clue" Goodliffe |
There you go. Do we stop running just because there is a Usain Bolt? No, we don't. The Times Crossword is an everyday challenge that you and I can do and improve on.
When I first started doing it in the NST a few years back it was because I had reached the point where I was solving the Star crossword pretty fast. It was not that challenging anymore. However, theStar Crossword is a good place to begin for new solvers. Stay at it for a couple of years before you even look at the NST crossword!
In the early days , it was very hard going. The 2 hours i would just set aside for 1 puzzle would be fruitless. On average - just 5 clues solved out of 30 or so. But doing it every day over a couple of years has made it reachable by way of completing it. Granted, some days the challenge is phenomenally hard but on most days it is doable.
So, in a way, the time it took to solve one of the crosswords had come down drastically over the 2 years. Literally from an infinite period of time I was able to bring solving time to a matter of hours.
If the sporting metaphor is to be used, I would compare it to a paralysed person who completes the marathon where a few years before he could not imagine himself running.
While we admire ferocious speed, the thing to take back from this competition is the unique journey undertaken by 180 contestants or so to finally take part in the Times Crossword Championship and in looking back - see how far they have come.
Jay
Friday, November 16, 2012
The Times Crosword Championship 2012- Part 2
If I understood John clearly, each puzzle was set by an individual setter. That was interesting. Normally, the Times crossword is the work of several setters.
Would each crossword reveal something unique ?
Here are the anagram clues in First Preliminary - Puzzle No 1.
X8. "Distinguished artists" is a term translated here (7)
Y8. Pilot coming out of marina, at sea (6)
Z8. Like incorrect shop signs, perhaps, I stood changing (13)
A9. Violently shattering, put back in order (10 )
Double Definition Clues
B9. Deduce it's a no-win situation (4)
C9. Reckless game bird (7)
D9. Saw what something obvious doesn't need (6)
Charade Clues
E9. Boast by legal group that can exert powerful leverage (7)
F9. Halt source of whisky on base (10)
G9. Trendy point of view, for example (8)
The second preliminary proceeded after an hour. We left for lunch and hoped to make it back for the finals 2 hours later.
to be continued....
Jay
Would each crossword reveal something unique ?
Here are the anagram clues in First Preliminary - Puzzle No 1.
X8. "Distinguished artists" is a term translated here (7)
Y8. Pilot coming out of marina, at sea (6)
Z8. Like incorrect shop signs, perhaps, I stood changing (13)
A9. Violently shattering, put back in order (10 )
Double Definition Clues
B9. Deduce it's a no-win situation (4)
C9. Reckless game bird (7)
D9. Saw what something obvious doesn't need (6)
Charade Clues
E9. Boast by legal group that can exert powerful leverage (7)
F9. Halt source of whisky on base (10)
G9. Trendy point of view, for example (8)
The second preliminary proceeded after an hour. We left for lunch and hoped to make it back for the finals 2 hours later.
to be continued....
Jay
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
The Times Crossword Championship 2012- Part1
 |
| Here at last! |
The previous year I had missed going to a pub quiz conducted by one John Henderson - highly recommended by Priya. This time around I was hopeful not to miss it. The same night, however, we had got tickets for the stage version of "Chariots of Fire" and that was a must-see. As there was time afterwords, we made our way to the White Hart at Whitechapel. The pub quiz had a few rounds left and I had a glimpse into how John skillfully constructed each round of questions with a common thread linking the answers.When it was over , I was introduced to John Henderson aka The Enigmatist - a master crossword setter and solver.
 | ||||
| With the Enigmatist |
We had a nice chat regarding - what else ? - crosswords and cluing. It was then he casually mentioned that THE Times Crossword Championship was being held that Saturday! He was part of the organizing team and was not taking part AND he was responsible for 1 of the competition crosswords!
Ever since I was hooked on the Times crossword ( featured in our NST ) I had read quite a bit about this legendary competition. John was the winner in 1996.I mentioned to Priya that we had to attend the competition.Turned out it was within walking distance from where she lived!
John kindly got our names and said that we would be invited as special guests and all we had to do was to inform security of our names!
Now crossword solving is not a spectator sport - and I'm sure that he was very happy at having us there and experiencing a rare treat. The fastest solvers as well as solvers who wanted to see how they fare in a competition - would be there. He mentioned that it was too late to accept new entries!
Being aware of the format - 2 heats and 1 final - each of them with 3 crosswords to solve in 1 hour - I knew that I did not have the speed to complete even 1 crossword in that time.
 | |||||
| hmm, crosswords... |
 |
| 1st heat of the Championship about to get underway |
Soon, an announcement was made and 90 contestants got into the competition hall. There was an introduction by Richard Browne, the Times crossword editor. Then David Levy, the organizer , rattled out some of the rules - clear writing, no usage of any other blank paper and absolutely no phones ringing. With that, the competition began.
 | ||
| Sole Spectator |
Twenty five minutes into the heats , we had the 1st submission. 3 crosswords with 90 clues done in less than half an hour. Talk about fast! The hour drew near and the 1st heat was over. As the contestants went out for tea and snacks, Priya and I met up with a couple of old friends I had met the year before.They remembered me as Derek Harrison's friend. First was Oli Grant.
 | |||
| Oli and Jay |
 | |||
| Chris and Priya |
Soon, the results were announced - the first 12 would go into the finals.Oli made it!
 | |||
| Closest I'll come to... |
Jay
Sunday, November 4, 2012
X-Factor Answers Explanation
Visual Key to Clue Analysis :
Definition : BOLD
Wordplay : Italics with keywords underlined as well
Link : Normal
___________________________________________________________
O8. Stunts with tree feller none of them ending in disappointment (10)
stunts = antics
tree = lime
feller = axe
none of them with ending means take out the last letter for all of them.Then we have
antic lim ax = anticlimax = disappointment
P8. Whirlwind romance's beginning in proposal with kiss (6)
romance's beginning = R
proposal = vote
kiss = X
VO R TE X
vortex = whirlwind
Q8. Take plane from here, perhaps to circle lake and wood (7)
to = TO circle = O lake = L wood = BOX
TOOLBOX = take plane from here, perhaps ( Toolbox contains a variety of tools, of which , plane is one. )
R8. Cross on a German square depicting St. Francis (6)
cross = X
a German square = a vier
X a vier
S8. Trots like this? Ran six miles in bursts between motorways (7-8)
bursts is anagram indicator and fodder is "ran six miles in"
motorway = M
Hence we have answer outline as follows : M (ransixmilesin M
Definition is very neat - referring to Trots as Commies and not the Verb
Commies love Marxism-Leninism
T8. Stuffing mix ready for mincing on time (9)
Mincing is anagram indicator and refers to mixready
last letter is T ( time )
we have Taxidermy = Stuffing
U8. After border exchange, old German immigrant comes to this island (5)
old German immigrant = Saxon
Saxon ( after border exchange ) = Naxos which is an island
V8. Fellow had audience at Palace, perhaps, taking in Times article and some verse (9)
Fellow = He
had audience at Palace, perhaps = met ER ( er being queen )
times article = X A
He XA meter = hexameter = some verse
W8. Compound I travel round on farm animal (4,5)
i travel = i ride
round is containment indicator
i ride is around ON OX (farm animal )
I R ON OX IDE = compound
Jay
Definition : BOLD
Wordplay : Italics with keywords underlined as well
Link : Normal
___________________________________________________________
O8. Stunts with tree feller none of them ending in disappointment (10)
stunts = antics
tree = lime
feller = axe
none of them with ending means take out the last letter for all of them.Then we have
antic lim ax = anticlimax = disappointment
P8. Whirlwind romance's beginning in proposal with kiss (6)
romance's beginning = R
proposal = vote
kiss = X
VO R TE X
vortex = whirlwind
Q8. Take plane from here, perhaps to circle lake and wood (7)
to = TO circle = O lake = L wood = BOX
TOOLBOX = take plane from here, perhaps ( Toolbox contains a variety of tools, of which , plane is one. )
R8. Cross on a German square depicting St. Francis (6)
cross = X
a German square = a vier
X a vier
S8. Trots like this? Ran six miles in bursts between motorways (7-8)
bursts is anagram indicator and fodder is "ran six miles in"
motorway = M
Hence we have answer outline as follows : M (ransixmilesin M
Definition is very neat - referring to Trots as Commies and not the Verb
Commies love Marxism-Leninism
T8. Stuffing mix ready for mincing on time (9)
Mincing is anagram indicator and refers to mixready
last letter is T ( time )
we have Taxidermy = Stuffing
U8. After border exchange, old German immigrant comes to this island (5)
old German immigrant = Saxon
Saxon ( after border exchange ) = Naxos which is an island
V8. Fellow had audience at Palace, perhaps, taking in Times article and some verse (9)
Fellow = He
had audience at Palace, perhaps = met ER ( er being queen )
times article = X A
He XA meter = hexameter = some verse
W8. Compound I travel round on farm animal (4,5)
i travel = i ride
round is containment indicator
i ride is around ON OX (farm animal )
I R ON OX IDE = compound
Jay
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
X Factor
Recently, NST had a single crossword in which there were 9 answers with X in each of them.Here are the clues.
O8. Stunts with tree feller none of them ending in disappointment (10) _ _ _ I _ _ _ _ A _
P8. Whirlwind romance's beginning in proposal with kiss (6) _ O _ _ _ _
Q8. Take plane from here, perhaps to circle lake and wood (7) _ O _ _ _ O _
R8. Cross on a German square depicting St. Francis (6) _ _ _ I _ _
S8. Trots like this? Ran six miles in bursts between motorways (7-8) _ _ R _ _ S _ _ E _ _ N _ _ _
T8. Stuffing mix ready for mincing on time (9) _ _ _ _ D _ _ _ _
U8. After border exchange, old German immigrant comes to this island (5) _ A _ _ _
V8. Fellow had audience at Palace, perhaps, taking in Times article and some verse (9) H _ _ _ _ E _ _ _
W8. Compound I travel round on farm animal (4,5) _ R _ _ _ _ _ D _
Jay
O8. Stunts with tree feller none of them ending in disappointment (10) _ _ _ I _ _ _ _ A _
P8. Whirlwind romance's beginning in proposal with kiss (6) _ O _ _ _ _
Q8. Take plane from here, perhaps to circle lake and wood (7) _ O _ _ _ O _
R8. Cross on a German square depicting St. Francis (6) _ _ _ I _ _
S8. Trots like this? Ran six miles in bursts between motorways (7-8) _ _ R _ _ S _ _ E _ _ N _ _ _
T8. Stuffing mix ready for mincing on time (9) _ _ _ _ D _ _ _ _
U8. After border exchange, old German immigrant comes to this island (5) _ A _ _ _
V8. Fellow had audience at Palace, perhaps, taking in Times article and some verse (9) H _ _ _ _ E _ _ _
W8. Compound I travel round on farm animal (4,5) _ R _ _ _ _ _ D _
Jay
Explanation for Potpourri 18
Visual Key to Clue Analysis :
Definition : BOLD
Wordplay : Italics with keywords underlined as well
Link : Normal
___________________________________________________________
G8. Report about
heroin and cannabis
Report = bang
Heroin = h
Bang about h = bhang = cannabis
H8. Try to get a lift
in Northumberland
In is containment indicator ; answer is in norTHUMBerland
I8. American ally about to control one African country
American ally = Bud ( short for buddy )
About is containment indicator
Control = run one
= i
BU RUN D I = African
country
J8. They make fast
speed when sailing under marine hazard
Speed when sailing = knots
Under indicates positional indicator
Marine hazard = reef
Reef knots is the answer
K8. She's eye-pleasing but out
Out is anagram indicator
Rearranging “eye pleasing but” we have Sleeping Beauty
L8. Compassionate
and at first cock-a-hoop?
At first cock = C
A hoop = a ring
Answer is Caring
M8. Walk quietly around inner most part of Chinese
area - you might see this?
Walk quietly = pad
Inner most part of chiNese = N
Area = A
Around is containment indicator
PA N D A is the answer
N8. Dealer turning up A Study in Scarlet
, perhaps ?
A study in Scarlet = red art
Reversing it we have Trader
Jay
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