Magwitch gives us company this Friday morning – with a challenge filled with straightforward elegant cluing as has come to be expected of her. Quite a lot easier compared to her earlier grids so an excellent opportunity for newbies at the FT to get familiar with the solving experience. Thanks Magwitch !
Turbolegs
Financial Times 14,961 by MUDD
A gentle offering today from MUDD, which was easy going for most part except for a couple of words that seemed like an anamoly in an otherwise straightforward grid. Some clues bordered on being just a tad contrived but easily offset by the crispness of several others.
Financial Times 14,955 by CHALMIE
To B or not to B !! Chalmie serves up a delectable challenge which was equal parts difficult as it was innovative – one can never say “Been there, done that!” with any of his grids and so that made it an exciting solve. I had to resort to confirming several answers on the internet so that possibly took a bit of the aura away, and I am not sure about the accuracy of one clue. But truly this is one grid that Rowan Atkinson would have loved to solve.
Financial Times 14,943 by GOZO
A fun challenge from Gozo today, thanks to whom for serving up a real 20d ! 🙂 I got to the theme pretty quickly but then got held up by the NE quadrant, which to most others would have been quite workable. Thanks to Gaufrid for the prop up there.
Financial Times 14,937 by ALBERICH
A fantastic puzzle from Alberich which I got around to solving only pretty late in the day. But it was well worth the wait, with an eclectic mix of innovative cluing and precise wordplay. Thorough enjoyed this. Had to google to confirm a couple of responses but otherwise all good !!
Financial Times 14,931 by REDSHANK
A delightful pleasant puzzle from a much welcome setter today. Redshank gives us a relatively easy challenge with appropriate sprinkles of innovative cluing and generally clean surfaces. A couple of clues caught my fancy, especially 24ac and 7d. Thanks to Redshank, who rounds off an incredible week for the FT aficionados.
Financial Times 14,925 by BRADMAN
A tough crossword from Bradman this, with a couple of words I have never had the pleasure of coming across before. If at all there was a theme in this puzzle, it would have been “Difficulty”! 🙂 Unusually mysterious crossword for the likes of the Don. It was an impossible complete-solve for me without using some digital help. Nevertheless, it was a fun-filled experience!
Financial Times 14,919 by WANDERER
A brilliant and superb puzzle from Wanderer today. I really enjoyed solving this every minute of the way, and while there are still a couple of clues that I need help parsing with, doesnt take anything away from the really nice afterglow of a good solve. Thanks Wanderer for an absolute treat today. There is a mini-theme around Russia / Russians but a quick googling didnt turn up anything significant related to today’s date – anybody with any ideas here?
Financial Times 14,916 by JASON
A straightforward puzzle from Jason meant a quick pleasurable solve. Got started with the anagrams and made quick progress from there. I do wonder if its ok to spell 20d as has been used in this grid. All in all, a fine treat – Thanks Jason.
Financial Times 14,913 by ALBERICH
My eyes lit up with glee when I saw who my setter was today. By the time I got through the crossword, the smile was wiped clean off. Amidst the battering and bruising, I still managed to enjoy several clues. Outclassed by Alberich today. A typical tale of an extraordinary setter meeting an ordinary solver. 🙂 Thanks to Gaufrid for the assistance where needed.
Financial Times 14,910 by GURNEY
An easy stroll this Tuesday from Gurney. Plenty of anagrams all over the place meant a quick solve despite which the experience was quite pleasant and appealing. Apologies for the late post as I had (and am having) a long day at work. I hope readers here have more discerning comments than I do, given my paucity of time.
Financial Times 14,907 by MUDD
Traveling on work and a full day meant I got to this Mudd challenge a lot later than I would have liked to – so apologies for the late post. I found this to be a tough challenge to begin with but gradually picked up steam along the way. Outclassed on a few clues that required googling to confirm or supplement the parsings. Some deviousness exhibited by Mudd – enough to leave me seeking a helping hand on the deconstruction for a couple as well.
Financial Times 14,901 by MAGWITCH
A gentle saunter of a grid today from Magwitch. Simple, inambiguous cluing for most part, ruffled ever so slightly by 8dn. Thanks to Magwitch for this Friday treat.
Financial Times No.14890 by Chalmie
The usual software tool I use to blog is down today so please bear with me on this one. Also apologies for the late post, as I was traveling and solved this in-flight. Not sure how this will turn out in the blog so do ignore any formatting issues too.
Maybe I get excited too easily but I absolutely enjoyed this delightful Chalmie teaser from start to finish, with hardly any clue that didnt make me go “Awesome!!”.
Financial Times 14,884 by WANDERER
Wanderer returns this Friday. He returns to try and expose my facade as a solver/blogger. He nearly succeeded.