Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3246
A full review by Rahmat Ali
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
This puzzle was published on 7th Jan 2024
BD Rating – Difficulty * – Enjoyment *****
Greetings from Kolkata. A nice and straightforward puzzle from Dada this Sunday that I enjoyed solving and thereafter writing a full review of his puzzle for your kind perusal and important feedback.
I explored the net to know more about the ‘Premier League’, part of the wordplay to the clue of 5d. ‘Premier League’ is the highest level of the English football league system and held from August to May, with each team from 20 clubs playing 38 matches against all other teams, both home and away. Most games are played on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, with occasional weekday evening fixtures. The world’s first association football league, the ‘English Football League’ (EFL), simply called the ‘Football League’, was created in 1888. It included 92 clubs divided into four professional divisions. Clubs outside the ‘Football League’ were referred to as non-League clubs. The Premier League as a competition was founded as the FA Premier League on 20th February 1992 following the decision of top 20 clubs to break away from the EFL. However, teams of the ‘Premier League’ may still be relegated to and promoted from the EFL Championship. So now, at the top is the single division of the ‘Premier League’ containing 20 clubs. Below the ‘Premier League’ is the EFL, which is divided into three divisions of 24 clubs each. The 20 clubs in the ‘Premier League’ and 72 clubs in the EFL are all full-time professional clubs. The ‘Premier League’ table is a ranking of the 20 teams in the league based on their performance in the competition. Teams are awarded points for their results in matches: 3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw and 0 point for a loss. The teams are then ranked based on the total number of points they have earned. If teams are tied on points, they are then separated by goal difference, that is the difference between goals scored and goals conceded. If goal difference is also equal, then goals scored, head-to-head record and other tiebreakers can come into play. The team at the top of the table is the leader, and the team at the bottom is at risk of relegation to a lower division. In the ‘Premier League’ of 20 teams, that is at Level 1, the bottom three teams are relegated. In the EFL Championship of 24 teams, that is at Level 2, top two teams are automatically promoted while next four compete in the play-offs, with the winner gaining the third promotion spot. The bottom three teams are relegated. In the EFL League One of 24 teams, that is at Level 3, top two teams, as in Level 2, are automatically promoted while next four compete in the play-offs, with the winner gaining the third promotion spot. But the number of team that are relegated here are four. In the EFL League Two of 24 teams, that is at Level 4, top three teams are automatically promoted and bottom two are relegated.
Please leave a comment telling us what you thought.
Across
7a Fit soldier with spirit joining first of troops (7)
TANTRUM: The definition of a sudden fit of childish, uncontrolled bad temper or rage is reached from ANT (soldier) as referring to a soldier ant who is female but sterile and whose job is to protect the colony from predators and clear a pathway for smaller worker ants to reach food and (with) RUM (spirit) as an alcoholic spirit distilled from sugar-cane residues or molasses connecting on either side to (joining) the first or initial letter (first) of T[ROOPS]
8a Holiday island, manic or otherwise (7)
MINORCA: An anagram (otherwise) of MANIC OR guides to the definition of the beautiful Spanish island known for having some of the best beaches in the Mediterranean as well as crystal-clear waters and a rich history, making it one of the key luxury holiday destinations
10a Personally, I felt, he wants NHS reformed (2,3,5)
IN THE FLESH: An anagram (reformed) of I FELT, HE and (wants) NHS takes to the definition of a phrase meaning in real life or in person in their actual state
11a Write in class? (4)
TYPE: Double definition; the second being a noun referring to a particular kind, class or group or the qualities common to a number of individuals that distinguish them as an identifiable class that leads to the first a verb meaning to write something on a typewriter or computer by pressing the keys
12a Parisian university in pain about German city (8)
SORBONNE: The definition of the name of a public research university that is located in Paris and regarded as one of the most sought after universities by students and researchers from France and the French speaking countries is arrived at from SORE (pain) as a mild pain or ache placed around (about) BONN (German city) as a federal city in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia, located on the banks of the Rhine
14a A wife in win for knight (6)
GAWAIN: A combo of A from the clue and W (wife) as the genealogical abbreviation for wife taken inside (in) GAIN (win) as to win something in a competition, battle etc takes to the definition of the nephew of King Arthur who was also a knight of the Round Table
15a Is uniform in effect for tonight? (4,7)
THIS EVENING: A combo of IS from the clue and EVEN (uniform) as uniform in action, character or quality placed inside (in) THING (effect) as a possession or item in one’s control or one’s portable property, belonging or effect guides to the definition of an adverb denoting tonight, this night or during the night of the present day
19a Money that’s found on the African coast? (6)
GUINEA: Double nounal definition; the second being a coastal country in West Africa that takes to the first referring to the sum of £1.05 or 21 shillings in pre-decimal currency and now used mainly for determining professional fees and auction prices
20a Annoying ties, more hideous (8)
TIRESOME: The definition of an adjective meaning causing one to feel bored or annoyed is arrived at from an anagram (hideous) of TIES, MORE
22a Some garlic, lighter? (4)
BULB: Double definition; the second referring to an electric lamp consisting of a transparent or translucent glass housing containing a wire filament, usually tungsten, that emits light when heated by electricity that takes to the first denoting a globe-shaped underground bud that sends down roots and having membranous or fleshy overlapping leaves arising from a short stem, as, for example, some garlic, onion or shallot
23a Handle good egg in which found second of yolks, most surprising! (10)
BROOMSTICK: The definition of the long, thin handle of a broom is arrived at from BRICK (good egg) as a generous, helpful and reliable person containing (in which found) a combo of the secondly-positioned letter (second) of [Y]O[LKS] followed by an anagram (surprising) of MOST
25a First course in expressionist art, erotic! (7)
STARTER: Part of or hidden inside (in) [EXPRESSIONI]ST ART, ER[OTIC] guides to the definition of the first course of a meal
26a Detail embroidered on front of carpet for fortress (7)
CITADEL: An anagram (embroidered) of DETAIL following or coming after (on) the letter placed at the front or the first letter (front) of C[ARPET] leads to the definition of a fortress or any strongly fortified place that commands a city and is used in the control of the inhabitants and in defence during attack or siege
Down
1d Argument about a rubbish bin that’s very colourful! (7)
RAINBOW: ROW (argument) as a noisy acrimonious quarrel or an argument placed around (about) a combo of A from the clue and an anagram (rubbish) of BIN guides to the definition of an arc or circle of colours that appears in the sky opposite the sun and is caused by the sun shining through raindrops, spray or mist
2d Some puppet characters make an impression (4)
ETCH: Part of or hidden inside (some) [PUPP]ET CH[ARACTERS] takes to the definition of a verb meaning to make or produce a deep impression of something
3d Make a mess of popular cake (6)
MUFFIN: A charade of MUFF (make a mess of) as to make a mess of, destroy or ruin something and IN (popular) as an informal term for fashionable, popular or trendy leads to the definition of a small domed spongy cake made with eggs and baking powder
4d Mixture of ham and icing, a state! (8)
MICHIGAN: An anagram (mixture) of HAM and ICING guides to the definition of a state in the Great Lakes region of the upper Midwestern United States
5d Results worth 120 Premier League points, mark finally secured for the rest! (5,5)
FORTY WINKS: FORTY WINS (results worth 120 Premier League points) as the number of wins required of a team to collect 120 points in the Premier League, the highest level of the English football league system; each win securing 3 points having taken inside (secured) the final or last letter (finally) of [MAR]K procures the definition of a few moments of sleep or a very short nap, especially taken during the daytime, that is the rest or the refreshing quiet or repose of sleep
6d Poisoned, filled with cynicism initially — is one? (7)
SCEPTIC: SEPTIC (poisoned) as full of or caused by germs that are poisoning the blood, especially of a wound containing (filled with) the initial or first letter (initially) of C[YNICISM] takes to the definition of a person who doubts the truth or value of an idea or the authenticity of an accepted belief or is filled with cynicism
9d Booking in doubt? (11)
RESERVATION: Double nounal definition; the first being an arrangement for a seat on a plane, train or bus or a room in a hotel to be kept for a particular person or similarly for more persons and the second referring to an expression of doubt qualifying overall approval of a plan or statement
13d Where those serving drinks are locked up (6,4)
BEHIND BARS: Double definition; the second meaning captured and confined to prison that leads to the first referring to behind the counters in pubs, restaurants or cafes where landlords and other bar staff stand when serving drink to their customers
16d Wreck shuffles along (8)
SHAMBLES: Double definition; the second being a verb in the third person singular form of the simple present tense meaning moves with a slow, shuffling, awkward gait, especially of a person that takes to the first a noun denoting a scene or condition of great devastation
17d Awe-inspiring, a US city (7)
AUGUSTA: AUGUST (awe-inspiring) as inspiring reverence or admiration followed by A from the clue guides to the definition of a consolidated city-county on the central eastern border of the state of Georgia in the United States
18d Kiss dollar bill (7)
SMACKER: Double definition of informal nouns; the first denoting a loud kiss and the second referring to a pound note or dollar bill
21d Stay on, chief (6)
REMAIN: A charade of RE (on) as a commercial jargon used to indicate ‘referring to’, ‘concerning’, ‘on’ or ‘about’ and MAIN (chief) as chief in size or importance leads to the definition of a verb meaning to stay in the place that one has been occupying
24d Net percentage up (4)
TRAP: PART (percentage) as a part or a proportion of a whole expressed in hundredths going upwards (up) as a reversal in the down clue takes to the definition of a plan or trick for surprising a person into speech, action or for catching someone unawares
The clues that I liked in this puzzle were 1a, 7a, 23a, 25a, 3d, 5d and 13d; the topper among them being 23a. My prayers to the Almighty for the eternal rest and peace of BD and my thanks to Dada for the entertainment and to Gazza for the assistance. Looking forward to being here again. Have a nice day.
3*/3* ….
liked 23A “Handle good egg in which found second of yolks, most surprising! (10)”