Thanks to @somsram.bsky.social and www.1across.org for another great year of weekly #crypticclue writing contests! #1ACCWC I finished 4th overall behind Satyen Nabar, Textrous, and Ramki Krishnan. Last week was my 7th win (2nd to Satyen's 10 wins). Do they finally catch up? (5) 🥳🎉🥂 #downclue

#1ACCWC 548 #cryptic #clue #contest This week’s word is PARTY. Have you submitted a clue yet? www.1across.org/2025/11/30/1...

As a way to gently start my brain every morning, I like to do the Boston Globe Mini Crossword. My aim is to finish it in less than 60 seconds, but it usually takes me between 1 and 2 minutes. Until recently my record was 32 seconds, but today I blew that away because I solved it in only 17 SECONDS!

Issue 2 available for (pre)sale now: unchcrosswords.com

Don’t forget to cast your votes to help us pick the best of the lot @lowdowncryptic.bsky.social @tpgrammar.bsky.social

www.1across.org/2025/11/23/m... My blogpost on IXL 2025 and my journey this year.. Congrats to the toppers and the organizing team for all the fun. See you all in Bengaluru. #cryptic #crossword #IXL

Boudica led a doomed uprising against Rome. Her people were slaughtered. She chose poison over capture. Some stories deserve a sonnet. An epic in 14 lines:

Don’t forget to submit your clues before the deadline

Why not set a clue this week? And research a powerful woman while you're at it... www.1across.org/2025/11/23/1...

www.1across.org/2025/11/23/m... My blogpost on IXL 2025 and my journey this year.. Congrats to the toppers and the organizing team for all the fun. See you all in Bengaluru. #cryptic #crossword #IXL

#1ACCWC 546 Here are the results. Congrats to @clairebennie.bsky.social @sitterxwords.bsky.social @lowdowncryptic.bsky.social and others on the podium www.1across.org/2025/11/23/1...

#1ACCWC 546 www.1across.org/2025/11/21/1... Voting is open. All contestants must vote according to the rules of the contest. Anyone interested can also vote if they wish to. @lowdowncryptic.bsky.social @polslaw.bsky.social

www.1across.org/2025/11/16/1... Tough challenge this week. Don’t forget to submit your #cryptic #clues before the deadline #contest

Could you design a 3D Crossword? Have a go ... 3dcalendarpuzzles.co.uk/2025-world-c...

Here’s my second #cryptic for Nov. as #Enigmaya in Hindustan Times. Do solve. @lrlr.bsky.social @jonathanancer.bsky.social Sample clue Diversion and a deviation around summit (5, 4) www.hindustantimes.com/games/crypti... @enigmatistelgar.bsky.social @derekharrison.bsky.social

#1ACGrids www.1across.org/2025/11/16/g... Our twenty-first grid for this season is “Gentlemen” from “Avtaar”. Answers can be submitted by anyone who wishes to participate, on or before EOD 28th November 2025. Annotations for the puzzle will be posted in the blog on Saturday, 29th November, 2025.

Don’t forget to post your clue for “COMPLY” in this week’s cryptic clue contest

I wrote a blog post for @mycrossword.co.uk about how setters can identify and calibrate how difficult (or otherwise) their own puzzles are: www.mycrossword.co.uk/blog/the-dif... If you’re a setter, an aspiring setter or just curious as to how these things work - give it 4 minutes of your time! 😊

Wordle puzzle created by Somsram 4/6 ⬛🟨⬛⬛ 🟩⬛⬛🟨 🟩⬛🟨⬛ 🟩🟩🟩🟩

Can you solve my Wordle? Set a 4 letter word since it reminded me of good ol’ “Alpha Beta” that we used to play in childhood introduced to us by my brother. With some practice, didn’t even need pen and paper to track the Alphas (greens) and Betas (Yellows) www.nytimes.com/games/create...

#1ACCWC 545 New #cryptic #crossword #clue contest is up at 1Across.org All are welcome to participate. www.1across.org/2025/11/09/1...

1ACCWC 544 - MACHINE - Voting OPEN www.1across.org/2025/11/07/1... #cryptic #clue #contest

One of those days when I have puzzles out in as many as 5 publications - 3 mini puzzles and 2 cryptics. Try them all Sample clues They guide drivers parking in new / old Madras  (4,4) #hindu #crossword #hypatia Kind of rocking chair and desk (10) #HTcrossword #enigmaya

So happy to see my 150th cryptic crossword published in The Hindu today. It took over six years to achieve this milestone making it extra sweet! #cryptic #crossword @enigmatistelgar.bsky.social @derekharrison.bsky.social @lrlr.bsky.social @jonathanancer.bsky.social

#1ACGrids Our twentieth grid for this season is “Dictation” from “Mathrix”. Answers can be submitted by anyone who wishes to participate, on or before EOD 14th November 2025. Annotations for the puzzle will be posted in the blog on Saturday, 15th November, 2025. www.1across.org/2025/11/02/d...

#1ACCWC 544 New #cryptic #crossword #clue contest is up at 1Across.org All are welcome to participate. www.1across.org/2025/11/02/1...

www.1across.org/2025/11/02/1... Congrats @q.pheevr.ca @sitterxwords.bsky.social @magusurfe.bsky.social @clairebennie.bsky.social ⁩. Thanks for hosting relocating while relocating Abhay Phadnis⁩

@belaircon.bsky.social @mabuse.bsky.social

The November challenge from the Crossword Centre is Nonsense by Craft. crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2025/10/nove...

#1ACCWC 543 www.1across.org/2025/10/31/1... Time to vote folks - any one interested can vote. All those who have posted clues must vote as per the rules of the contest. Pl. vote before the Sunday morning deadline.

#1ACCWC 543 Have you set a #cryptic #clue for this week’s contest yet? Closing tomorrow.. www.1across.org/2025/10/19/1... #contest

#1ACCWC 542 Here are the results. Congrats to the Abhay, Ramki, @polslaw.bsky.social @lowdowncryptic.bsky.social @sitterxwords.bsky.social and other toppers. Thanks for hosting Textrous www.1across.org/2025/10/26/1...

#1ACCWC 542 https:// Don’t forget to vote for your favourite clues this week. Anyone is welcome to vote but all participants are required to vote as per the rules of the contest. @lowdowncryptic.bsky.social @belaircon.bsky.social www.1across.org/2025/10/24/1accwc-542-broadcast-voting-open/

#1ACCWC 542 Have you set a #cryptic #clue for this week’s contest yet? Closing tomorrow.. www.1across.org/2025/10/19/1...

youtu.be/5Il3Jl_G_3Y?... Uploaded this #video solve of Samurai’s Puzzle (#HT 22nd October) (Samit Kallianpur). Check it out if you are interested in #cryptic #crosswords #YouTube or learning to solve them

#1ACCWC 541 www.1across.org/2025/10/19/1... Congrats @lowdowncryptic.bsky.social @sitterxwords.bsky.social @polslaw.bsky.social and others on the podium 👏👏

Here’s my second #cryptic for October as #Enigmaya in Hindustan Times today. Sample clue Patronisingly elaborate name in mother's patent (9) www.hindustantimes.com/games/crypti... @derekharrison.bsky.social @enigmatistelgar.bsky.social @lrlr.bsky.social @jonathanancer.bsky.social

youtu.be/0PDmW3bZiaY #1ACGrids The solutions are up in the #1Across blog. Check how you did or give it a go if you havent solved it yet. Thanks Aquifer for a fun grid.

#1ACGrids www.1across.org/2025/10/19/d... Our nineteenth grid for this season is “Dispelling Darkness” from “Metacryptix”. Answers can be submitted by anyone who wishes to participate, on or before EOD 31st October 2025.

#1ACCWC 541 – OPULENCE - OPEN for CLUES www.1across.org/2025/10/12/1... via @somsram #cryptic #clue #contest This week’s word is OPULENCE. Have you submitted a clue yet?

Thanks for putting the humble IDLI in the New York Times crossword @stellaphone 👏👏 Nice to see your byline in the #NYT #crossword First the Google Doodle and now the #NYT - my comfort food is going places :) @rexparker.bsky.social

youtu.be/eWC5a8UqRUU Uploaded this video solve of Witty Cluester's Puzzle (#HT 14th October) (Ramki). Check it out if you are interested in #cryptic #crosswords or learning to solve them

Yesterday’s round was pretty challenging and will have to wait another week to see how that turned out. Meanwhile the top 3 are making us wonder if we should change the I of IXL to International. @enigmatistelgar.bsky.social @derekharrison.bsky.social @mickhodgkin.bsky.social @lrlr.bsky.social

#1ACCWC 540 - Time Vote for the best clues this week www.1across.org/2025/10/10/1... @lowdowncryptic.bsky.social @dbonowitz.bsky.social

#1ACCWC 540 #cryptic #clue #contest This week’s word is EXPLICIT. Have you submitted a clue yet? www.1across.org/2025/10/05/1...

#1ACGrids Forest Folk www.1across.org/2025/10/05/f... via @somsram Our latest grid by Aquifer is up in the blog now. Have fun #cryptic #crossword #contest #free #puzzle @enigmatistelgar.bsky.social @derekharrison.bsky.social @lrlr.bsky.social

#1ACGrids Forest Folk www.1across.org/2025/10/05/f... via @somsram Our latest grid by Aquifer is up in the blog now. Have fun #cryptic #crossword #contest #free #puzzle @enigmatistelgar.bsky.social @derekharrison.bsky.social @lrlr.bsky.social

I'm hosting the 1ACross Clue-Writing Competition again this week! #1ACCWC #cryptic #contest Please submit a cryptic clue for DELICATE and then come back to vote at the end of the week May the finest clue win! 😀

My second #cryptic for September as #Hypatia in out in The Hindu today. Sample clue Kid lost tackling a poor game - it's touch and go! (7) Check out the video of IXL Champ Ramki⁩ solving it here youtu.be/SrNKKYUJhsg?... @derekharrison.bsky.social @enigmatistelgar.bsky.social @lrlr.bsky.social

Thanks - I’ve entered a few times…. but not met with much approval till today!