Sparks – Page 8 – Big Dave's Crossword Blog

Category: Sparks

Sparks is the name used by Mark Kelmanson for Toughies. He is known elsewhere as Monk (M on K, his initials)

Toughie 1611

by Kitty  

Toughie 1611 by Sparks

Hints and tips by Kitty

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BD Rating – Difficulty **** – Enjoyment ****

 

Welcome all.  Sporks has today provided us with a very stiff challenge in a puzzle with some fun definitions, spiky wordplay and a cosy little nina (See below).… Continue reading

Toughie 1591

by Dutch  

Toughie No 1591 by Sparks

Hints and tips by Dutch

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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****

Sparks told us he’s going through the standard grids systematically and this is his 4th toughie in a row with double-unches (two consecutive unchecked squares).… Continue reading

Toughie 1551

by Toro  

Toughie No 1551 by Sparks

Hints and tips by Toro

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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment **

I’m filling in for Dutch today, who is preparing to go on the piste. This was a more straightforward solve than I was expecting on a rare visit to the Friday Toughie chair, and the style will probably have appealed more to those who enjoy tussling with clue components than to someone like me who has more of a liking for surfaces and inventive definitions.

[POSTSCRIPT: Gazza has suggested below that there is a personal message in six clues beginning with 1d. If there is, and it is what I think he means, then it’s not surprising this puzzle is not exactly brimming with levity (and my ratings are even less relevant than usual).]

Continue reading “Toughie 1551”