In a remarkable feat of cryptic construction, a recent Genius crossword puzzle managed to capture the very essence of the hit BBC show The Traitors within its grid. The puzzle, created by setter Glyph and published in November, was conceived back in July, long before the celebrity edition of the show became a national talking point.
A Puzzle with a Hidden Allegiance
Solvers were presented with a unique challenge: Entrants must pick a side. The majority of the down clues required a letter to be removed before they could be solved. When these extra letters were compiled in clue order, they spelled out the name of the show's iconic presenter: Claudia Winkleman. This clever mechanism identified the one person in the game who, indeed, may not pick a side.
The deception went even deeper. Four of the clues were deliberately ambiguous, each yielding two equally valid answers. This created a brilliant parallel to the show's core mechanic of hidden roles and suspicion.
- BEARS or BARES
- PATER or PRIOR
- FAT or OAT
- GOLFBALL or GOLFBAGS
This ambiguity directly influenced the puzzle's central entry. Depending on a solver's choices, the answer could legitimately be either THE FAITHFUL or THE TRAITORS, mirroring the secret identities of the contestants themselves.
Celebrating Cluing Excellence
The article also detailed the results of the cluing conference for the word SCALES. The audacity award was claimed by Montano for a cleverly constructed clue referencing composers Sibelius and Shostakovich. Two entries were named as runners-up, including a rare joint effort from commenters Mr_Rob_T and Newlaplandes, hailed as a paragon of collegiate working in the often-toxic world of online comments.
The ultimate winner was KenJam with the succinct and elegant clue: "A major climbs ranges. A minor too". The puzzle community is now invited to submit clues for the next challenge word: CAT BURNS.
Looking Ahead
With the mind-bending Genius puzzle no 269 now fully revealed, solvers are left to wonder what Glyph will devise next. December's Genius puzzle is already awaiting, promising another layer of intellectual intrigue. The puzzle serves as a testament to how contemporary culture, even blockbuster television, can inspire and be reflected in the ancient art of the crossword.
