Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

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*** TODAY'S PUZZLE ***
An absolutely gorgeous sudoku tonight from FIT7Y about which the only disagreement seems to be regarding its difficulty! Some say it's a mere bagatelle (2/5), others have used the word "Brutal"... However you approach it, it's really clever and a lot of fun to solve. Enjoy!

Play the puzzle at the links below:

https://sudokupad.app/70gesrzbl4

Rules:
Normal sudoku rules apply. (Place the digits 1-9 once each into every row, column, and 3x3 box). A cell is "friendly" if its digit matches its row, column, or box number (boxes are numbered from left to right and top to bottom ie in normal reading order). Draw a circle in every friendly cell that doesn't already contain a circle. If a digit N appears on a circle, then it appears N times on circles.

You can find out more about the crossword Hope by Pieman (Simon's crossword pseudonym) here:
patreon.com/crackingthecryptic/posts/hope-by-pieman-166650507

The golfer, Jack Munro, with whom Simon has just been playing in Scotland has a fantastic clothing brand. Check it out here:

ornumco.com

▶ BRAND NEW COMPETITION ON PATREON ◀
Our new competition launched today on Patreon! Solve the nine sudokus to be in with a chance to win! Closing date 20 August. Good luck!

patreon.com/crackingthecryptic

▶ SUNDAY'S STREAM: LORELEI AND THE LASER EYES ◀
You can watch our second stream of Lorelei and the Laser Eyes at 10pm on Sunday night here:

youtube.com/live/p6LQ0yROlhQ

▶ ZETAMATH'S WORM: OUR BRAND NEW APP ◀
We've released a brand new collection of sudoku puzzles by Blobz. The worm features 12 connected sudokus and is a great way to enjoy more creations from this popular constructor:

Steam:
store.steampowered.com/app/4756830/Cracking_the_Cryptic__The_Sudoku_Worm_of_Zetamath
AppStore
apps.apple.com/us/app/cracking-the-cryptic/id1629992934
Android:
play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.StudioGoya.CrackingTheCryptic

All our apps can be found at our website with links to all outlets:
crackingthecryptic.com/apps

▶ NEW MERCHANDISE INCLUDING RAT RUN GOODIES ◀
cracking-the-cryptric-shop.fourthwall.com/en-gbp/collections/rat-run

▶ SIMON & MARK ATTEMPT BLUE PRINCE: THE SUDOKU ◀
This new epic (and epically long) video is now on Patreon (as well as our monthly sudoku hunt competition by Sandra & Nala). Check it all out here:

patreon.com/crackingthecryptic

▶ SVEN’S SUDOKU PAD ◀
Input classic sudoku puzzles into our software. With 12 free puzzles:
iOS: apps.apple.com/us/app/svens-sudokupad/id1570622073
Steam: store.steampowered.com/app/1706870/Svens_SudokuPad
Android: play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.svencodes.sudokupad
Amazon: Search for “SudokuPad”

▶ CTC FAN DISCORD SERVER◀
discord.gg/BbN89j5

▶ OUR VIDEO CATALOGUE – CATEGORISED WITH LINKS◀
tinyurl.com/CTCCatalogue

▶SEND US PUZZLES TO SOLVE/CONTACT US◀
crackingthecryptic@gmail.com
Snailmail: Mark Goodliffe, Box 102, 56 Gloucester Road, London SW7 4UB

▶FOLLOW US◀
Twitter: #crypticcracking
@crypticcracking
Instagram @crackingthecryptic

▶Credits◀
Music: Lucy Audrin (Piano): Mozart's Sonata no 16; and Mark’s outro music by Riffclown.
SOFTWARE: Thanks to Sam Cappleman-Lynes and Sven Neumann
Logo: Melvyn Mainini
Opening Credits: Burak Mescioğlu

▶ Contents Of This Video ◀

0:00 Intro music and crossword stuff
1:29 Puzzle introduction
2:43 St Andrews
5:16 Happy Birthdays
9:26 Rules
12:16 Start of Solve: Let's Get Cracking

#sudoku #puzzle #logic