IMPORTANT NOTE: As of January 2015 MGWCC is a subscribers-only crossword. The cost is $26 per year, and you can subscribe (or get a free trial month first) here:
LAST WEEK’S RESULTS:
Title: “Chain Gang”
Instructions: This week’s contest answer is a geographical group.
Answer: CANARIES (or the Canary Islands)
Let’s start with a look at our theme entries:
17-A: [1.d4 d5 2.c4 Nc6 in chess, named for an early Russian great (3)] = the CHIGORIN DEFENSE, after Mikhail Chigorin, the original Great Russian Chess Player. Timely entry considering that we just wrapped up the 2018 World Chess Championship; read my Abraham Simpson-esque take on it here.
24-A: [Baby announcement buys (1)] = CANDY CIGARS. We had these when my son was born last year and they were gross. I’d recommend just getting good candy and good cigars.
36-A: [Bird of prey in western North America (7)] = PRAIRIE FALCON
48-A: [Market-moving company (5, 6)] = PRICE SETTER
56-A: [Despised enemies, floridly (2, 8, 4)] = DASTARDLY DEVILS. Doesn’t Google that great but it’s an amusing phrase.
Now what? First thing is to put yourself in the right frame of mind: from the instructions and title we might be looking for island chains or mountain chains. With that on the brain, you may have noticed that the first word in these entries can be replaced by the adjectival form of a well-known island to make a new phrase:
CHIGORIN DEFENSE –> SICILIAN DEFENSE (the most common opening in all of chess)
CANDY CIGARS –> CUBAN CIGARS
PRAIRIE FALCON –> “the MALTESE FALCON”
PRICE SETTER –> IRISH SETTER (there’s an English setter as well, but England’s not an island)
DASTARDLY DEVILS –> TASMANIAN DEVILS (kinda cute but I wouldn’t mess with one)
Next insight: each of the replacing words in the new phrases is the same number of letters as the word it replaced: CHIGORIN and SICILIAN are both 8 letters, CANDY and CUBAN are both 5, etc. This suggests looking for letters in common, which are in bold here:
CHIGORIN SICILIAN
CANDY CUBAN
PRAIRIE MALTESE
PRICE IRISH
DASTARDLY TASMANIAN
Put these common letters in order per the parenthetical numbers in their clues and you get contest answer CANARIES, a.k.a. the Canary Islands off the coast of Morocco.
This week’s winner, whose name was chose from the 142 correct entries received, is Andy Browne of Arlington, Va. In addition to a MGWCC pen, pencil, and notepad set, Andy will also receive an autographed copy of my book Pint-Size Crosswords.
MGWCC #546 WINNER:
Forgot to draw a winner from the 173 correct entries two weeks ago. And that winner is…Beth Tyrpin of Quincy, Ill. In addition to a MGWCC pen, pencil, and notepad set, Beth will also receive an autographed copy of my book Pint-Size Crosswords.
SPECIAL PRIZE THIS WEEK AND NEXT:
In addition to a MGWCC pen, pencil, and notepad set, weekly winners this week and next will also receive a copy of Patrick Berry‘s new cryptic crossword suite “The 3rd Crypt”. Highly recommended sight unseen.
THIS WEEK’S PUZZLE:
Today’s puzzle was supposed to run during Guest Constructor Month in 2011, but we ran into some trouble, as you’ll see…anyway, I’m glad it’s finally getting published, and be sure to read the instructions on Page 1 of the attached PDF before you tackle the puzzle itself. Thanks to Xan for his patience, and good luck with the solve!
Now, let’s hear from the constructor himself. Xan Vongsathorn writes:
I’m an economist/data scientist living in Seattle with my wife and son. Crosswords are an occasional hobby of mine, but this is my first meta. In my spare time, I also enjoy cooking, writing music, designing origami, and coding. What these have in common with crosswords, I think, is that they all require creativity under tight constraints, in a domain governed by logical rules. If this sounds like the description of a pastime you enjoy, be it mainstream or obscure, I’d love to hear about it at xan.vong@gmail.com. If you like my puzzle, a good hobby recommendation is the best possible way to repay me. And if you hate my puzzle, it’s the best possible way to steer me away from crosswords and ensure that I never come back!
THIS WEEK’S INSTRUCTIONS:
This week’s contest answer is a piece of stolen candy, plus the culprit who stole it (see puzzle instructions on PDF for further important details).
Solve well, and be not led astray by words intended to deceive.