MM Links Solutions January 2011 [Week 4]

[crofter]

Queen Christiana (the Cryptic One) maintained her recent obscure style of linking, so much so that the number of those picking up points barely reached double figures. Working under the theme: “It’s Puzzling”, her selected link words were:

UNDER Ground
OVER Rules (Ouch!)
Sharp WITTED
Eyes TRAIN (Double Ouch!)

It appears that 75% of this month’s entrants picked up at least One Point, although in truth most players found it difficult to maintain their level of success gained early in the month. I thought that it would take a sharp-witted player to be on top form to match this particular round, but just the right person came along ~ eventually!

NOW READ ON

[crofter]

This week, the very first entrant (roslyn251254 ~ a recent cryptic crossword winner) found instant success with OVER RULES for TWO POINTS, only to be repeated seven entrants later when owllady came with the same link to claim the same Two Points. Much later, Handbaglady went for the same Overrules, but unfortunately qualified for only One Point.

We had to wait until 09.04 for the eagle-eyed Strix (or should I say owl-eyed) to swoop in silently to complain of EYES TRAIN and carry off the next TWO POINTS. The clock moved on six minutes before wickedtongue (last week’s Tweedledee to Strix’s Tweedledum) claimed a delayed One Point for the very same Eyestrain.

However, it was Player #21 (posting at 11.07am) who produced an exceptional prediction. Opening his posting with the truly psychic statement: “If Christiana is playing with words today, maybe she chose UNDER GROUND, OVER RULES, sharpness & EYESTRAIN”! With this posting, gen2 claimed a massive FOUR POINTS to qualify for the honour of this week’s round to become HOT SHOT OF THE WEEK. However, this round we have bigger fish to fry!

[crofter]

With only three link words uncovered, the final word needed someone who was truly SHARP WITTED and that “someone” was ladyalex (the only player to pick up points on every one of this month’s rounds). All month she has closed the game with several insightful predictions (often picking up bonus points). The next dozen entrants came and left empty handed, before there came a minor flurry of scorers of One Point when cliffyg, barb771, Jim & twix123 brought the game to a gentle close.


The January League Table after this final week is:

EIGHT POINTS: ladyalex & Strix
SIX POINTS: gen2, lysander & wickedtongue
THREE POINTS: Handbaglady, Mrs Ont-ice, tearinghair & twix123
TWO POINTS: centrino, cliffyg, Dinkypuzzled, grannydi, jan1956, Jools, owllady patchett, rockfordill, roslyn251254, slaney, & ulysses100
ONE POINT: barb7771, beejay1124, BigMac, ChrisHewat, SHAZZA, Eiggam, Elspeth, Jim, jobjockey, kawakiri, kettledrum, LaneyB, mirandasmum, missmeg & teacher1

[crofter]

With all four weeks over, the top of the League Table reads like a “Who’s Who” in MM Linkland with a natural break between the best five and the rest of the field! Of these five, we have many multiple ex-MM Links Champions; however Strix (for example) has been the setter twice in the last 12 months ~ and has given generously of his time. I must thank him and look elsewhere.

Moving on to the elegant ladyalex: she has been an MM Links regular since the beginning of 2008. She enjoyed early success as setter in March of that year, but thereafter her predictions have fallen on barren ground ~ until recently. Over the last few months, she has been growing in strength and this month she has produced her best performance ever.

She has the skill and the pedigree to wear the MM Links Crown and set the Link words throughout the month of February. I would be grateful if anyone can facilitate the process of putting us in touch, so that we can prepare the groundwork for next week’s competition.

For the present, this is crofter signing off.

Until we meet up again: HAPPY LINKING!

:o)

[tearinghair]

Thank you Queen Christiana the Cryptic One and crofter of the abacus, and many congratulations to the points scorers. Bring 'em on, LadyAlex!

[middlestump]

Thank you both. What an interesting, if personally pointless, month January turned out to be.

[paulineward]

Thanks for nothing! Which is just what I scored!!
An interesting month...well done to Lady Alex and Strix.

[gen2]

Congratulations LadyAlex - a well-deserved win. I look forward to your challenges next month.

Thank you crofter for your meticulous scoring.

And of course a big thank you to Christiana for a month of challenging puzzles.

[Strix]

Firstly thank you to Queen Christiana (who I hope has a good time in Portugal)

And secondly, thank you, to crofter as always for his control of the MM Links game - unless you have been a setter you will not know just how much crofter (and Gen2 sometimes) puts into the smooth running of this.

Thirdly congratulations to the ladyalex - I look forward to her challenges during February.

Lastly I am mighty relieved (as I suspect a lot of you are) that I was not selected to set the posers for the next month!!!!!!!!

[ladyalex]

Wow and double wow!

My second win.

Thanks you to crofter and Queen Christiana.
Better get my thinking cap on. First have to remember how to get in touch with crofter...

[BigMac]

Well done to LadyA and thanks to crofter.

Not sure how I managed to get a whole point ... ... but probably better than nothing!

[twix123]

Thank you Queen Christiana and Crofter plus abacus, for an interesting month. Well done Ladyalex, perhaps you'll have more volunteers to clean your moat next month whilst you're setting the links :-))

At least I didn't need the parachute this month, which makes a change!

[Handbaglady]

I consider myself extremely lucky to have scored three points this month. As I remember being told at school I must try harder during February. Well done all and thank you Christiana. I'm looking forward to February to see what lies in store from ladyalex.

[Aquagility]

I always thought that my life was pointless - now i know it. Thanks all the same to Christiana and crofter.
And ladyalex, while you're having your moat cleaned, can I have a loan of your duck-house please?

[boxtops]

Thank you crofter, a very hollow month for me - note for self, Must Do Better.

[NazNomad]

"Eyes TRAIN"

Cheating, lol