Stats -We had a good response for “One Off” and received 35 submissions, 7 less than last time, but still a good number. Of those who submitted, only 8 got the full grid score of 28 and they also got the maximum possible score of 31. Here’s the Solution grid.
The solvers had to answer the following questions after solving the grid:
(1) Which former fast bowler is featured in 9A?
(2) Subtraction of 101 from which clue gets you money?
(3) A sex change in which clue gets you fish?The correct answers are
(1) Cork (Dominic Cork)
(2) 21D (RAND from RAN(-ci)D)
(3) 24A (MINNOW from W(-w+m)INNOW)
Here are the Annotations.
Across:
8 Preserved but somehow stale (6) – stale*d. D not clued
9 Peacekeepers centre removed and freed (8) – UN cored. K not clued
10 Say, conservative from the East travels aimlessly (8) – MEAN RED<< S not clued
11 Designed and made smooth (6) – Planned-n
12 Gave money for cloth (5) – PAID < 14 Food processor perhaps built by a number accepting challenge (9) – I N(TEST)INE. Initial I not clued
16 Mark made by elements. See?** (7) – INKSPOT. INK SPOT. Any one of I N K not clued
17 Brought up to criticise blanket, say (7) – BRED DING. R to be removed
20 To us, iron can cause interference (9) – Tousiron*. B not clued
22 Make big beastly sound (5) – GROWL. L not clued
24 Fan of women surrounding hotel (6) – W(INN)OW. O not clued
25 Expanded account’s outstanding** (8) – BILL OWED
27 Blue rig, not in rectifier tube** (8) – IGNITRON*
28 Specific amount of South Indian food’s good (6) – DOSA GE. E not clued
Down:
1 One who deals with the occult period (4) – M AGE. M not clued
2 Uses lint to make tools** (8) – UTENSILS*
3 Milk producer’s guide (5) – Rudder-r
4 Protesting when you and I tell tales? (7) – F US SING. F not clued
5 Ruined meal with journalist (9) – S(C)UPPER ED. C not clued
6 Offending queen with diatribe** (6) – ER RANT
7 Present that girl with rejected money (4,3,3) – HERE AND NOW<. Second E not clued
13 Acquire wife to get a spanner? (4-6) – LAND-BRIDGE. G not clued
15 Throw son, perhaps in the direction of the sea (9) – CAST WARD. O not clued.
18 Animal or man swallowed by duck** (8) – D(OR M)OUSE
19 Put together search at home (7) – COMB INE. E not clued
21 Republican detectives get new rank (6) – R (N) CID. A not clued
23 Second boy’s cutter (5) – B LAD E. E not clued
26 Hence a sense of self-importance (4) – ERGO. R not clued
The first entry was submitted by Ramki Krishnan but it was not the first all-correct entry. Close on his heels was Narayan Mandyam who got the first all-correct entry. The last all-correct entry was received from Pranav Bhople (aka Nemo Omen), who submitted the 33rd entry.
Congrats to the 8 awesome people who managed to max the score.
Here is the scorecard (sorted by total and then in Alphabetical order)
We requested solvers to rate the puzzle on a scale of 1 (Lowest) to 10 (Highest). The puzzle got a good score of 8.5 and got 8 perfect 10s (Wow, Indeed).
Hope you enjoyed this interesting challenge as much as we did. Thanks Teezer and we look forward to more puzzles from you.
Did you like the puzzle? Do you have any feedback for us or for the setter. Do comment in the blog and let us know.