Three answers per commenter till 6 PM (Annotations compulsory)
Please submit all your answers in one comment.
(COMMENTS ENTERED WITH LESS THAN THREE ANSWERS/ANNOTATIONS WILL BE DELETED WITHOUT NOTICE, UNLESS THE COMMENTER SPECIFIES THAT IT IS A COMPENSATION FOR A REPEAT)
No problem with this format. I remember Neytra used to set a lot of these sort of puzzles. Of course the instruction needs to be given at the start of the puzzle.
Last time, someone asked about my nickname "ghaza", I'll give the info today. It was my college nickname that has still stuck within a close friend circle. If you want, I can tell you the name of my batchmate who coined it. My name is Gautam Hazari. So he had used a bit of letter-play.
Hint for the pattern: Once the grid was selected the following players could not enter: Agassi, Edberg, Murray, Lendl, Wilander, Connors, Rod Laver, Emerson, Bill Tilden
Twisted anno for 6 dn: I've seen He used for Governor. I tried to make the clue cryptically read as a Terminator who became a Governor (I agree it is a stretch in the word play.)
2D. Antonym= Opposite
ReplyDeleteBrutus foe= Antony
Male= M
Why are some clues with Asterisk?
ReplyDeleteAre these clues not defined and are one of a kind?
DeleteAsterisk implies themed clues that do not necessarily need a definition
ReplyDelete14a SAMPRAS {as ramps*}
ReplyDelete20a FEDERER {fed}{er}{er}
I am a new setter, but this is my understanding. I have been solving for a while. I have seen themed crosswords in this format
ReplyDeleteNo problem with this format. I remember Neytra used to set a lot of these sort of puzzles. Of course the instruction needs to be given at the start of the puzzle.
DeleteNeyartha not neytra
DeleteIt is a very good omen that this puzzle has been published today since tomorrow is the 3rd of July :)
ReplyDelete22a NADAL
ReplyDeletesumit is sumit nagal (indian tennis player)
nagal reflected in middle g becomes d (not sure how !!)
Yes, that was the intent. It depends on the font used. I agree it is quite a stretch with the clueing. Apologies.
DeleteTurning g upside down
DeletePiece of information: this puzzle was set in the middle of May. Luckily for me, the validity still holds, in fact it has gotten strengthened !!
ReplyDelete11a BJORN BORG
ReplyDeleteThank you Ramesh. If you or anyone else can elaborate on the anno it would be great
DeleteThe Swedish Tennis legend, who was in Bengaluru to watch his son Leo Borg playing in the Bengaluru Open ATP Challenger in Feb this year
DeleteThank you
DeleteThank you
Thank you !!!!!
For knowing this piece of information and sharing it :) :) :)
Not a cryptic clue
Delete12ac - CONJURORS - cd?
ReplyDelete3dn - LACQUERED -
Delete~ lack curd
Very close. Elaborating on the anno will help
DeleteConjured. Sp mistake.
DeleteComment relates to Conjurors
DeleteLacquered - means vanished.
DeleteSounds like lack curd - no yoghurt
4dn - SABLE - black.
Delete(Elba)《= +s
Conjurers - entertainers.
DeletePrestige is a term for the finale in a magic trick.
The Pledge, The Turn & the The Prestige are the 3 acts in a magic trick.
DeleteVery good. While setting, I also had the movie The Prestige in my mind.
DeleteThis puzzle has a theme, and a pattern. Both are to be guessed
ReplyDelete5d LOOK STIFF: freeze
ReplyDelete(looks: appears) (tiff: fight)
The theme is Tennis. Lawn Tennis
ReplyDelete8d. CONCUSSION SUB
ReplyDeleteDefinition: A new rule
Chat: con
Swear: cuss
Charge: ion
Sandwich: sub
13a. Evita
Definition: A musical
Contained back in nATIVEs
16a. IVANHOE
Definition: Novel
The terrible: Ivan
Tool: hoe
Last time, someone asked about my nickname "ghaza", I'll give the info today.
ReplyDeleteIt was my college nickname that has still stuck within a close friend circle.
If you want, I can tell you the name of my batchmate who coined it.
My name is Gautam Hazari.
So he had used a bit of letter-play.
Good to know you, Ghaza.
DeleteNice puzzle!
Who was the batch mate?
DeleteName: Vaibhav Gupta
DeleteNickname: Polo
AMD!
Delete👍
DeleteRef Gowri: The theme needs to be refined quite a bit
ReplyDelete1a CARLOS ALCARAZ
ReplyDeletecarlos santana - guitarist for band santana
alcatraz = prison (timeless -> remove t )
Grandslam Winners?
ReplyDeleteOf course, couldn't do justice. Had to leave out many many Greats
DeleteTheme as Men's Grand Slam winners is good
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete21d: RE-ELECT: incubent's request
ReplyDeleteReel: lurch e: on-line CT: court
This is my list of clues that are still open:
ReplyDeleteAcross 24, 26, 27, 28
Down 6, 7, 9, 15, 17, 23, 25
After a long gap, a frustrating CW.. True, i couldn't get a good grip..
ReplyDelete24 a MAD AS HELL: seething
ReplyDelete(Hades mall)*
Trip is anind
27a UPEND = Shirshasana
ReplyDeleteTop letters of under pressure even newbies do
25d DJOKO for Djokovic
DeleteParty = DO
Short quip JOK(E)
Entering containment ind
DeleteIf he ever finds out that he was the last one to be guessed in this theme, he is likely to hit all of us with a tennis ball on the necks :P :P
Delete2d, opposite = antonym
ReplyDeleteBrutus foe = Antony (Mark)
Male = m
9d A GRAVE PRELUDE
ReplyDelete25 ac is the last themed clue not yet solved
ReplyDeleteSorry, 25 dn
ReplyDeleteLet's start taking guesses for the pattern
ReplyDelete7d, revoke = abolish
ReplyDeleteGuillotined a European = Polish, - P
Group = AB
[Ab(olish)]
6d, he became a terminator = Arnie,
ReplyDeleteNick name gor Arnold Schwarzenegger
I tried one more twist in the anno for this one. Can you guess?
Delete28 ac ESPRESSO PARTY:: party thrown to help keep awake
ReplyDeleteSay : express-x+s: small(s) suppresses cross(x) o(ball) thrown up(party)
Espresso is ok. The rest isn't.
ReplyDelete17d, in lieu of 2d
ReplyDeleteItself = and as such
(SHUN a sad C)* lub
28a, espresso shots
ReplyDeleteCan you complete the anno?
DeleteTheme is Wimbledon (The eternal favourite) starting on 3rd July this year.
ReplyDeleteI see that you are a tennis buff. happy you are with me on this.
23d Lehar . Pepsi was formerly Lehar pepsi in india
ReplyDelete15 dn Silk mills. s( ilk) m ill s.
aboard-ss sort ilk, m -money ill-problem
23D..When the Question( clue) is how Pepsi.....Should not the answer br ' as lehar'and not just Lehar?
Delete26A- Use the loo. CD?
ReplyDeleteIf 'Go' is the def., there must be some word play which I miss.
ReplyDeleteAnswer is correct. Go is the def. Let's work on the anno
ReplyDeleteI think all the answers have come in.
ReplyDeleteThe anno for 26 ac is pending
ReplyDeleteThe twisted anno for 6 dn is open for discussion
ReplyDeleteCorrect: I am obsessed with tennis
ReplyDeleteThe pattern is the major thing left to be solved. I'll give hints after 15 mins
ReplyDeleteThe anno for 28 ac is also incomplete
ReplyDeleteClicks =Shoots ( - 0) = SHOTS
DeleteA ball (o) thrown up eliminator indicator
Almost correct. Do retry.
DeleteO, thrown up to join espress, to make it espresso, resulting in answer. espresso shots
DeleteYes
DeleteHint: The pattern is strongly connected to the theme
ReplyDeletePlease share your brick-bats for this puzzle as well.
ReplyDeleteHint for the pattern: Once the grid was selected the following players could not enter: Agassi, Edberg, Murray, Lendl, Wilander, Connors, Rod Laver, Emerson, Bill Tilden
ReplyDeleteThe following players could have entered but at the cost of someone else: Becker, Wawrinka, McEnroe
ReplyDeleteTo get their first US open title wins....Federer beat Sampras, Nadal beat Federer, Djokovic beat Nadal, Carlos beat Djokovic. Is this right?
ReplyDeleteInteresting. I never thought on those lines.
DeleteOn checking, it is not right.
DeleteAlso, are they the youngest to win their first grand slam?
ReplyDeleteThat isn't my intended pattern. But if you see a pattern and it holds up, bouquets for you :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for starting the discussion on a pattern, RR
ReplyDeleteFederer was not the youngest. He was 'Almost there' for a long time.
ReplyDeleteYes
DeleteBut he still has the youngest face
DeleteIt is 6 pm. Should I be telling the intended annos and pattern now?
ReplyDeleteYes, ji. Is Mr Vaibhav Gupta the same person who used to work for 3M in Indonesia, by any chance?
ReplyDeleteI don't know. I lost touch after college :P
ReplyDeleteAnno for 26 ac: Enjoy is use, hot breeze is loo. (The clue does read like a major contradiction.)
ReplyDeleteTwisted anno for 6 dn: I've seen He used for Governor. I tried to make the clue cryptically read as a Terminator who became a Governor (I agree it is a stretch in the word play.)
ReplyDeleteThe pattern: a player can only occupy a clue number matching the number of Grand Slams he has won (had to take a liberty with the word play for one).
ReplyDeleteThat's all folks. Thanks everyone who spent time on this puzzle :)
ReplyDeleteGood one Ghaza ji. Novak is all set to claim the Wimbledon title. Best wishes for an enjoyable Wimbledon.
ReplyDeleteWow! Ghaza! A great grid, theme & pattern. Hats off!
ReplyDeleteReally enjoyable.
If we knew the pattern, we could have filled a few squares blind.
ReplyDeleteThanks RR & Gowri
ReplyDelete