A Jaw-Dropping Sudoku Masterpiece

Simon extends his apologies to those with birthdays today. This is a pre-recorded video because he solved a puzzle called Taiga by IcyFruit today, which proved exceptionally difficult. (Simon considers it to be the hardest puzzle we've attempted since the channel started.) Anyway, one issue with 3hr30mins of video is that it takes MUCH longer than usual for our video software to create the file for uploading to YouTube (2 hours is the current prediction!), let alone the time needed to then upload it to the internet. So we might release the video tomorrow (which will ruin tomorrow's birthdays - gahhhh) or it will appear on Patreon in due course. Sorry again! ** TODAY'S PUZZLE ** Well this sudoku has certainly garnered some plaudits!! It's been recommended to us with words like "favourite puzzle ever", "astonishing", "genius", "best Little Killer sudoku" etc. It's called Rhubarb and Custard and it's emerged from the mind of the great Qodec. This one is VERY special. Play the puzzle at the link below: https://sudokupad.app/3b5i89p48o Rules: Normal sudoku rules apply. A clue outside the grid gives the sum of the digits along the indicated diagonal. The cell with the opaque grey circle contains an odd digit. ** NEW SUDOKU HUNT COMPETITION JUST OUT ** Yesterday we launched a brand new sudoku hunt from the Paint By Numbers Institute. It's called Where's My Mamma and features 11 new puzzles (and Clocksmith's lovely artwork!). Check it out for as little as $2/month here:   / crackingthecryptic   ** LIVE CROSSWORD MASTERCLASS ** On March 21, Simon and Mark will appear at the Word=Puzzles conference at Magdelen College, Oxford and do a live episode of their crossword masterclass! More information here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/word-puz... ** THE HOBBIT BY BLOBZ: NEW SUDOKU HUNT COMPETITION ** On 1 January we launched a brand new sudoku hunt from Blobz, the 'sequel' to his Lord Of The Rings hunt from 2024... The Hobbit! 19 puzzles of Tolkien-themed wonders. Solution videos just out. Check it out for as little as $2/month here:   / crackingthecryptic   ** NURIKABE WORLD STREAM TUESDAY'S STREAM ** You can watch last night's stream here: https://youtube.com/live/D_Hn2cVg5yg The game is available here: https://store.steampowered.com/app/29... ** NEW FOG APP IS OUT ON APPLE (!), STEAM & ANDROID ** Brand new incredible Fog Sudoku puzzles by the likes of Phistomefel, Marty Sears, James Sinclair, Qodec, Dorlir, ThePedallingPianist, Sandra&Nala, Peter Veenis, Mr Menace, Florian Wortmann, Math Pesto & HalfBakedLunatic. https://store.steampowered.com/app/31... ▶ SUDOKU PAD - Use Our Software For Your Puzzles ◀ You can input classic sudoku puzzles into our software and help support Sven, the programmer responsible for the wonderful user interface we all use to play these puzzles everyday. The app also comes with 12 handmade puzzles from us: iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/svens-s... Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/17... Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/de... ALSO on Amazon: Search for “SudokuPad” ▶ Contents Of This Video ◀ 0:00 Intro music and puzzle intro 1:54 Join Us On Patreon 3:05 Rules 4:15 Start of Solve: Let's Get Cracking ▶ Contact Us ◀ Twitter: @Cracking The Cryptic email: [email protected] Our PO Box address: Simon Anthony & Mark Goodliffe Box 102 56 Gloucester Road London SW7 4UB (Please note to use our real names rather than 'Cracking The Cryptic'.) ************************************************************** ▶ CTC FAN DISCORD SERVER◀   / discord   ▶ OUR BACK CATALOGUE – ALL CATEGORISED WITH LINKS!◀ https://tinyurl.com/CTCCatalogue ▶ NEW CRACKING THE CRYPTIC MERCHANDISE◀ https://teespring.com/en-GB/stores/cr... ▶SEND US PUZZLES TO SOLVE/CONTACT US◀ [email protected] ▶FOLLOW US◀ Twitter: @crypticcracking Instagram (for how to solve daily clues from The Times): https://www.instagram.com/crackingthe... We also post the Wordle In A Minute videos on TikTok. #sudoku, #sudokuday, #chatgpt