| # | Name | Clue | Points | Voters | Anno | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ramki Krishnan | Coach about to leave for Manchester's first match (8) | 42 | 19 | CARRIAGE (coach) dropping C ("about to leave") for M (Manchester's first), def = match |
- Nice, misleading surface! |
| 2 | VMA Nair | Relationship where man and possibly a girl are expressing love, primarily (8) | 23 | 13 | (M)(A GIRL ARE - L)* |
- I love the use of expressing here. |
| 3 | N Anantakrishnan | From the baseline, Rafa returns accurately! It's game, set and match! | 23 | 12 | From the baseline (as in from the starting point) = first letter selection indicator. (R R A I Game)*. Set - anagram indicator. Def - match |
- Nice bit of misdirection with the collocation “game, set and match” - I think if "it''s" were cut I''d like this the most! - Convoluted but clever! |
| 4 | @LowdownCryptic | Homer's wife admits song upset their relationship? (8) | 19 | 10 | Homer's wife = MARGE (The Simpsons); admits = container ind; song = AIR; upset = reversal ind; their relationship = def |
- No points for indirect anagram! |
| 5 | Textrous | Union arm-twisted one in a fit of fury (8) | 18 | 12 | Def: Union; arm-twisted: MAR, one=I, a fit of fury=RAGE => MAR R(I)AGE | |
| 6 | Samit kallianpur | Man on a wagon, about to go for a wedding [8] | 17 | 10 | [M + (-C)arriage]. Man = m. A wagon = carriage. About to go = ind to delete C (about). Def= wedding. | |
| 7 | Rhiannon Vivian-Bolt | One overwhelmed by fury after hurt alliance ( 8 ) | 15 | 8 | MAR+R(I)AGE: charade clue. "one"->I, "overwhelmed by"-> containment indicator, "fury"->RAGE, "after"->indicator of order, "hurt"-> MAR, "alliance"->definition. | |
| 8 | Manish Jhaveri | Gamer managed to get right AI backing for match [8] | 13 | 10 | GAMER* (managed is anagram indicator) taking in R IA ; def = Match | |
| 9 | Vinay Narayanaswamy | A grim era disturbed an ever lasting union of love (8) | 12 | 8 | Anagram (indicated by disturbed) of "A grim era". Definition: An ever lasting union of love. | |
| 10 | Womble | A grim era unexpectedly begets a joyous occasion | 11 | 9 | Anagram of A GRIM ERA | |
| 11 | Satyen Nabar | Large amir exercising to lose pounds for wedding (8) | 11 | 8 | (LARGE AMIR)* - L; exercising= anag ind, to lose pounds= delete L, defn= wedding | |
| 12 | Joining maiden heading off in vehicle (8) | 10 | 7 | Joining- def , M (-C)ARRIAGE ( vehicle) | ||
| 13 | Reg and Maria dancing together at unification ceremony? | 9 | 7 | REG+MARIA* "dancing together"; definition = "unification ceremony?" | ||
| 14 | Worried Ram and Regina avoiding new alliance (8) | 9 | 6 | Definition: Alliance. Anno: (RAM+REGI(-N)A)*. Worried - Anagrind. New - N. Avoiding - Deletion indicator | ||
| 15 | Spot one consumed by passion in union (8) | 7 | 5 | Spot is Mar/ one is I/ consumed by is containment indicator/ passion is rage/ union is definition | ||
| 16 | Melted margarine fails to contain onset of nuclear fusion (8) | 7 | 4 | (MARGARINE)* minus N (onset of NUCLEAR). Melted=anagrind; fusion=def. |
- N is an accepted abrreviation for Nuclear so this could have been more concise. Still good! - Surface story doesn''t read well IMO - What is the connection between margarine and nuclear fusion? |
|
| 17 | Alliance almost arranged casually with one maiden, not on finally (8) | 5 | 5 | Def: Alliance. (ARRANGE+IM-N)*. Casually: anagrind | ||
| 18 | Union member begins to approach cab with starting problem (8) | 5 | 4 | Member begins - M, Cab - Carriage, Starting problem - Deletion first letter, Union (Definition) - (Member)(cARRIAGE) | ||
| 19 | Ram goes around with Ria, gets engaged initially, ultimately leading to this? | 4 | 3 | Semi &-lit; MAR (Ram goes around); RIA; GE (first letters of get engaged; initially as selection indicator) | ||
| 20 | Union arranged by Sima T. collapsed without stand-by (8) | 4 | 3 | (ARRANGED BY SIMA T - STANDBY)*; Collapsed being the anagrind. Reference to the reality show Indian Matchmaking where Sima Taparia is the matchmaker, and the match usually collapses without an alternative | ||
| 21 | Say, flight crash overturned merger | 4 | 3 | Say: eg, flight: air, crash: ram, overturned: Reversal indicator, eg air ram -> marriage; Definition: merger |
- flight=air and crash=ram seem really tenuous to me |
|
| 22 | March 1 brings in right time for wedding (8) | 3 | 3 | MAR (R (= brings in right)) I + AGE (time). Definition: Wedding | ||
| 23 | Crazy MAGA rigger, heartless, creates a new union (8) | 3 | 2 | MAGA+RI[-gg]ER* = *MARRIAGE | def: "a new union" | ||
| 24 | Is it banned in church? | 2 | 2 | Ref. banns as the announcement of a church wedding - https://chambers.co.uk/search/?query=banns&title=21st | ||
| 25 | Prime reason for divorce? | 2 | 2 | CD |
- A requirement perhaps, not a reason! - Reads more like a funny def than a cryptic one IMO |
|
| 26 | Excited Ram and Ria say about alliance (8) | 2 | 2 | Definition is alliance, excited is anagrind , Ram Ria *, say is eg<= (about) |