Quick SNITCH

A quantitative guide to the degree of difficulty of the Times Quick Cryptic Crossword

Reference solvers for May 2026

The following solvers are used as references for the NITCH calculations in this month. The time indicated is their average solving time for error-free puzzles during the prior six months. The solvers average NITCH for each day of week is also shown, with the number of solutions for that day.

RankSolverSolutions usedAverage time MonTueWedThuFri
1 cmjhutton 92 02:10 82 (18) 100 (19) 103 (19) 103 (20) 111 (16)
2 Paul Gilbert 121 02:10 86 (26) 106 (24) 100 (23) 98 (25) 110 (23)
3 lili 123 02:14 80 (25) 96 (25) 105 (23) 106 (24) 112 (26)
4 verlaine 122 02:31 88 (25) 100 (25) 103 (21) 98 (26) 109 (25)
5 Jason 119 02:34 85 (22) 98 (26) 98 (23) 104 (24) 111 (24)
6 mistigris 95 02:37 85 (17) 101 (18) 105 (20) 102 (20) 102 (20)
7 Magoo 77 02:39 84 (14) 100 (15) 101 (14) 105 (16) 106 (18)
8 aphis99 123 02:44 85 (26) 98 (24) 103 (25) 100 (24) 112 (24)
9 hilarym 103 02:49 87 (24) 102 (23) 97 (20) 111 (21) 105 (15)
10 HoneyBadger 127 02:57 90 (26) 102 (25) 97 (24) 101 (26) 108 (26)
11 Flimmy flammy 120 03:09 82 (25) 94 (23) 101 (23) 100 (26) 123 (23)
12 Askival 109 03:11 82 (24) 102 (22) 105 (20) 101 (21) 108 (22)
13 Amoeba89 120 03:13 87 (24) 97 (24) 102 (25) 104 (23) 109 (24)
14 Ciolf 109 03:19 81 (21) 105 (23) 104 (20) 102 (23) 107 (22)
15 Deane Short 96 03:25 95 (20) 95 (20) 97 (18) 107 (20) 103 (18)
16 Wizard of Aus 43 03:26 79 (7) 98 (9) 106 (12) 101 (9) 111 (6)
17 markdobell 116 03:26 88 (23) 99 (22) 105 (24) 102 (26) 104 (21)
18 Heyesey 104 03:33 84 (22) 99 (21) 107 (20) 110 (21) 101 (20)
19 richard 77 03:34 85 (17) 100 (18) 104 (15) 101 (16) 110 (11)
20 philjordan1147 125 03:41 91 (26) 100 (26) 98 (25) 103 (26) 105 (22)
21 SimonAnthony 113 03:54 81 (23) 98 (24) 97 (20) 108 (23) 113 (23)
22 Kinghedger 108 03:58 93 (21) 102 (23) 98 (22) 104 (22) 101 (20)
23 Umpire 43 04:00 82 (9) 89 (11) 105 (8) 111 (7) 118 (8)
24 glheard 100 04:00 83 (23) 102 (20) 103 (22) 102 (18) 111 (17)
25 Aybee 88 04:01 88 (23) 108 (19) 98 (18) 102 (17) 105 (11)
26 EricK 123 04:01 82 (26) 100 (26) 99 (22) 104 (25) 113 (24)
27 Topical Tim 110 04:07 92 (23) 99 (24) 99 (20) 101 (22) 109 (21)
28 MikeOsborneMason 74 04:13 85 (17) 94 (17) 104 (15) 109 (14) 113 (11)
29 morleyterrier 80 04:15 89 (18) 102 (17) 102 (13) 98 (17) 109 (15)
30 lickert 123 04:21 84 (26) 91 (24) 98 (25) 100 (25) 127 (23)
31 Freemers1968 115 04:23 90 (26) 98 (23) 96 (17) 108 (23) 104 (26)
32 cdb_100 75 04:26 82 (18) 106 (19) 109 (13) 106 (15) 97 (10)
33 tilbee 101 04:29 84 (22) 99 (21) 100 (23) 107 (16) 111 (19)
34 canismiser 82 04:30 84 (20) 106 (19) 104 (15) 105 (13) 102 (15)
35 JayEm 101 04:33 80 (19) 106 (20) 96 (20) 109 (23) 105 (19)
36 MK76 94 04:37 90 (23) 102 (16) 102 (18) 101 (20) 106 (17)
37 andrewlake 117 04:38 78 (25) 114 (21) 103 (24) 103 (25) 101 (22)
38 Morphosis 46 04:39 93 (10) 101 (12) 104 (7) 104 (10) 97 (7)
39 rrricharrrd 101 04:39 79 (22) 97 (17) 99 (22) 111 (23) 115 (17)
40 chindit 113 04:39 94 (23) 96 (23) 105 (20) 98 (24) 106 (23)
41 alexh 105 04:40 88 (24) 96 (19) 103 (23) 103 (20) 110 (19)
42 March 114 04:42 84 (24) 101 (23) 101 (22) 103 (24) 110 (21)
43 Liari 63 04:43 86 (17) 104 (16) 96 (13) 112 (9) 111 (8)
44 alisonm74 99 04:45 84 (22) 102 (23) 106 (18) 105 (21) 102 (15)
45 Jon Delfin 123 04:45 78 (24) 96 (24) 104 (26) 107 (24) 112 (25)
46 daulbs 73 04:47 79 (18) 96 (15) 105 (12) 102 (15) 124 (13)
47 Tom Stubbs 121 04:51 89 (26) 101 (26) 98 (24) 106 (22) 106 (23)
48 LouWeed 114 04:52 84 (25) 95 (23) 100 (24) 110 (25) 111 (17)
49 d.middleton 45 04:54 84 (14) 109 (9) 111 (8) 98 (7) 105 (7)
50 The Dabbler 86 04:54 90 (22) 105 (19) 100 (17) 103 (13) 104 (15)
51 Riche 88 04:55 90 (23) 103 (18) 102 (17) 104 (17) 102 (13)
52 lucyg43484 107 04:57 81 (24) 105 (23) 100 (18) 105 (20) 109 (22)
53 benbush 62 04:59 84 (13) 95 (14) 98 (8) 104 (14) 116 (13)
54 ram80 41 05:00 80 (6) 108 (7) 94 (11) 91 (7) 118 (10)
55 andy 115 05:00 88 (22) 94 (21) 103 (25) 105 (23) 107 (24)
56 neilr 90 05:02 88 (22) 100 (19) 101 (17) 106 (20) 105 (12)
57 Anomalospiza 104 05:04 80 (22) 100 (21) 100 (23) 103 (20) 117 (18)
58 trux 70 05:08 85 (16) 96 (15) 106 (16) 115 (15) 93 (8)
59 Vannyx 85 05:08 82 (19) 100 (15) 109 (14) 96 (20) 116 (17)
60 Zander 105 05:11 84 (22) 108 (23) 95 (22) 105 (20) 108 (18)
61 Ed freshpot 107 05:11 82 (22) 96 (24) 103 (18) 102 (24) 118 (19)
62 ChuckB 63 05:17 90 (17) 101 (14) 105 (7) 102 (12) 106 (13)
63 Squallaby 111 05:18 87 (25) 96 (21) 102 (22) 110 (22) 104 (21)
64 Paul Hammond 71 05:19 84 (15) 101 (14) 106 (13) 104 (13) 103 (16)
65 Rabbitoh 112 05:20 85 (23) 97 (23) 105 (23) 108 (22) 102 (21)
66 Streaky Bacon 96 05:21 83 (19) 96 (17) 95 (20) 109 (20) 115 (20)
67 Encota 96 05:22 93 (19) 102 (19) 98 (22) 103 (20) 104 (16)
68 lyndaw 95 05:24 91 (24) 95 (20) 102 (20) 104 (20) 113 (11)
69 chriswestontour 54 05:26 92 (16) 102 (11) 99 (7) 101 (13) 111 (7)
70 7dPenguin 112 05:30 86 (23) 95 (21) 106 (20) 101 (24) 110 (24)
71 nina s 80 05:33 90 (15) 109 (16) 92 (18) 101 (18) 107 (13)
72 Tibthorpe 117 05:36 84 (24) 97 (25) 100 (24) 104 (22) 116 (22)
73 Mike C 78 05:37 84 (16) 105 (15) 99 (17) 103 (17) 109 (13)
74 rob.rolfe42 50 05:38 91 (15) 102 (8) 102 (12) 110 (9) 97 (6)
75 Looch 113 05:39 86 (22) 97 (23) 100 (21) 99 (24) 115 (23)
76 Onelug 54 05:40 83 (15) 101 (10) 116 (14) 100 (6) 99 (9)
77 julian_w 80 05:41 86 (18) 104 (19) 104 (18) 105 (15) 99 (10)
78 esmeralda 102 05:44 80 (24) 102 (22) 97 (17) 98 (18) 123 (21)
79 Finzi 125 05:45 90 (25) 105 (26) 102 (26) 103 (24) 98 (24)
80 SBQuick 41 05:46 88 (6) 113 (9) 99 (10) 96 (7) 98 (9)
81 KET 63 05:48 82 (17) 99 (15) 107 (11) 114 (11) 106 (9)
82 inca1 87 05:48 82 (19) 100 (18) 99 (19) 104 (18) 118 (13)
83 KarenR 95 06:00 82 (18) 99 (20) 96 (19) 104 (19) 115 (19)
84 andrewfeist96 72 06:02 80 (17) 103 (17) 95 (11) 111 (16) 111 (11)
85 Crossiant 101 06:03 81 (16) 99 (20) 103 (19) 96 (23) 114 (23)
86 mjsaunders9 122 06:05 86 (25) 101 (25) 96 (23) 107 (26) 108 (23)
87 hopkinb 102 06:07 81 (22) 105 (18) 101 (18) 106 (22) 105 (22)
88 Jamie Fox 123 06:07 80 (26) 101 (25) 105 (26) 111 (23) 102 (23)
89 james150374 80 06:09 82 (17) 95 (15) 98 (17) 113 (16) 111 (15)
90 Dzhigit 113 06:12 86 (24) 92 (23) 112 (22) 101 (21) 108 (23)
91 Tudds 114 06:13 85 (22) 101 (25) 96 (23) 105 (22) 111 (22)
92 jimwetzler 68 06:21 86 (16) 101 (18) 103 (10) 105 (11) 107 (13)
93 paul.whitehouse69 69 06:23 79 (17) 103 (13) 114 (15) 103 (15) 102 (9)
94 PGooden 103 06:25 83 (20) 100 (21) 105 (21) 92 (21) 116 (20)
95 Aldus 47 06:26 93 (14) 105 (9) 106 (10) 100 (7) 96 (7)
96 cognominative 55 06:28 84 (14) 101 (12) 94 (8) 110 (12) 114 (9)
97 jon 64 06:35 80 (11) 99 (15) 94 (10) 99 (12) 117 (16)
98 James P 106 06:39 78 (23) 102 (22) 95 (18) 105 (22) 119 (21)
99 Kalakuta72 51 06:41 77 (12) 104 (7) 111 (10) 92 (11) 119 (11)
100 Nangle 42 06:45 80 (11) 117 (8) 104 (6) 100 (7) 104 (10)
101 mw7000 58 06:47 75 (12) 113 (11) 95 (12) 87 (14) 141 (9)
102 gnome123 64 06:48 83 (13) 95 (12) 110 (13) 109 (11) 103 (15)
103 Adrian Cobb 79 06:49 88 (14) 106 (16) 102 (17) 101 (17) 98 (15)
104 Rosron 58 06:50 85 (13) 93 (7) 102 (15) 104 (12) 112 (11)
105 GMcD 109 06:52 85 (23) 98 (22) 105 (21) 100 (23) 113 (20)
106 tds 63 06:54 83 (8) 97 (12) 93 (13) 96 (14) 118 (16)
107 Kevin Gregg 76 06:56 94 (24) 108 (16) 99 (14) 100 (11) 100 (11)
108 KenD51 55 07:04 85 (9) 95 (10) 105 (17) 89 (7) 112 (12)
109 janesa 59 07:05 96 (19) 96 (9) 103 (12) 101 (10) 105 (9)
110 uvofiz 95 07:05 85 (21) 101 (16) 106 (20) 94 (21) 115 (17)
111 Dvynys 85 07:08 82 (15) 98 (18) 94 (17) 99 (15) 118 (20)
112 The Caffeine Kid 71 07:10 81 (14) 93 (14) 99 (19) 106 (9) 120 (15)
113 metagloria 98 07:13 79 (21) 100 (19) 91 (20) 110 (18) 120 (20)
114 intentional rounding 85 07:17 83 (14) 96 (15) 97 (18) 110 (21) 105 (17)
115 phatman 67 07:19 85 (17) 95 (18) 117 (11) 99 (9) 111 (12)
116 cerid 105 07:19 82 (22) 101 (23) 104 (20) 108 (18) 105 (22)
117 brian.richards1 62 07:20 83 (14) 98 (10) 103 (14) 101 (13) 116 (11)
118 Puzzleplease 108 07:20 87 (18) 103 (24) 99 (24) 98 (21) 108 (21)
119 earlylight 72 07:22 76 (19) 101 (15) 101 (12) 112 (14) 119 (12)
120 ilan 65 07:23 85 (15) 91 (10) 100 (16) 110 (11) 114 (13)
121 endafk 106 07:24 83 (22) 98 (23) 113 (20) 105 (21) 100 (20)
122 JPTC 82 07:25 80 (19) 91 (15) 111 (14) 111 (17) 108 (17)
123 Templar Redux 115 07:25 85 (23) 103 (23) 103 (25) 97 (22) 110 (22)
124 Corymbia 90 07:26 78 (16) 97 (16) 97 (20) 107 (17) 114 (21)
125 robinh 106 07:27 86 (21) 102 (18) 102 (24) 102 (22) 105 (21)
126 Rosey6 35 07:28 80 (7) 98 (7) 94 (6) 120 (7) 105 (8)
127 Sheen 45 07:28 81 (12) 96 (7) 93 (8) 115 (9) 117 (9)
128 LiamD 101 07:29 74 (20) 93 (19) 103 (19) 104 (21) 122 (22)
129 Mike Harper 121 07:30 80 (25) 94 (24) 104 (26) 111 (22) 110 (24)
130 Desdeeloeste 78 07:31 82 (18) 109 (14) 103 (18) 102 (17) 107 (11)
131 plett11 119 07:31 81 (26) 102 (23) 96 (23) 109 (23) 111 (24)
132 1234 70 07:32 82 (17) 102 (13) 101 (16) 100 (12) 119 (12)
133 DamienKnapma 99 07:34 90 (22) 97 (22) 93 (17) 110 (19) 108 (19)
134 mjwiseman 64 07:36 78 (14) 96 (17) 97 (8) 115 (10) 114 (15)
135 f4rch 61 07:38 89 (10) 93 (15) 116 (11) 94 (17) 112 (8)
136 DianeRS 47 07:40 90 (10) 101 (12) 111 (6) 101 (10) 98 (9)
137 Solving slo mo 70 07:49 87 (10) 95 (19) 97 (13) 100 (16) 119 (12)
138 john.brassey 53 07:50 90 (10) 99 (9) 106 (12) 104 (11) 97 (11)
139 ChrisBrea 99 07:50 81 (22) 104 (13) 100 (22) 105 (20) 111 (22)
140 Married Admirer 70 07:51 82 (13) 95 (14) 98 (14) 105 (16) 116 (13)
141 mich_punk 80 07:52 80 (20) 101 (14) 109 (17) 102 (14) 111 (15)
142 nigel 66 08:00 87 (14) 98 (15) 110 (12) 95 (16) 117 (9)
143 Cuppa378 69 08:03 80 (17) 98 (12) 109 (15) 101 (13) 115 (12)
144 ulaca 112 08:10 80 (22) 99 (24) 102 (21) 101 (24) 117 (21)
145 johndun 113 08:13 85 (23) 95 (25) 96 (23) 109 (19) 114 (23)
146 Joseph T 76 08:16 87 (18) 100 (13) 100 (15) 105 (16) 109 (14)
147 mattindoha 88 08:18 89 (18) 100 (19) 104 (17) 95 (17) 110 (17)
148 anchisiades 44 08:23 76 (10) 96 (8) 109 (7) 114 (11) 104 (8)
149 m5harp 79 08:23 87 (19) 99 (15) 106 (14) 99 (18) 112 (13)
150 John Arnold 89 08:31 82 (20) 95 (18) 112 (16) 107 (19) 104 (16)
151 Jeeves 117 08:33 85 (21) 100 (24) 97 (24) 104 (22) 109 (26)
152 Manuel1 44 08:36 90 (8) 107 (12) 89 (11) 104 (6) 110 (7)
153 crucihacker 99 08:37 93 (23) 94 (19) 91 (18) 105 (19) 114 (20)
154 nigelmzzz 102 08:38 84 (20) 102 (23) 93 (20) 96 (15) 117 (24)
155 hemantyd 69 08:43 82 (18) 101 (13) 93 (13) 117 (18) 109 (7)
156 vinyl12345 90 08:48 81 (22) 100 (17) 105 (19) 107 (19) 111 (13)
157 Peloton 83 08:50 76 (15) 99 (16) 98 (16) 113 (20) 107 (16)
158 goblin 127 08:50 88 (26) 99 (26) 101 (26) 101 (23) 108 (26)
159 gsriordan52 96 08:51 84 (18) 99 (20) 103 (19) 104 (20) 107 (19)
160 johnusa 63 08:52 84 (14) 102 (14) 106 (12) 104 (12) 106 (11)
161 Mudge 105 08:53 80 (21) 97 (19) 102 (20) 101 (21) 116 (24)
162 timbo 73 09:01 73 (15) 96 (16) 106 (14) 120 (11) 108 (17)
163 Mkgnao 84 09:03 79 (23) 96 (15) 106 (17) 119 (13) 109 (16)
164 Deezzaa 107 09:13 77 (21) 104 (22) 93 (18) 101 (23) 119 (23)
165 Word Psmith 47 09:16 87 (13) 100 (8) 103 (7) 110 (9) 103 (10)
166 horners1974 59 09:21 83 (15) 110 (10) 99 (11) 104 (15) 108 (8)
167 starstruck 72 09:24 79 (18) 97 (11) 102 (15) 99 (15) 128 (13)
168 Srb1 87 09:31 76 (19) 108 (18) 113 (16) 95 (17) 107 (17)
169 crosswordian 85 09:37 79 (16) 93 (15) 98 (21) 114 (16) 114 (17)
170 Stozzer John 79 09:40 79 (17) 100 (17) 104 (17) 110 (15) 108 (13)
171 The Real Steve Snackman 113 10:01 78 (26) 104 (24) 105 (25) 101 (22) 117 (16)
172 barracuda 71 10:04 85 (11) 95 (15) 101 (16) 102 (13) 110 (16)
173 Struwa 52 10:19 85 (12) 98 (11) 94 (7) 114 (11) 107 (11)
174 martinr486 50 10:20 92 (12) 100 (11) 94 (9) 108 (8) 106 (10)
175 Alias Noble 50 10:21 88 (9) 96 (12) 100 (11) 105 (10) 111 (8)
176 Gnasherlicious 55 10:22 77 (16) 100 (8) 105 (11) 108 (9) 120 (11)
177 Muckypuppy 88 10:29 86 (23) 100 (19) 112 (14) 103 (19) 103 (13)
178 Pendrov 56 10:37 98 (16) 85 (8) 110 (12) 99 (12) 100 (8)
179 simjt 114 10:42 88 (24) 102 (21) 92 (23) 104 (25) 112 (21)
180 Birdingbob 96 10:53 80 (21) 90 (20) 97 (17) 105 (19) 127 (19)
181 chabuduo 117 10:53 78 (21) 100 (24) 98 (22) 103 (25) 114 (25)
182 maisiemae 89 10:54 84 (18) 88 (17) 111 (16) 96 (21) 120 (17)
183 symbenall2 89 10:58 87 (19) 98 (20) 106 (17) 96 (15) 112 (18)
184 Mark from Ipswich 97 11:06 86 (22) 102 (20) 103 (21) 103 (14) 107 (20)
185 Sonofjim 77 11:17 76 (19) 109 (15) 103 (18) 98 (11) 118 (14)
186 Nuck_the_king 45 11:19 71 (10) 103 (6) 100 (9) 112 (13) 113 (7)
187 TonyN6 82 11:19 98 (14) 97 (18) 100 (17) 96 (16) 107 (17)
188 Gordon B 58 11:26 87 (10) 95 (11) 105 (12) 107 (15) 98 (10)
189 Col-y-wobble 61 11:33 72 (13) 103 (10) 105 (14) 97 (10) 119 (14)
190 WordPlodder 125 11:41 77 (25) 97 (26) 105 (25) 100 (24) 118 (25)
191 danielbluebisson 70 11:48 74 (15) 101 (12) 103 (16) 97 (12) 123 (15)
192 suethepotterer 90 12:02 84 (17) 100 (22) 94 (16) 106 (15) 111 (20)
193 paul.verney 52 12:06 80 (9) 96 (12) 101 (11) 111 (10) 109 (10)
194 kapietro 88 12:18 82 (18) 95 (20) 97 (15) 115 (17) 109 (18)
195 Steve Wood 102 12:22 91 (21) 89 (21) 100 (20) 98 (18) 118 (22)
196 tyrotim 64 12:31 92 (14) 95 (13) 101 (13) 102 (14) 109 (10)
197 BertieVII 96 12:38 86 (20) 93 (21) 108 (18) 110 (16) 103 (21)
198 HCOONamatata 56 12:54 75 (14) 104 (14) 110 (11) 112 (8) 107 (9)
199 Mendes 83 12:59 81 (17) 105 (16) 107 (16) 108 (16) 98 (18)
200 ifincham2 56 13:12 71 (9) 106 (13) 92 (12) 111 (9) 112 (13)
201 david.14587 76 13:29 69 (19) 110 (15) 115 (15) 96 (14) 119 (13)
202 Xebeq 48 14:31 69 (11) 93 (10) 115 (11) 104 (6) 120 (10)
203 kfb20 85 14:44 76 (19) 100 (16) 104 (15) 107 (20) 115 (15)
204 sittinduk 42 14:49 74 (11) 98 (6) 94 (7) 102 (8) 130 (10)
205 pfalloon 92 14:53 70 (22) 95 (21) 160 (17) 92 (17) 89 (15)
206 Holly O 40 15:06 83 (9) 93 (9) 109 (8) 109 (7) 108 (7)
207 Guy Hatton 40 15:44 80 (7) 105 (8) 121 (6) 100 (10) 94 (9)
208 thechan 45 16:02 72 (11) 101 (12) 97 (6) 118 (8) 118 (8)
209 ian.shepherd 89 16:09 85 (21) 111 (21) 93 (15) 99 (15) 110 (17)
210 Jax74 63 16:10 73 (13) 101 (13) 107 (13) 96 (14) 127 (10)
211 RPE10538 67 16:14 78 (15) 100 (12) 101 (14) 112 (16) 107 (10)
212 gimmicky 48 17:41 80 (10) 89 (7) 117 (10) 107 (7) 102 (14)
213 tomtom2 66 18:28 72 (13) 107 (16) 117 (10) 104 (14) 100 (13)
214 Geldart 78 18:33 84 (16) 94 (8) 101 (17) 107 (16) 107 (21)
215 TonyK 101 18:57 83 (20) 101 (21) 97 (19) 107 (20) 110 (21)
216 philby 69 19:19 80 (18) 105 (17) 98 (11) 111 (13) 113 (10)
217 bangsar 51 19:27 79 (10) 92 (11) 105 (9) 109 (10) 113 (11)
218 Hazelnut 47 20:36 87 (7) 95 (10) 103 (11) 108 (8) 102 (11)
219 jlloyd4424 55 23:12 68 (8) 97 (16) 99 (14) 108 (10) 130 (7)
220 matt_o 57 23:36 102 (10) 97 (11) 90 (12) 95 (13) 116 (11)
221 timendo 50 25:08 72 (9) 109 (7) 97 (9) 104 (13) 112 (12)
222 IanV 47 29:36 74 (11) 111 (7) 107 (12) 101 (8) 110 (9)
223 Mike Mansbridge 41 30:26 56 (8) 100 (7) 62 (10) 118 (8) 170 (8)
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