Crossword editor’s desk: celebrating 30,000 cryptics with a treasure hunt

Cryptic No 30,000 has been published, and here — in the order solvers experienced it, but presented in reverse — is how the milestone was marked. In 2024, seeing we were approaching the last half of the 29,000-numbered puzzles, we decide the best way to celebrate it is to have some fun.

Messages began to appear in bottom rows: the first, by James Brydon (AKA Picaroon) setting as Ludwig, read WELL DONE, followed by Imogen’s BRAVO and Paul’s HERE.

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