The Hardest Sudoku I've EVER Solved

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Cracking The Cryptic

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Published on February 5, 2025 8:30:02 PM ● Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCYaUd8KjO0

Duration: 0:00

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As explained in yesterday's video description, Simon recorded this video on Tuesday but did not realise how long it would take to process/upload. Apologies to those whose birthdays were missed - Simon will catch up the birthdays tomorrow. We decided to release this incredible long video on the channel after the Twitter Poll.

** TODAY'S PUZZLE **
We had so many requests to attempt tonight's sudoku: Taiga by IcyFruit. Well Simon did try it. And embarked on the toughest battle he's ever had with ANY sudoku puzzle. With apologies for the ludicrous length of this video and with the utmost respect to IcyFruit's genius...

Play the puzzle at the link below:

https://sudokupad.app/6f3k4btidk

Rules:
Normal sudoku rules apply. Identify two "indexer" cells in each row, column, and box, with one indexing in the row and the other indexing in the column. The digit in an indexer cell indicates the position of the other indexer cell in its row or column. Positions are counted left to right in rows and top to bottom in columns. The value of an indexer cell is the digit in the cell it indexes. For all other cells, their value is their own digit. All lines are region-subset lines: ie 3x3 box boundaries divide each line into segments. For any pair of segments on the same line, the values on one of those segments must all appear on the other segment.
Examples: i) If () represents an indexer cell, then 12(6)34(7)598 would be a valid row of digits, because there are exactly two indexer cells, and one of the cells indexes the other: the (7) is in position 6, and the other indexer cell contains a 6. The value of the (6) cell would be 7, because that is the digit in the cell it indexes. Given that this is a row, we would also know that r7c6 must be an indexer cell, because the (7) cell indexes it. ii) A region-subset line could contain the values 189-8-98-918, where a dash represents a box boundary. This is valid because (8) is a subset of (89) and (189), (89) is a subset of (189), and (189) is a subset of itself.

There is a diagram representing the indexing here:
https://sudokupad.app/vrwxd77q0o

** 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:

https://www.patreon.com/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-puzzles-a-conference-tickets-1144015303569

** NURIKABE WORLD STREAM TUESDAY'S STREAM **
You can watch last night's stream here:


The game is available here:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2964540/Nurikabe_World/

** 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/3165770/Cracking_the_Cryptic__Fog_of_War_1/

** CRACKING THE CRYPTIC APP **
Our main app (which is itself completely free) contains packs featuring Fog, Domino, Lines, and GAS puzzles, with a few special free sets as well! All the puzzles are hand-crafted by us and some of the best constructors in the world, with hints by Simon and Mark.
AppStore:
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/cracking-the-cryptic/id1629992934
Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2085970/Cracking_the_Cryptic/
Android:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.StudioGoya.CrackingTheCryptic

▶ Contents Of This Video ◀

0:00 Intro music and puzzle introduction
2:03 Taravangian in The Stormlight Archive
3:26 New Patreon competition
4:49 Happy Birthdays
5:56 Rules
19:54 Start of Solve: Let's Get Cracking

▶ Contact Us ◀

Twitter: @Cracking The Cryptic
email: crackingthecryptic@gmail.com

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'.)

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