Listener 4201, Translation by Sabre

[upsetter]

Have grasped the theme but the clues seem to be extremely opaque this week (apart from the easy ones) - is anyone faring better?

[midazolam]

After a very rapid start this was a real challenge to finish off the last lot of clues. I enjoyed working out the knight's moves and also tracking down the 6 thematic entries (although I only have 5 so far). So all in all an enjoyable but tough errant following a false sense of security. Thanks Sabre

[starwalker]

I also had a fairly quick start and with half the grid filled, I wondered what could go wrong. The answer being that I am now banging my head to get the last few entries and still have the final step to look forward to, although I have a suspicion about the thematic entries. As ever with Sabre, a very enjoyable (?) puzzle.

[Walterloo]

Yes, one of those that seems to get harder the more you progress. Still battling but nearly there.

[trux]

Have arrived at grid that seems to work - all six elements in place and have double- and triple-checked that the "oh so simple" preamble is obeyed to the letter. You do need to be very diligent and I still wouldn't gamble someone else's health on it - a real work-out, for which many thanks go to Sabre.

[pushmi-pullyu]

Relieved that others are finding it tough. I'm in the same position as Starwalker - grid almost filled, difficult part ahead. 12d my favourite clue so far.

[jim360]

Same as everyone else, I feel - ran into a brick wall now after a speedy start, and thought I might even sneak into the Friday club for the first time. It's difficult to fit together the clues I have at the moment (well over half of them) which would allow me to attack the large gaps that for me are to the left-hand side of the grid. Also a number of possible knight moves for some clues makes progress difficult.

All of that said, though, it's a nice puzzle and I just hope I can finish it.

[Ruthrobin]

With visitors to entertain, I was hoping for a speedy romp and horrified when I saw Sabre's Knights' moves again. This has been as tough as they come but very rewarding. The mind boggles about how Sabre manages to compile such an astonishingly complex grid. I have double and triple-checked as this is one where it would be so easy to go wrong!

[aldanna]

Yes, not easy. I have the grid three-quarters filled but cannot imagine getting my head round the knight's moves. That will be hand over to Himself stuff, I think, if I get the rest of the grid done. Usual amazed thought - how do they think these up?

[jim360]

Some more progress made but it's clear that this is even more complicated that I'd feared, based on the answer at 21d alone and a couple of clashes on the right of the grid...

[TheBear69]

Phew! That was tough!

[jim360]

Finished this at about the same time as Jess Ennis, Greg Rutherford and Mo Farah were working together to make this a fantastic evening. Not sure which one made me more pleased. No, that's a lie... Wonderful scenes in London tonight!

[turast]

Listener 4201
For solvers coming across knight's moves for the first time I advise the construction of a "knight's move" template, based on the grid, using a transparent material, e.g. OHP acetate, or empty CD case.
Listener 4198
A little miffed about what's going to be counted as correct / incorrect seeming to depend on one's handwriting. That's at least one blot on my statistical escutcheon this year. No doubt there will be many more!

[trux]

Turast: I have to agree with your comment re 4198. The ruling seems to be both mean-spirited and somewhat antagonistic, made all the worse for commenting that the accent on Arsène was "optional" in the right solution (surely 100% wrong in the word Arsènal???). Bah, humbug. Give me a three-week old Z Cup!!!

[Walterloo]

The only thing stopping me from completing this is the answer to 29 down. Even working backwards from all the misprints I've completed and any possible letters the answer could contain I'm at a loss. If anyone can assist ([email protected]) I'd be vastly thankful. This puzzle will be unsubmitted.

[teuchter2]

I have been less than enthusiastic about this one, with lots of competing attractions. Very upset about 'Clangers' gifting of a goal to Celtic. However, I think I know the theme and I'm now needing to get a way in to the NW corner, which is proving very intransigent. I've got the rest. Which would you say was the easiest clue out of 1-6d (I've got 5d) and 1, 11, 13 and 18a?

[BlackHugh]

Walterloo - I've sent you an e-mail

[AHearer]

teuchter2, of those clues I'd say 2 down is the easiest.

[olichant]

Walterloo - I also have sent you an email - sorry, I hadn't seen that BlackHugh also had.

teuchter2 - out of that bunch, I'd be inclined to start with 18ac, though obviously it's subjective. I am certain I have 1ac, but can't work out the first part of the wordplay for the life of me. It's an enjoyable, puzzle - my first ever knight's move, and it is making my head hurt!

I agree that the marking of 4198 was not fair. It surely isn't right to be quite so pedantic unless the instructions are totally unambiguous. It makes me nervous about 4200.

[Walterloo]

Thanks Olichant and others for your assistance. Some errors have come to light though but I'm nearly done (again). Certainly a tough one alright. Amazing how a single misprint in each answer can cause so much trouble. I've made relatively quicker progress on the current E graded insanely hard Magpie than Sabre's latest!

[Walterloo]

All done except the sixth thematic entry. Moving those letters around so it all works was a real workout. I thought 11a was brilliantly deceptive and most of the others were also top rate.