Sunday 7 January 2018

Special, Sunday 07 Jan 2018, IXL-2017 On stage Finals


Four answers per commenter One from 13x13 and Three from 15x15 (Annotations compulsory) till 6 PM.

Please provide all your answers in one comment.

13x13 CW

Note to solvers: A “letter bank” is a word or phrase with no repeated letters that provides the material for a longer word or phrase containing each letter of the “bank” at least once. For example, MOTHER is a letter bank for THERMOMETER, and FRACTIONS is a letter bank for SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI. Two clues in this 13x13 CW have a letter bank.


ACROSS
1   Hairy hands grabbing knight pieces from a chess set (5)
4   Back tomorrow in Rome carrying nothing, showing irritation (2,1,4)
8   Weak characters from Istanbul can provide it (13)
9   Distinctive hard water in swimming pool regimen in retreat (7)
10 Avoid bit of racism in comedy routine (5)
11 Live and die in erstwhile kind of school (9)
15 Speaker’s advertised weightlifter’s concern (5)
17 Artillerymen embraced by every head of Egyptian canal problem (7)
19 Take as needed from hostile, sharp-looking footwear? (8,5)
20 Extremely dodgy, mean-spirited family rule (7)
21 Not any map location reflected gas emanating from hot springs (5)

DOWN
1   Father attempts to open front of trousers (6)
2   Refuse tailor’s measurement by the ear (5)
3   Inspiring awe under a fruit tree? (7)
4   Using cleverness, pair of Indians report with patience about India (13)
5   First off, torments female relatives (5)
6   Rock like a sheep eating large piece of ivy (7)
7   Some BSP members initially drew a line in the sand (6)
11 Ultimately, Gestapo firmly hold point of view (7)
12 Tore up the wrong church's vestibule (7)
13 Lowered, as into a cot or bunk (6)
14 Sane or crazy motive (6)
16 Curvaceous figure beneath doctor outfit (5)
18 Cold and thin, like a whistle? (5)

Across Lite version can be accessed at ON STAGE 13x13
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15x15 CW


ACROSS
1   Associate away from the office is disrupted by staff with a restaurant deal (3,3,3,3)
9   Aquatic rodent, shyly hesitant, that smells bad (5)
10 Engineer venting about Tuesday casino game (5-2-2)
11 North America expressed disgust with rank more likely to be reprimanded (9)
12 African army member flanked by couple from Burundi (5)
13 Publishes one children’s author in recession (6)
15 Record includes a victory winning coveted trophy (5,3)
17 One tested empty chopper, going back around blasting site (8)
19 After getting rid of rash, archbishop breaks down, irrationally afraid (6)
22 State a physics concept the wrong way (5)
23 Black diamond roughly tossed on board (9)
25 Flashes fifty-one thousand dollars before taking back good Beethoven symphony (9)
26 Tolerates zoo attractions (5)
27 Competing objective guarding jailbird (2,10)

DOWN
2   80% of 3-Down contributed to the Spanish floor plans (7)
3   Crossword competitor next to the short teenager (5)
4   Reveal Nevada occupies elevated place (6)
5   Odd Bellini opera set in murky lab (8)
6   Found knife resting in condiment without lid (9)
7   Local movement hosts The Thing, an Oscar-winning movie (7) 
8   Cursed debts after popular Australian film (12)
9   Great guy grabs onside player’s rear (12)
14 Cryptic ace timing cryptic (9)
16 Omitting bits, obstetrician changed response (8)
18 It gets thrown with aggression as one gets older in retirement? (7)
20 Opposing commotion after supporter feigned courage (7)
21 City radius replaces epidemic’s line (6)
24 Circular path? Brother hiked it (5)

Across Lite version can be accessed at ON STAGE 15x15

Enjoy.

65 comments:

  1. 14d Sane or crazy motive (6)REASON*

    ReplyDelete
  2. 16d Omitting bits, obstetrician changed response (8)REACTION (OBSTETRICIAN-BITS)*

    ReplyDelete
  3. 14D Cryptic ace timing cryptic (9)ENIGMATIC*

    ReplyDelete
  4. 26 Tolerates zoo attractions (5)BEARS (DD)

    ReplyDelete
  5. 13 by 13

    1A PAWNS PAWS around N

    15 by 15

    6D ESTABLISH STAB in (-r)ELISH
    27A IN CONTENTION CON in INTENTION
    19A PHOBIC (ARCHBISHOP-RASH)*

    ReplyDelete
  6. 13X13
    8A: UNSUBSTANTIAL (LETTER Bank From "ISTANBUL)

    ReplyDelete
  7. 13x13
    8A: UNSUBSTANTIAL from letters of Istanbul*

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think I was rather hasty
      INSUBSTANTIAL with the same anno

      Delete
  8. 15×15
    1A: ALL YOU CAN EAT ALLY+OU(CANE+A)T
    10A:VINGTE-ET-UN Venting*about TU
    9D:CONSIDERABLE ONSIDE+R inside CABLE

    ReplyDelete
  9. 15 by 15:
    9 across- COUPU= Shy =coy=PU bad smell= COYPU rodent

    ReplyDelete
  10. 15 by 15: DAVIS CUP = Da(v)isc+ UP= winning= coveted trophy

    ReplyDelete
  11. 13×13
    20A Dynasty
    Extremely dodgy Dy + nasty

    ReplyDelete
  12. 15 by 15

    3 down: YOUTH= Crossword competitor= YOU shorten th(-)e = teenager

    ReplyDelete
  13. 13 by 13:

    3 down: AUNTS--- (-T) aunts= tormennts--- aunts= relatives

    ReplyDelete
  14. 13x13-
    2D- Waste- Def. Refuse
    Waist~ Tailors measurement by the ear

    ReplyDelete
  15. All Down Clues of 15x15

    7 TITANIC T{IT+AN}IC
    8 INAUSPICIOUS IN AUS PIC IOUS
    20 BRAVADO BRA V ADO

    ReplyDelete
  16. 13 x 13
    16d: dr + ess = dress = outfit.
    Dr = doctor
    Ess = curvacous figure, a thing shaped like letter S

    ReplyDelete
  17. 15x15-
    15A- Davis cup- {D(AV)isc}UP
    16D- Reaction- (obstetrician- Bits)* Def- Response
    27A- Bears- DD- Tolerates/ Zoo attractions

    ReplyDelete
  18. Yet to be solved

    13x13
    Across - 4, 9, 10, 11, 15, 17, 19, 21
    Down - 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13, 18

    15x15
    Across - 11, 12, 13, 17, 22, 23, 25
    Down - 2, 4, 5, 18, 21

    ReplyDelete
  19. 15 x 15
    17a: e(-mpty)(axe)* +(miner) =examiner = one tested.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sorry. It should be
      E(-mpty)+(axe+mine)* = examinee.

      Delete
    2. EMPTY AXE reversed (going back) will give EXA E. This goes around MINE the blasting site. So it will be EXA
      MINE E. No anagram indicator.

      Delete
  20. From 13x13

    4Dn Using cleverness, pair of Indians report with patience about India (13)

    INTELLIGENTLY [IN(-dians)][TELL][I][GENTLY]

    ReplyDelete
  21. 15 x 15
    2d: la +( yout)* = layout

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Correction:
      [(Las+(yout (-h)]* = layouts.
      I did not notice the plural form.

      Delete
  22. 15x15
    12A- Bantu- African- B(ANT)U
    Army member- Ant.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Very strangely, 13 x 13 seemed harder than 15 x 15 !!

    Were the competitors given both in the contest?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The six on stage competitors had to solve this one by one. First the 13x13 then the 15x15. Each clue had to be solved cold i.e. they didnt have the luxury of the crossing letters: First the Across clues one by one then after all across clues have ben solved then all the across clues were deleted and they had to solve the Down clues one by one: A true test of one's solving abilities!

      Delete
    2. The clues were projected on screen so that the spectators could also solve alongwith contestants

      Delete
    3. OH ! So convoluted ! I wouldn't have the patience to participate in such an event !
      Thanks Vasant. Any time limit set?

      I have completed these two grids with much of vexation ! Some clues nagged worse than a spouse !!

      Delete
  24. 15×15:
    11a: na + ug(-h) + tier = naughtier.

    ReplyDelete
  25. 15 X 15
    5d Bellini opera:Norma

    Def odd:ab(Norma)l

    ReplyDelete
  26. Col: No more entries? I feel 4pm deadline on Sundays is a bit too long a wait? As I see, by 2pm , most of the regulars are through . I wonder what others feel ?

    ReplyDelete
  27. I am happy with 4pm deadline.

    Raju pl note Sunday's deadline is 6pm and not 4pm!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh sorry, I meant 6 pm and not 4 pm which I feel is more appropriate !

      Delete
  28. 15 x 15
    22a A (MASS <-) SSAM
    23A carbonado roughly (circa) CA (onboard*)

    ReplyDelete
  29. 15X15
    18D- Assegai- It gets thrown with aggression
    AS(SEGA I) gets older in retirement- AGES=<

    ReplyDelete
  30. 13*13

    7D DALITS (T)

    15*15

    10 A. VINGT ET UN ( venting * going around TU )
    4 D. UNVEIL ( Nevada- NV inside , LIEU <- )
    8 D. INAUSPICIOUS ( popular - IN, Australian- AU, film -PIC, debts -IOUS , def - cursed )

    ReplyDelete
  31. My last for 15X15
    25A- LIGHTNING. Def.- It flashes
    Fiftyone thousand dollars-LIGG
    containiing-
    Beethovan symphony- Ninth=<

    ReplyDelete
  32. 13 x 13
    11d: (-gestap)o + pinion = opinion

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Venkatesan, please restrict yourself to the laid down limits in future

      Delete
  33. tO BE SOLVED

    13x13
    Across - 9, 10, 15, 17, 19, 21
    Down - 1, 3, 4, 6, 11, 12, 13, 18

    15x15
    Across - 13
    Down - 21

    ReplyDelete
  34. 15 x 15
    13 I SS ues (seu<-)
    21d P (-L +) RAGUE

    ReplyDelete
  35. 19a Stiletto heels From hostile* letter bank

    ReplyDelete
  36. 13x13 Clues

    10A SKIRT SKI[R(-acism)]T
    17A EARACHE (E[AR]ACH)(E[-gyptian])
    21A XENON (X NONE <=)

    ReplyDelete
  37. 1d Pries t
    11d O Pinion
    18d C Lean - Clean as a whistle

    ReplyDelete
  38. 21a not any - none
    Map location x
    X neon

    ReplyDelete
  39. ACROSS
    1 Hairy hands grabbing knight pieces from a chess set (5) paw(n)s
    4 Back tomorrow in Rome carrying nothing, showing irritation (2,1,4) IN A MOOD
    do(o)main<-
    8 Weak characters from Istanbul can provide it (13) insubstantial
    9 Distinctive hard water in swimming pool regimen in retreat (7) SPECIAL LA (ICE) PS<-
    10 Avoid bit of racism in comedy routine (5) ski(r)t
    11 Live and die in erstwhile kind of school (9) o(be die)nce
    15 Speaker’s advertised weightlifter’s concern (5) build ~billed
    17 Artillerymen embraced by every head of Egyptian canal problem (7) Ea(ra)che
    19 Take as needed from hostile, sharp-looking footwear? (8,5) stiletto heels
    20 Extremely dodgy, mean-spirited family rule (7) DY(NASTY)
    21 Not any map location reflected gas emanating from hot springs (5) XENON none X<-

    DOWN
    1 Father attempts to open front of trousers (6) Pries T
    2 Refuse tailor’s measurement by the ear (5) waste (~waist)
    3 Inspiring awe under a fruit tree? (7) SUB LIME
    4 Using cleverness, pair of Indians report with patience about India (13) INTELLIGENTLY
    5 First off, torments female relatives (5) (-T) AUNTS
    6 Rock like a sheep eating large piece of ivy (7) O(L)(I) VINE
    7 Some BSP members initially drew a line in the sand (6) DALITS
    11 Ultimately, Gestapo firmly hold point of view (7)
    12 Tore up the wrong church's vestibule (7) NARTHEX ran<- the X
    13 Lowered, as into a cot or bunk (6) a b (as)ed
    14 Sane or crazy motive (6) reason
    16 Curvaceous figure beneath doctor outfit (5) dress
    18 Cold and thin, like a whistle? (5) C Lean

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Neatly done, Prasad. Thank you.
      As Raju said, 13X13 seems tougher than 15X15- against expectations.

      Delete
    2. thanks. tried cold solving. so had it in word format.

      Delete
  40. 13x13 Clues

    3D SUBLIME SUB+LIME
    6D OLIVIAN (O[L][I-vy]VINE)
    12D NARTHEX (NAR<=)(THE)(X)

    ReplyDelete
  41. Thank you Col. More enjoyable here than LIVE.

    ReplyDelete

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