![]() ![]() It is thought a match will usually last an hour or two, or a day or more if it goes beyond that. But there is also nothing so dull as sitting on a wooden podium for days, waiting for one single masterstroke. ![]() There is nothing like the tension of two combatants, locked in a fight to the death, watching each other intently, waiting to strike. Off all the sports we watch and endure, The Crucible of Steel is perhaps both the dullest and the most exciting. Not that the spectators complain of quick matches though. ![]() Quiet, stoic and threatening types have both taken home streaks of victories and just as often been dispatched within 20 minutes. Even the best bookmakers have trouble predicting match results. Others try to talk to a stone faced figure. Some rivals chat, some stare blankly at each other or avoid gazes. They like to see how winners work against other winners. The people who set the matches like to put these victors against each other when possible. As is the nature of the game, very few live long enough to become a legend of the sport, yet those few that do honour patience and a level head above anything else. While for some, confidence has been enough to intimidate their opponents and led to an easy victory, more often than not, it proves folly. Often, it pays to leave your ego beyond The Crucible. A mighty man, towering above his small, spindly assailant, muscles barely contained within his required garment of a black sleeveless top, will fall just as easily as their match when a blade is driven through their breastbone. So, instead, they elect for quicker matches but this rarely ends well. Many fear exactly that, looking weak in front of the crowds. No mental fortitude, no years of training, can prepare you for days of no sleep or water, whilst another sits just out of reach, willing your imminent demise. The Crucible of Steel turns everyone weak, even those thought strongest of all. The thud he made hitting the floor woke his opponent, long enough for him to inch his way over to the sword and bury it deep within his opponent’s neck. But, when his rival stood to grasp the hilt of the blade, his weakness caught his knees, his dry mouth burned fiercely, and he fainted. Perhaps he welcomed eternal rest after the torment of The Crucible. In a recent match, lasting just shy of four days, one of the challengers fell asleep, unable to keep his heavy eyelids open any longer. Some can go on much longer though, until fatigue or dehydration wins out. But an off day in the Crucible of Steel will likely be your last. Having an off day is something we all do experience maybe we’re feeling unwell or are just not ourselves. It’s a game of wits, a game of risk and a game of luck. Seemingly unprepared, but in fact ready for the kill. Winners have been known to feign a tired eye, or a lingering blink. A slip, a mistake, a yawn too long, and your rival can grab the sword and slay you. You cannot take a break, you cannot sleep, you cannot take your eye off your opponent. While sat, you are given no food no water. The game only ends when one challenger fells the other. Your opponent can strike a knife blow, often thrown, and kill you. Going for the sword means you stand, and are vulnerable. You can kill them with the sword, though, even if they do not move. You cannot kill an opponent with the dagger, so long as they remain seated. ![]() In their hand a small dagger dug into the earth in front of them is a longer, steel sword. Many thanks to Crucible for an enjoyable puzzle.The rules of the game were simple but nearly impossible to master. My favourite clues were 5,11, 14, 26, and 29 ac and 4 and 21dn, with a new word for me at 22dn. There’s a theme of astronomy and space travel, cleverly exploited without being obtrusive. I’m always pleased to see Crucible’s name on a puzzle I’m down to blog and this one was as enjoyable as ever, with a nice range of clue types, clever constructions and smooth, witty surfaces. ![]()
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