The First Hardest Sudoku!

*** TODAY'S PUZZLE ***
Thank you for even considering watching this extraordinarily long video. In it, Simon attempts Jay Dyer's sudoku, Crux. Forgive any slowness of thought throughout the process but this is probably not a very straightforward puzzle. It is however absolutely baffling that a human being could create this!! Take a(nother) bow Jay Dyer!

Play the puzzle at the link below:

Rules:
Normal sudoku rules apply. Divide the grid entirely into '15-clumps' - non-overlapping orthogonally connected groups of cells, each of which contains no repeated digits and sums to 15. An arrow in a grid indicates that exactly N 15-clumps can be seen in the direction of the arrow, where N is the digit in the arrow's cell. The arrow's cell is not counted, though that cell's clump may be counted if other cells in it are visible in that direction. Two arrows in the same cell are counted as independent clues.

*** BRAND NEW SUDOKU HUNT JUST OUT ***
Join us on Patreon (for as little as $2) for a brand new sudoku hunt from DiMono, which released at 4pm yesterday. It's a story where you need to solve puzzles to access the later chapters :)

There's also Simon (very very long) solve of Crux mentioned in the video introduction.

*** ORDER OUR NEW BOOK AT THIS LINK ***

If you would like to get hold of a physical copy of our new book, Cracking The Cryptic's Greatest Hits - Volume 2, there is still a chance. Visit the link below:

*** NEW GAS PACK: VOLUME 2 IS OUT ***
The new GAS (Genuinely Approachable Sudoku) pack is out on all platforms here:

60 original puzzles by Clover, Bill Murphy and Philip Newman!! Earn party hats and dinosaurs with these brand new puzzles!

▶ 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:

Android:

ALSO on Amazon: Search for “SudokuPad”

▶ Contents Of This Video ◀

0:00 Theme Music & Introduction to today's puzzle
1:29 Happy Birthday
1:46 New DiMono Hunt On Patreon
2:01 Rules
5:38 Start of Solve - Let's Get Cracking!

▶ Contact Us ◀

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We also post the Wordle In A Minute videos on TikTok.

[shyphicted]

We watched the whole thing, Simon. That's exactly what we want. A ridiculously hard puzzle and Simon solving it in almost 3 hours. That's one of the best videos on the channel.

[simonharrison]

Starting at 1:12:57, Simon is musing on the idea that there is some unifying theory of the universe, that if only he could see that idea he would know... before abandoning the thought and declaring, 'well, we know this is 42.'

So tantalising close...!

[esotericVideos]

To help appreciate the truly impressive duration of Simon's epic sudoku solve, I thought I'd compare against a similar epic: The Lord of the Rings.
[SPOILER WARNING FOR THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING]

1:08:09 Simon gets his first digit. At this point in Lord of the Rings, Frodo was just grievously wounded by a Ringwraith that stabbed him with a Morgulblade on the hill of Weathertop on the way to Rivendell, and it would be another 10 or so seconds before the arrival of Arwen.

1:36:59 Simon completely finishes his first clump. At this point in Lord of the Rings, the Fellowship is on their way to cross the Misty Mountains via the mountain pass of Caradhras, and Gimli has just tried to persuade Gandalf to instead take the fellowship through the Mines of Moria.

2:17:25 Simon completely finishes his first 3x3 box. At this point in Lord of the Rings, Gandalf has fallen into the abyss with the Balrog, and the rest of the fellowship has fled to the Elven realm of Lothlorien. In this moment Boromir is feeling homesick as he describes the White Tower of Ecthelion to Aragorn.

2:39:18 Simon completely finishes the puzzle. At this point in Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship have been attacked by Uruk-hai. During the attack, Merry and Pippen distract the orcs, allowing Frodo to escape. Boromir then rushed to their aid, and in this moment has just been struck for a second time by an arrow from the Uruk commander, Lurtz.

And so, Simon has successfully finished the puzzle "Crux by Jay Dyer" 11 minutes and 24 seconds faster than the entire runtime of "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring".

[MarushiaDark]

After this, I feel like Mark and Simon need to each make a video reviewing the top ten hardest sudokus they've ever done on the channel to date.

[ConflictZv]

Dear Simon,

Please never ever apologize for bringing us content. You could release a 10 hour video and I'd call in to work to watch the whole thing in one sitting. Any opportunity to witness your mind at work is a blessing. If I achieve even half your level of brilliance in my lifetime I'd count myself lucky.

Thank you.

[LorisLaboratory]

You said in today's video no one would want to watch such a long video, but I actually paused that one to run over here because I love the epic ones! :)

[leojs]

Simon: “I’m terribly sorry for this quite long vide-“

us: MORE MORE MORE

[dwebb]

i find it fascinating how well simon is able to articulate his logic, so much so that i as a viewer can see the fruits of his labor more easily than he can. i suspect at least some of what's going on is how much brain power he is using is either making the consequences foggy, or he just has the most insane tunnel vision, but either way it's just insanity. simon, you too have a remarkable brain, and your ability to solve puzzles as monstrous as this on you own, on camera, while explaining things, and without taking any shortcuts is truly a sight to behold.

[acantilado]

I don’t care that I will need to break this up into 5-6 viewings. I am psyched. Thank you Simon (and Jay!) for making this happen!

[erlandodk]

Simon: "Nobody is going to watch this".
Everyone: "But... This is what we come to see. Every minute of it."

Well done, Simon. That was a puzzle from another dimension entirely.

[michaelbellecourt]

I can't *always* watch a 3-hour Cracking the Cryptic video, but sometimes when I wake up with a cold and can't leave the house on a Sunday, I'm glad to have them there as an option. Simon and Mark are both just such joyful delights to watch that it made me forget all about my nausea.

[buwka]

With my limited free time in the evening following work & personal obligations, I have to make a deliberate choice every day regarding how I derive my leisure. Every evening I start with this channel to watch Simon solve a puzzle. Y'all have lit a fire in me to improve my lateral thinking and deductive reasoning. I've purchased all of your Sudoku apps on Steam and have just finished the Classic Sudoku pack yesterday. I purchased Baba Is You and tried to play along with the videos (hoping y'all go back and play it again some time to finish it!) Instead of mindlessly browsing on my phone now, I spend the spare minutes of my day playing Sokoban.

The value of your videos is not contingent on the briefness of the solves or the length of the runtimes! You add value to your audiences' lives by introducing new ways of conceptualizing problems and working through them. Very happy that you've chosen to upload this video. I have finished my Sunday chores, prepared lunch, and have settled into my chair to watch this feature length film with glee.

Cheers from South Texas.

[多々良かも]

I love at 12:48 when there is a kinda new rule in play, Simon start to doubt can there be two same digits in a column😂

[inspiringsand]

Rules: 02:09
Let's Get Cracking: 05:51

What about this video's Top Tier Simarkisms?!
The Secret: 8x (06:47, 06:52, 06:55, 07:00, 07:11, 07:15, 31:33, 2:40:08)
Bobbins: 1x (1:28:02)
Go Full Goodliffe: 1x (1:39:32)
Knowledge Bomb: 1x (1:51:34)

And how about this video's Simarkisms?!
Ah: 23x (08:40, 10:16, 13:31, 14:13, 14:19, 22:04, 46:54, 56:20, 1:10:22, 1:11:57, 1:23:55, 1:28:44, 1:42:51, 1:44:56, 1:45:27, 1:52:14, 1:53:03, 1:55:50, 2:17:23, 2:21:33, 2:23:45, 2:24:02, 2:31:28)
Sorry: 20x (03:33, 15:42, 18:21, 21:22, 22:13, 28:41, 35:52, 44:03, 56:35, 1:12:02, 1:20:46, 1:31:00, 1:48:12, 1:50:01, 1:53:58, 2:20:01, 2:26:32, 2:26:32, 2:29:21, 2:41:42)
Hang On: 19x (09:26, 15:01, 22:04, 58:59, 59:12, 1:01:34, 1:01:34, 1:01:34, 1:30:18, 1:31:00, 1:39:58, 1:42:35, 1:47:57, 1:48:01, 1:56:00, 2:21:39, 2:36:09)
Obviously: 19x (07:40, 09:49, 13:54, 26:57, 30:03, 56:39, 1:17:17, 1:20:57, 1:32:22, 1:32:33, 1:43:40, 1:45:40, 2:11:19, 2:14:17, 2:25:12, 2:25:48, 2:27:01, 2:32:31, 2:37:41)
In Fact: 11x (04:47, 07:48, 23:06, 27:59, 28:16, 1:18:24, 1:36:16, 1:36:20, 1:36:49, 1:46:27, 1:51:23)
Good Grief: 7x (03:45, 1:36:56, 1:51:48, 2:09:48, 2:19:37, 2:23:49)
What on Earth: 7x (1:03:08, 1:22:42, 1:23:50, 1:49:42, 2:00:00, 2:13:21, 2:16:00)
By Sudoku: 7x (11:55, 1:39:49, 1:42:40, 1:54:41, 1:55:53, 2:17:26, 2:27:56)
Hypothecate: 6x (1:12:10, 1:25:08, 2:02:48, 2:09:35, 2:14:50, 2:15:13)
Pencil Mark/mark: 6x (10:38, 1:43:40, 1:56:57, 2:06:26, 2:06:42, 2:34:50)
Goodness: 5x (29:29, 55:32, 1:56:13, 1:56:32, 2:16:05)
The Answer is: 5x (21:13, 57:43, 1:10:56, 1:13:26, 1:47:33)
Brilliant: 4x (00:46, 05:42, 1:04:17, 2:40:50)
Naked Single: 3x (1:43:51, 1:44:05, 1:49:58)
Beautiful: 3x (1:11:59, 1:47:25, 1:51:48)
Extraordinary: 3x (1:07:10, 1:36:20, 2:39:11)
Progress: 3x (1:59:46, 2:17:37, 2:17:39)
Wow: 3x (1:06:24, 2:08:52, 2:36:30)
What Does This Mean?: 3x (24:44, 2:05:24, 2:11:36)
That's Huge: 3x (1:07:56, 1:18:33, 2:07:31)
Out of Nowhere: 2x (1:52:09, 2:31:30)
Nonsense: 2x (26:51, 2:13:21)
Clever: 2x (1:53:55, 2:40:32)
Horrible Feeling: 2x (1:12:56, 1:55:14)
Fascinating: 2x (1:18:33, 2:40:27)
Ridiculous: 2x (2:40:18, 2:40:18)
Come on Simon: 2x (2:05:24, 2:29:01)
Phone is Buzzing: 2x (05:08, 2:40:58)
Missing Something: 1x (2:10:55)
I Have no Clue: 1x (35:52)
Stuck: 1x (1:32:55)
Incredible: 1x (1:04:03)
Deadly Pattern: 1x (1:57:19)
Gorgeous: 1x (1:23:45)
Shenanigans: 1x (59:43)
Alacrity: 1x (2:41:16)
Surely: 1x (06:21)
Symmetry: 1x (45:47)

Most popular number(>9), digit and colour this video:
Fifteen (80 mentions)
Three (264 mentions)
Green (29 mentions)

Antithesis Battles:
High (3) - Low (1)
Even (23) - Odd (2)
Higher (3) - Lower (2)
Outside (11) - Inside (0)
Black (4) - White (0)
Row (53) - Column (48)

FAQ:
Q1: You missed something!
A1: That could very well be the case! Human speech can be hard to understand for computers like me! Point out the ones that I missed and maybe I'll learn!
Q2: Can you do this for another channel?
A2: I've been thinking about that and wrote some code to make that possible. Let me know which channel you think would be a good fit!

[Ian_Hay]

Bravo!!! Bravo Simon. What a patient, unrelenting and brilliant solve. And yes, I did watch the whole thing. By the way, Sunday mornings are a great ‘dumping ground’ for these long videos that you don’t think are suitable for the main channel schedule. Great way to spend a lazy Sunday morning, sipping coffee, etc.

[adipy]

Viewers begged you to upload this video and you finaly did it. Pathfinder by KNT is only 5 minutes shorter and when you uploaded that one viewers were so happy about it. Hopefully you have understood by now that people actually loves long videos.

[MrWaffles]

I could be wrong, but I got the impression that Simon spaced the requirement that digits not repeat in clumps when he was figuring out the center. He seemed to consider arrangements that repeated 1s or 2s. There could be a faster solve of the middle part if that were taken into account.

Regardless, what an absolute behemoth of a puzzle, and what a wonderful use of my Sunday afternoon to follow along. Take a bow, Jay and Simon both.

[bucherrabemittendrin]

I looove the long videos. I usually watch them four or five times, because I use them to help me fall asleep but I am also very interested in the solve. So I watch them as often as I have to until I have seen the whole video.
The longer the video, the happier I am.

Great solve, as usual, Simon.

[bluerizlagirl]

Stunning interaction between the different rules there! 

There is actually some logic you can do outside of the grid. The "15 clumps" work exactly like invisible killer cages summing to 15, and there must be 27 of them (by maths 9 * 45 = 27 * 15), meaning for every 4-cell clump there has to be a 2-cell clump to keep the total count of 81 cells, and for every 12345 5-cell clump there have to be two 2-cell clumps (which have to be 69 and 78 to make up a full set of 1-9). And each digit has to appear exactly 9 times. So, for example, a 1239 clump needs there to be a 456 clump and a 78 clump somewhere else in the grid to make up a complete set of 1-9; and a 1347 clump has to be balanced by a 69 and a 256.

Another way to see it is to think of the 9 digits in each row, column or box as a magic square, which you are trying to partition into sums of fifteen. Obviously these can be the three rows, or the three columns. But if you go through the five, you can't make another complete row or column from what's left of that magic square, so you have to partition the remaining digits as 2 + 4. And if you go through the four, you can partition the remaining digits as 3-3-3 or 2-3-4 in either the rows or the columns. 168 or 267 can only ever go with 249, 367 or 159, 348 respectively, because there is no way to partition the remaining digits as a pair and a quad summing to 15. And you have to do this whole thing nine times altogether.

The full set of possible ways to partition the digits 1-9 into 15-clumps is:
159, 267, 348
168, 249, 357
1239, 456, 78
1248, 357, 69
1257, 348, 69
1347, 258, 69
1356, 249, 78
2346, 159, 78
12345, 67, 89

I hardly think making a list of all the possible ways to make 15 in 2, 3, 4 or 5 cells is any more like cheating than making pencil marks in the grid.

I also think I'd sooner play a game of Cribbage against Simon than against Jay Dyer!

[DavidC]

Stunning setting and a marvellous solve. I'm a relatively new Patreon subscriber and this alone is worth the cost for this month. Please stop apologising for long videos - I love them!