Monthly Prize Puzzle (Aug 2021)
Song Title by Alchemi
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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 (Aug 21st 2021).
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.
The pulchritude of the preamble beggars description. The artistic placements of the required letters of the superfluous words helped in the correct guessing of the final answer, even before the grid was not complete. Although I have not yet submitted my answer, my grid is now complete. Tonnes of thanks to Alchemi for setting such a magnificent puzzle, in which I particularly like the clues of 5a, 9a, 10a, 11a, 12a, 14a, 1d, 4d, 8d and 13d. However, I also like Alchemi’s 21d for a very special reason as it is having a mention of the name of a very ordinary person like me. So, I am in the seventh heaven today and thanks again to Alchemi.
Since you have been reviewing my last few MPPs, I felt it necessary to somehow acknowledge the fact.
Thank you once again, Alchemi, as this has come to me as a colossal encouragement.
That was a real challenge for me and needed overnight cogitation before I finally had a completed grid although I did have enough solved before bed time to be pretty sure I had the correct answer for submission. A real pleasure to see the special mention of Rahmat Ali too.
Thanks Alchemi.
As Colin says, this was a real challenge, but it was certainly very rewarding and well worth the effort. I was going to say that I still had one answer unparsed but the penny dropped with a resounding clang just as I started to type this. I do have a small quibble with one homophone but, what the heck, this was a fantastic achievement, Alchemi – great respect is due!
As Colin also mentions, it’s nice to see Rahmat Ali getting a name check.
Many thanks to Alchemi and in advance to whomever posts the review.
Thanks Alchemi an enjoyable solve, guessing the answer early helped with several clues.
Took quite a while as Alchemi’s puzzles often do but very satisfying to complete. Thought it was a nice touch to include a mention for Rahmat Ali – not a particularly easy name to incorporate into a meaningful clue.
Many thanks, Alchemi, the earworm is worth it!
A brain-teasing cornucopia of a puzzle! Thanks, Alchemi.
Really enjoyed this super puzzle. Many thanks Alchemi. Thought we had the answer part way through the crossword but had a change of mind on completing all the clues. Now going to submit our answer.
That took some teasing out to completion even though I had enough letters to answer the riddle before completion.
I really liked 12a and 13d but the hybrid in 20a was a bit of a surprise.
Probably one of the best MPP riddles ever! Hmm, maybe that’s because it was easy to come up with answer.
Thanks Alchemi.