Sat May 17 10:20:00 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article based on the puzzle review you provided:
**Headline: Ryan Judge’s Crossword Offers a Brain-Tickling Challenge**
**New York, NY** – Crossword enthusiasts are buzzing about Ryan Judge’s latest themeless puzzle in *The New York Times*, his fourth such contribution. Known for his puzzles’ unique geometry, Judge’s latest creation boasts diagonal symmetry, resulting in an unusual arrangement of both long and short entries that gives the crossword a fresh and unexpected feel.
Reviewers noted the off-center placement of the two full-length answers, creating a grid filled with intriguing “nooks and crannies” that present varying levels of challenge. Some solvers found the upper right corner and the bottom portion of the puzzle particularly tricky.
Beyond the grid’s layout, the puzzle is packed with a diverse range of trivia. While some may find themselves stumped by the sports-related clues (MLB star Pete Alonso), others may be relieved to find the cluing broadened to include poets and graphic design references. Alonso is notably clued not as the Shakespearean king, but as the baseball player.
Highlighting new entries, the puzzle features KIM’S CONVENIENCE, a sitcom centered on a Korean Canadian family’s corner store (2016-21), a debut term in The Times Crossword. SAME-DAY DELIVERY, clued as “[Prime choice]” in reference to Amazon’s Prime service, also makes its first appearance.