Listener 4186 Cuemasters by Tangram

[Zabadak]

I think I've got there, though held up for a long time in the NW of the grid and an overenthusiastic wrong answer to 1 down in particular. A wrong assumption about probably the most critical missing letter sent me chasing after several wrong answers to the question, too.
Rather hard work, this one, with several possible dead ends cluttering up the solving process, and a grumble about doing word searches averted by spotting the Answer after carefully rereading the blurb.
Not bad, a proper Listener workout. Thanks to Tangram, and best wishes to all who gather here

[trux]

Apologies, Mr. Z - just finished typing my post, posted it, then saw yours flash up also. Please do continue on here. (Will post diversionary notice on mine). As I said there, less perspiration than last week, but still quite some ; many thanks, Tangram.

[starwalker]

Sadly, due to my scatter-gun approach to grid filling, I had the central letter with less than half of the grid filled and without any idea of the posed question. Now I am left with the final slog through the few remaining clues just for completeness. Not intended as a contender for the Z cup,but I feel that I am getting there. Thanks anyway, to Tangram.

[trux]

... and like last week, I think that solvers should have been asked to show their definite knowledge of the answer to the question, rather than being able to make a (quite likely) correct guess at it ... is this going to become the norm?

[sunny-dave]

Not too hard - but strangely unsatisfying - the final endgame just didn't seem worth all the approach work.

[trux]

S-D (or should that be R-D?) ... promoted to favouritism for the Z Cup this week ... just re-read 11a and smile ...

[Ruthrobin]

I have found this far more difficult than last week's and would probably be struggling till well into next week had the 'question' not appeared to help complete the grid. I'm not competing with SD for the Z cup but find puzzles more of a challenge when the wordplay and definition don't correspond. Thanks for the tough work out, Tangram.

[AHearer]

I think I must have followed a similar route to Zabadak: the SE corner was a doddle, NE and SW not too bad, and NW the last to fall. Overall, quite enjoyable.

[cluelessJoe]

Yes, testing but not over-inspiring. Bad timing I suppose - I guess most puzzles will seem anticlimactic after last week's. Have a good weekend all, hope it's not too wet where you are.

[dr b]

Homologous? First time I've had to hit the dictionary just to understand the preamble. But, a fine puzzle all in all.

[Charpy]

A good puzzle overall, I felt, for which many thanks to Tangram.

Some easy clues; some hard. Like Z, I made a couple of mistakes with my solutions including, I suspect, the same mistake with 1d. So I'll be checking everything thoroughly this weekend.

I think Tangram would have had problems asking us to prove we had answered his question. Highlighting, for instance, would have been ambiguous with two 3-letter words in the grid providing a viable alternative. He would have had to tell us how many letters to highlight which could have helped us to solve the puzzle. Similar difficulties occur with writing something below the grid.

[Ruthrobin]

Yes, Dr B, I did the same but I don't think it is the first time I have looked a preamble word up in the dictionary. It is quite a good solving device!

[Charpy]

I forgot to say in my last post that the surface reading of Tangram's clues was the most endearing feature of this puzzle. trux has already singled out 11a. Couldn't agree more; but what about 20d? There are several others as well. I was led up the garden path by a few of them - so thanks again, Tangram.

[upsetter]

A lot easier than last week - 1d did give pause for thought.
Nothing else to add.

[vetuste_ennemi]

Don't understand your comment about the highlighting, Charpy. I can't see any ambiguity; and the number of cells is the length of the thematically treated answer, isn't it?

[aldanna]

Most of the grid done, but like others I am finding the top left corner recalcitrant (bottom left has a few gaps too). I think I have an idea of the question. At least, having read chemistry ahem years ago, I was familiar with the word 'homologous', but not sure how to apply it here. I do find these much harder when the wordplay gives the adapted word rather than the full one, but not planning to give up this week. Yet.

[silversolver]

All done, I think (top left was the last bit for me too). Another real challenge with some excellent clues. I thought the final step was a bit underwhelming, unless I have missed something...

[tilbee]

Grid completed and fairly certain of letter to be entered in centre, but still need to search for the thematic answer in the grid. Set off at a quick pace this morning, but like others significantly held up by the time got to the NW corner. A good solid , if unspectacular, offering.

[ichkeria]

Charpy is quite right. No need for highlighting here just as there was no need last week. The puzzle stands well without it.

[Charpy]

vetuste_enne mi:
Sorry. Can't say any more without giving too much away to those still working on the puzzle.

[easylistener]

Much more enjoyable and do-able than last week even though I haven't finished all the NW clues. Finding the theme and the answer to the question and the letter were very satisfying partly because I first encountered the theme earlier this week. How often does it happen that a theme has been encountered that very week?