RIP – Hectence/Zamorca
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YORK SLOGGERS & BETTERS 2026
Friday 23rd-Sunday 25th October 2026 I’m pleased to announce that the York Sloggers & Betters event is once again scheduled for “Clock Weekend”, allowing everyone an extra hour to recover from Friday and … Read more >>
Financial Times 18407 GAFF
Thank you to Gaff. Definitions are underlined in the clues.
Inquisitor 1964: Rescheduled Appearance by Phi
This week’s Inquisitor is set by Phi, the most prolific setter of Inquisitor puzzles. Phi also sets daily puzzles for the Independent and the Guardian (as Pangakupu).
Guardian 30,040: Chandler
Chandler is more commonly seen as a setter of Quiptics and Quick Cryptics, but has upped the difficulty level a little in this puzzle. There are some easier clues too, with a couple of nice anagrams, and elegant surfaces. Thanks to Chandler.
Independent 12,389 by Hoskins
I’m a stranger in these parts: I normally give here a link to the crossword, but to find where the Independent hides theirs would take me more time than I can .reasonably afford
Spectator 2,755 – Über cero
One for the linguists (and maybe the mathematicians?)
Independent 12,388/Hubble
A pleasing and reasonably accessible puzzle from Hubble to get the crosswording week in the Independent underway.
Financial Times 18,406 by MOO
MOO kicks off the week…
Guardian Cryptic crossword No 30,039 by Vulcan
A slightly tougher than normal Monday puzzle from Vulcan?
Financial Times 18,405 by Julius
Puzzle from the Weekend FT of June 21, 2026
Guardian Quiptic 1,387/Budmo
Budmo in the Quiptic slot this week, with an accessible and enjoyable puzzle.
Independent on Sunday 1,895 by Filbert
Another superb Sunday puzzle from Filbert
Everyman 4,156
Most of the usual things are here and highlighted in the grid. A pleasant crossword from Everyman, and the only criticisms are not very major and indicated in the blog.
Definitions in crimson (?? It looks as if I’ve made a mistake in setting things: the answers are in crimson but not the definitions; sorry), underlined. Indicators (homophone, hidden, containment, anagram, juxtaposition, etc) in italics. Anagrams indicated *(like this) or (like this)*. Link-words in green.
Gemelo No. 37
An excellent crossword, not easy but — as should be the case — its difficulties were conquerable with some persistence. It seems to me that, with one or two very very slight exceptions, Gemelo has been scrupulous in his accuracy.
My guess is that anyone who does these crosswords will have a copy of Chambers to hand and so won’t need everything to be spelled out. In the parsing I have confined myself to explaining when the wordplay is not immediately clear.
Definitions in crimson, underlined. Anagrams indicated *(like this) or (like this)*
Independent 12,387 by Mog
Hello everyone
“To err is human, to nearly blog the answers to a national paper crossword a day early: moronic”