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chrise

11th July 2026, 16:29
Thanks jordan. There doesn't seem to be a subtraction indication (unless it's "cleared", but that's a long way from "and").
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geeker

11th July 2026, 17:21
There's a five-letter word hidden in row 2, but it must be coincidence rather than a Nina.
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minno

11th July 2026, 18:22
Last one in 13a. Not parsed. Or maybe wrong.

Interested to read of differing reactions to a potentially frustrating challenge. I noticed that when, as a youngster, I chalked well known images on the street, by way of busking, people would reward me when they could name what they already recognised.

Oh! It's such and such! Ker-ching!

If they couldn't place it they would quietly walk away. Empty hat.

Nothing to do with me. There must be a term for this. Bingo bias?
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dhope

11th July 2026, 19:10
Late start today , read comments on forum and nearly gave up but tried 6/8 and7/1 . With these two in thought I was on a roll! Come to a standstill about half way through so am going to take break. I agree it is a beast but perhaps not as daunting as Ifirst thought. We shall see !
Might even watch the football.
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darla

11th July 2026, 19:34
Hi, minno. 13 parses 2,2. Definition is an uncommon word for spherical.

11 is the one I have left unparsed. Only one thing it can be though.
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jono

11th July 2026, 19:37
Hi Darla, you may kick yourself…
middle letter (essential) of word from clue then single letter ‘uniform’ inside colours, as in a range :-)
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chrise

11th July 2026, 19:42
11a is good example of why I don't like Enigmatist. Just about impossible to parse "forwards".
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a1philosopher

12th July 2026, 01:42
This style of clue seems to me to be becoming more common nowadays (e.g. 11, 12, 13, 20 ac, 2, 4 d) in which the solution is broken up and each component is clued/defined. I find it problematic because the components generally have nothing to do with the solution so I have to guess the solution and then figure out if the wordplay works - parsing "backwards" I suppose. I don't think Enigmatist stands out from other setters in this regard - they're all at it. It also strikes me as being too easy a way to clue, so creating an imbalance in the hopefully even contest between the ingenuity of the setter and the wits of the solver that is exemplified in 23 ac..
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darla

12th July 2026, 05:07
Damn, Jono. I kicked myself and pulled my hamstring. 😂
Thanks for the parse.
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darla

12th July 2026, 05:10
TBH, Enigmatist is so tough that after fighting through all the other parsings, I just gave up.
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