MPP – 087 – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
View closed comments 

MPP – 087

Monthly Prize Puzzle (August 2019)

Upper Case Places by Alchemi

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

Why not have a go at our latest Monthly Prize Puzzle?

The winner will receive their choice of any of the Telegraph Crossword Books.

Please note that, due to punitive postal charges, while the competition is open to all, the prize is only available to UK solvers.

A review will follow after the closing date (17th August 2019).

The competition is now closed

The puzzle is available by clicking on the above grid.

Please read the instructions carefully.

I’ve left this post open for comments, but if you don’t want your comment to be deleted then do not provide any help for other solvers or mention any detail about the puzzle, especially references to individual clues, until after the closing date.


18 comments on “MPP – 087

  1. A solvable MPP with a solvable riddle, thanks Alchemi.
    I have a number but I will double and triple check to make sure that I have not missed any obscure cities before submitting.

    1. I’d never heard of one of them before setting the puzzle, so that’s probably a good idea.

  2. I’ve got the grid completed and learnt a couple of new things along the way. Now the hard work begins – I know Alchemi well enough to realise that there will be capitals I’ve never heard of in my entire life!

  3. Solving this was very enjoyable and very challenging. I’m going to leave it until tomorrow to begin counting. Many thanks, Alchemi.

  4. Does “in the completed grid” mean only written left to right or top to bottom in contiguous cells? Or are we also looking for capitals along diagonals, capitals written backwards, capitals spanning black cells, capitals in adjacent cells not all in a straight line, etc.

    1. Just within the solutions, read normally. If you can find any that read diagonally, say, it’s entirely inadvertent.

      1. Thanks for the clarification, Alchemi. I’ve been made suspicious by looking at the Enigmatic Variations puzzles blogged by Kitty. Those setters sometimes hide words and phrases in very complicated ways.

        Thanks also for an excellent puzzle that was a joy to solve. I’ve now learned some capitals that I didn’t know before. Hope I’ve found them all.

        1. My previous MPP was an excursion into the foothills of what they do in advanced barred puzzles, so it’s a reasonable concern. My view would be that such a possibility would have to be indicated in the rubric with a phrase like “in any direction” or it would be unfair.

  5. I also have a completed grid but decided that a bit more searching might find more options so have delayed submitting an answer yet.
    Good fun.
    Thanks Alchemi.

  6. I sent my answer in yesterday but have not received the usual acknowledgement email. Don’t want to resend and be disqualified……so has it arrived?
    Thanks.

    Enjoyed the crossword and finding the capitals was to say the least challenging.

        1. A good idea … I found my reply in my Junk mailbox.

          As Alchemi had never heard of one … I added one for Luck!

          1. And indeed it was in my Spam.
            Cannot think why, but who am I to question the mighty googlemail?

  7. It was really enjoyable. But, as usual, I am one of the few last persons to submit. Along the way, I learnt a capital that rhymed with another. Thanks to Alchemi for the wonderful creation. Shall be patiently awaiting the review.

Comments are closed.