Why solver classification matters

The SNITCH is calculated from Reference Solvers: club solvers whose results give a reliable measure of crossword difficulty. Solvers are classified automatically so that genuine solving behaviour contributes to the calculation, while other solving styles remain visible without distorting the statistics.

Non-reference solvers can still appear in tables and puzzle pages. Their results are simply excluded from the daily SNITCH calculation unless they meet the Reference Solver criteria.

What is a Neutrino?

How the detector works

The scatter plot below compares each solver's average solving time with their alignment to SNITCH difficulty rankings. Each point is one solver. The x-axis shows average solving time, and the y-axis shows how closely that solver's own ordering of puzzle difficulty agrees with the community-based SNITCH ordering.

Genuine solvers tend to cluster higher on the chart because they usually find the same puzzles easy or difficult as the wider solving community. Classic Neutrinos cluster toward the lower-left because their very fast times show little relationship to puzzle difficulty. Hover over a point to see the solver name.

Classification rules

The classifier uses average solving time and SNITCH alignment together. Very fast solvers need strong alignment before being accepted as Reference Solvers. Low alignment indicates Neutrino behaviour, especially when average solving times are unusually short.

Current settings for this SNITCH:

• Fast-solver boundary: under 8.0 minutes average solving time.
• Fast solvers need alignment of at least 0.6 to become Reference Solvers.
• Solvers below 0.4 alignment are classified as Neutrinos unless another configured rule applies.
• Other Reference Solvers need alignment of at least 0.5 and an average below 45.0 minutes.

Borderline cases become Tracked rather than Reference. Slower solvers with poor alignment are generally unsuitable as Reference Solvers even when they are not classic Neutrinos.

Solver categories

Category	Used in SNITCH?	Description
Reference	Yes	Reliable solvers whose results contribute to the SNITCH calculation.
Tracked	No	Solvers whose results are displayed but not used in calculating the SNITCH.
Neutrino	No	Solvers whose recorded times are inconsistent with normal solving behaviour.
Blog Solver	No	Solving times reported via the Times for the Times blog.

Current solver classifications

The chart below shows the same style of plot using each solver's current classification. These classifications are refreshed when the solver update is run.

Blog Solvers

Times reported on the Times for the Times blog can be tracked where the blogger has opted in. Use the "Blog Solver" button on crossword solving-time pages for full details.

• Preferred formats are "mm:ss" or "x minutes" in the comment title or at the start of the comment.
• Report errors as "n errors" near the time, for example "38:30, 0 errors".
• If only a time is given, the result is treated as error-free unless the comment mentions DNF, pink squares, or similar.
• Only the first main comment for each blogger is used; replies and later comments are ignored.

SNITCH alignment factor

The SNITCH alignment score measures whether a solver tends to find the same crosswords easy and difficult as the rest of the community. It is calculated using Spearman rank correlation between the solver's own ranking of puzzle difficulty and the SNITCH ranking for the same puzzles.

A score of 1 means almost perfect agreement. A score near 0 means there is no consistent relationship between the order of the solver's results and the SNITCH difficulty order.

For example, Verlaine has results as shown in the chart below. Easier puzzles according to the SNITCH are on the left of the x-axis, harder ones on the right. The individual results are noisy, but the easier SNITCH puzzles tend to be among Verlaine's easier results and the harder puzzles tend to be among his harder results. An alignment of around 0.8 is very typical of a real reference solver like Verlaine.

In contrast, the solving times for the solver below don't depend on whether the SNITCH sees the crossword as easy or hard. Because the solver's own ranking of puzzle difficulty does not follow the SNITCH ranking, the Spearman correlation is low.

Solving times for club members

The table below shows crossword club solvers who have submitted more than 20 solutions in the six months to the end of May 2026. Only Monday-to-Friday, error-free crosswords are considered. And only solvers with an average solving time of less than 60 minutes are included. The non-Neutrino solvers are ranked by that average solving time. The table also indicates the solver's status, including whether they are Reference solvers for calculation of the daily SNITCH.

Rank	Solver	Status - Oct 2018	Current Status	Average Time	SNITCH Correlation
	HedwigII	tracked	neutrino	02:14	0.52
	Southern Cross	new_solver	neutrino	02:19	0.01
	niqo	new_solver	neutrino	02:37	0.09
	TimA	tracked	neutrino	02:52	-0.26
	Stefan Szulc	tracked	neutrino	02:58	0.22
	Petinny	new_solver	neutrino	03:01	0.3
	Margaut	tracked	neutrino	03:07	-0.2
	childshouse	new_solver	neutrino	03:18	-0.01
	willperf	new_solver	neutrino	03:40	-0.13
	seamus.butler	new_solver	neutrino	03:40	0.28
	robertsonjon	new_solver	neutrino	03:41	-0.06
	Solver52	reference	neutrino	03:46	0.18
	accessit	new_solver	neutrino	04:00	-0.07
	Henry Wyatt	tracked	neutrino	04:15	-0.01
	cliffyg	new_solver	neutrino	04:25	0.08
	ray lewis	tracked	neutrino	04:27	0.01
	C M Gilles	new_solver	neutrino	04:28	0.24
	benedick	reference	neutrino	04:38	0.2
	BrianS	tracked	neutrino	04:38	0.07
1	mohn	reference	reference	04:54	0.81
	Torquay53	new_solver	neutrino	04:59	0.15
	chaswil	tracked	neutrino	05:13	0.02
	susan	tracked	neutrino	05:30	0.26
	tombola	tracked	neutrino	05:37	-0.35
2	Nathan Panning	new_solver	reference	06:06	0.78
	Pnmcg	new_solver	neutrino	06:07	0.25
	antigone	new_solver	neutrino	06:11	0.12
3	cmjhutton	new_solver	reference	06:15	0.8
	DaddyM	tracked	neutrino	06:16	0.14
4	Paul Gilbert	tracked	reference	06:18	0.76
5	Magoo	reference	reference	06:26	0.81
6	lili	tracked	reference	06:29	0.75
	michaelbell53	new_solver	neutrino	06:33	0.13
7	verlaine	reference	reference	06:49	0.79
	samgdavies	new_solver	neutrino	06:52	0.27
8	mistigris	reference	reference	07:19	0.86
9	Alexis Johansen	new_solver	reference	07:26	0.83
10	hilarym	tracked	reference	07:35	0.64
11	Jason	reference	reference	07:35	0.77
12	aphis99	reference	reference	07:58	0.79
13	HoneyBadger	new_solver	reference	08:00	0.8
	greggybell	tracked	neutrino	08:05	0.28
14	Umpire	new_solver	reference	08:30	0.78
15	boulemiche	tracked	reference	09:30	0.55
16	fshephe	reference	tracked	09:32	0.48
	Freemers1968	new_solver	neutrino	09:46	0.33
17	richard	reference	reference	09:48	0.84
18	Ciolf	new_solver	reference	09:49	0.75
19	asaldanha	reference	reference	10:01	0.8
20	philjordan1147	new_solver	reference	10:07	0.58
21	markdobell	new_solver	reference	10:10	0.78
22	Amoeba89	new_solver	reference	10:23	0.82
23	glheard	reference	reference	10:49	0.75
24	morleyterrier	new_solver	reference	10:54	0.76
25	LoreleiBill	new_solver	reference	10:54	0.77
26	Deane Short	new_solver	reference	10:59	0.74
27	SimonAnthony	reference	reference	11:08	0.76
28	Aybee	new_solver	reference	11:19	0.66
	alisonm74	new_solver	neutrino	11:22	0.24
	fuzz	tracked	neutrino	11:24	0.03
29	Askival	tracked	reference	11:25	0.75
30	toots	new_solver	reference	11:33	0.72
31	Kinghedger	tracked	reference	11:36	0.81
32	Heyesey	tracked	reference	11:42	0.82
33	Groucho	reference	reference	11:48	0.86
34	Morphosis	new_solver	reference	11:50	0.74
35	Wizard of Aus	new_solver	reference	11:51	0.8
36	keriothe_	reference	reference	12:00	0.77
37	Riche	new_solver	reference	12:02	0.64
38	lickert	reference	reference	12:24	0.75
39	AlanS	reference	reference	12:26	0.72
40	The Dabbler	tracked	reference	12:27	0.65
41	clarkeybaby	new_solver	reference	12:36	0.76
42	EricK	new_solver	reference	12:37	0.8
43	cdb_100	tracked	reference	12:39	0.75
44	scrabbler	new_solver	reference	12:41	0.91
45	David Crooks	reference	reference	12:42	0.79
46	miked1961	tracked	reference	12:46	0.85
47	chindit	reference	reference	12:52	0.82
48	Adelaider	new_solver	reference	12:58	0.73
49	Golvellius	tracked	reference	12:58	0.83
50	fishernick79	tracked	reference	13:00	0.78
51	neilr	reference	reference	13:02	0.74
52	Paul Bacon	new_solver	reference	13:05	0.61
53	d.middleton	new_solver	reference	13:11	0.58
54	ChuckB	tracked	reference	13:12	0.74
	John Walsh	tracked	neutrino	13:14	0.34
55	Semillon	tracked	reference	13:17	0.76
56	Tom Stubbs	reference	reference	13:19	0.79
57	aphasic	tracked	reference	13:22	0.74
58	tilbee	new_solver	reference	13:25	0.87
	KenD51	tracked	neutrino	13:26	-0.01
59	Peponi13	new_solver	reference	13:27	0.52
	GeorgeTz	new_solver	neutrino	13:28	0.35
60	chriswords	reference	reference	13:29	0.72
61	Topical Tim	reference	reference	13:39	0.78
62	MikeOsborneMason	reference	reference	13:46	0.8
63	Silva	reference	reference	13:53	0.75
64	trux	reference	reference	13:55	0.62
65	andy	tracked	reference	14:02	0.82
66	Eddddddd	tracked	reference	14:03	0.81
67	canismiser	new_solver	reference	14:05	0.66
68	julian_w	tracked	reference	14:06	0.7
69	Sheapey	reference	reference	14:06	0.84
70	Emmet	new_solver	reference	14:07	0.78
71	alexh	tracked	reference	14:08	0.73
72	OliGrant	tracked	reference	14:37	0.72
73	March	new_solver	reference	14:41	0.86
74	Secondbass	new_solver	reference	14:53	0.83
75	njnclarke	tracked	reference	14:54	0.71
76	Pootle	new_solver	reference	14:55	0.8
77	JimboFS	new_solver	reference	15:03	0.76
78	Sue Sweeper	reference	reference	15:13	0.75
79	Stavros	reference	reference	15:14	0.71
80	Looch	reference	reference	15:16	0.75
81	MK76	tracked	reference	15:23	0.74
82	LouWeed	reference	reference	15:27	0.8
83	TonyG0	new_solver	reference	15:33	0.86
84	chriswestontour	new_solver	reference	15:33	0.62
85	Ed freshpot	reference	reference	15:37	0.75
86	daulbs	tracked	reference	15:45	0.79
87	JezWoolfrey	reference	reference	15:47	0.63
88	BlackburnRover	new_solver	reference	15:48	0.76
89	Bill K	new_solver	reference	15:50	0.69
90	Finzi	new_solver	reference	15:50	0.84
91	DunPangolin	new_solver	tracked	15:58	0.45
92	benbush	new_solver	reference	15:58	0.84
93	CentralLine	tracked	reference	16:00	0.84
94	dr.shred	new_solver	reference	16:05	0.59
95	Penfold_61	new_solver	reference	16:06	0.84
96	franceslc11	new_solver	reference	16:10	0.86
97	rob.rolfe42	new_solver	reference	16:10	0.77
98	gabrojak	new_solver	reference	16:13	0.85
99	Paul Hammond	new_solver	reference	16:15	0.74
100	7dPenguin	tracked	reference	16:15	0.82
101	cmcnsmith	new_solver	reference	16:19	0.53
102	rrricharrrd	tracked	reference	16:28	0.76
103	ram80	new_solver	reference	16:30	0.72
104	Ben Staveley	reference	reference	16:38	0.77
	john.brassey	new_solver	neutrino	16:38	0.07
105	jimwetzler	tracked	reference	16:40	0.55
106	Tibthorpe	reference	reference	16:46	0.81
107	Johninterred	new_solver	blog_solver	16:47	0.86
108	andrewlake	tracked	reference	16:48	0.76
109	ajcauk1	new_solver	reference	16:50	0.54
110	Encota	new_solver	reference	17:00	0.82
111	RobR	reference	reference	17:01	0.77
112	Jeremy S	new_solver	reference	17:04	0.69
113	tapbarker	tracked	reference	17:23	0.82
114	james150374	new_solver	reference	17:25	0.72
115	Squallaby	reference	reference	17:36	0.85
116	Vannyx	new_solver	reference	17:37	0.88
117	Galspray	tracked	reference	17:50	0.73
118	Kalakuta72	new_solver	reference	17:58	0.58
119	tds	new_solver	reference	18:02	0.84
120	Aldus	new_solver	reference	18:12	0.67
121	babka	new_solver	reference	18:14	0.99
	myles	tracked	neutrino	18:15	0.33
122	Anomalospiza	new_solver	reference	18:23	0.65
123	DanSolo	new_solver	reference	18:27	0.8
124	james.brown	new_solver	reference	18:29	0.83
125	Mike C	new_solver	reference	18:33	0.79
126	KET	tracked	reference	18:36	0.83
127	Bluemilan	new_solver	reference	18:38	0.84
128	cerid	new_solver	reference	18:43	0.81
129	hopkinb	new_solver	reference	18:54	0.84
130	Valance	tracked	reference	18:55	0.89
131	The Caffeine Kid	new_solver	reference	19:05	0.61
132	endafk	tracked	reference	19:06	0.81
133	Grestyman1	new_solver	reference	19:07	0.61
134	mjsaunders9	new_solver	reference	19:11	0.85
135	Balawo	tracked	tracked	19:13	0.5
136	howardwilde1	new_solver	reference	19:17	0.84
137	Nangle	tracked	reference	19:21	0.71
138	robinh	reference	reference	19:30	0.79
139	KarenR	tracked	reference	19:36	0.84
140	Dzhigit	tracked	reference	19:38	0.76
141	pc8	tracked	reference	19:42	0.81
142	Maitresse	new_solver	reference	19:45	0.77
143	earlylight	tracked	reference	19:55	0.58
144	inca1	new_solver	reference	20:02	0.75
145	gnome123	new_solver	reference	20:04	0.65
146	Pxspxs	new_solver	reference	20:05	0.79
147	LJCN	new_solver	reference	20:07	0.87
148	Blackbeard	tracked	reference	20:10	0.86
149	PGooden	reference	reference	20:15	0.9
150	valerian1967	tracked	reference	20:16	0.8
151	Zander	tracked	reference	20:16	0.83
152	daniel.faith	new_solver	reference	20:37	0.85
153	Crossiant	new_solver	reference	20:48	0.91
154	Onelug	new_solver	reference	20:52	0.77
155	ilan	new_solver	reference	20:53	0.62
156	uvofiz	new_solver	reference	20:53	0.82
157	janesa	new_solver	reference	20:55	0.89
158	GMcD	reference	reference	21:01	0.8
159	Willie F	new_solver	reference	21:03	0.74
160	John Arnold	reference	reference	21:28	0.66
161	Curarist	tracked	reference	21:29	0.85
162	Dvynys	new_solver	reference	21:32	0.76
163	harl3qu1n	new_solver	reference	21:32	0.81
164	chrisw42	new_solver	reference	21:37	0.87
165	Solving slo mo	new_solver	reference	21:39	0.58
166	UisceTe	new_solver	reference	21:46	0.73
167	Foozler	new_solver	reference	21:50	0.65
168	david_ch	new_solver	blog_solver	21:56	0.72
169	Zabadak3	new_solver	reference	21:57	0.84
170	Achernar	tracked	reference	22:01	0.79
171	pterodactyl	reference	reference	22:04	0.59
172	Jagsfan1971	tracked	reference	22:27	0.7
173	Tudds	reference	reference	22:35	0.8
174	Colin2355	new_solver	reference	22:39	0.85
175	Upfisher	new_solver	reference	22:40	0.78
176	hugh schofield	new_solver	reference	22:40	0.71
177	Astonvilla.1	new_solver	reference	22:47	0.75
178	David Bourne	tracked	reference	22:50	0.9
179	Manuel1	new_solver	reference	22:53	0.8
180	Gallion Fish	new_solver	reference	23:01	0.69
181	george.garlick	new_solver	reference	23:04	0.71
182	James P	tracked	reference	23:05	0.88
183	brian.richards1	new_solver	reference	23:08	0.69
184	JayEm	new_solver	reference	23:18	0.63
185	dec	reference	reference	23:20	0.78
186	tony the butcher montana	new_solver	reference	23:25	0.61
187	Rod B	new_solver	reference	23:26	0.77
188	alwsn8	new_solver	reference	23:31	0.75
189	Waterloo	new_solver	reference	23:32	0.84
190	Astonvilla1	new_solver	blog_solver	23:45	0.7
191	rjhinde61	new_solver	reference	23:55	0.63
192	Hamish.S	new_solver	reference	23:59	0.77
193	Jamie Fox	new_solver	reference	24:08	0.71
194	goblin	tracked	reference	24:13	0.78
195	jimancliffe	new_solver	reference	24:15	0.55
196	gsriordan52	new_solver	reference	24:21	0.74
197	alf3056	tracked	tracked	24:25	0.46
198	Corymbia	new_solver	reference	24:29	0.77
199	Doyler	new_solver	reference	24:31	0.89
200	Rosey6	new_solver	reference	24:44	0.77
201	En Cee	tracked	reference	24:49	0.68
202	rjcassidy	reference	reference	24:53	0.83
	suethepotterer	new_solver	neutrino	24:57	0.18
203	Myrtle	new_solver	reference	24:58	0.83
204	AHearer2	tracked	reference	25:08	0.66
205	JoeyC	tracked	reference	25:29	0.83
206	infinitejest	new_solver	reference	25:34	0.8
207	1234	reference	reference	25:38	0.65
208	medodd	new_solver	reference	25:46	0.56
209	chris661554	new_solver	reference	25:47	0.72
210	Snorter	new_solver	reference	25:54	0.77
211	stainl665	new_solver	reference	26:07	0.73
212	Dr_Bob	new_solver	reference	26:21	0.64
213	Kevin Gregg	reference	reference	26:25	0.75
214	crosswordian	reference	reference	26:25	0.72
215	wimpoldo	new_solver	reference	26:40	0.57
216	Crippens1	reference	reference	26:56	0.69
217	Menelaus	new_solver	reference	27:21	0.61
218	Deezzaa	new_solver	reference	27:22	0.78
219	rolytoly	tracked	reference	27:32	0.52
	Winchelt618	new_solver	neutrino	27:34	0.19
220	intentional rounding	new_solver	reference	27:36	0.78
221	Mkgnao	reference	reference	27:59	0.76
222	NAPASAI	reference	reference	28:00	0.68
223	Edprof	reference	reference	28:00	0.75
224	David Luke	new_solver	reference	28:01	0.79
225	Brenk	tracked	reference	28:01	0.69
226	Word Psmith	tracked	reference	28:09	0.56
227	m28ale	new_solver	reference	28:10	0.54
228	Speedcop2	new_solver	reference	28:24	0.69
229	simjt	new_solver	reference	28:25	0.64
230	Brian McNamar	new_solver	reference	28:32	0.82
231	FelicityTT	reference	tracked	28:35	0.45
232	JohnDun	reference	reference	28:43	0.84
233	LiamD	new_solver	reference	28:44	0.74
234	ulaca	reference	reference	28:58	0.77
235	JPTC	new_solver	reference	29:16	0.67
236	rowrhorowyourboat	new_solver	reference	29:27	0.89
237	tonym	tracked	reference	29:39	0.85
238	metagloria	new_solver	reference	29:48	0.81
239	Mudge	new_solver	reference	30:12	0.76
240	Mike Harper	tracked	reference	30:31	0.82
241	DianeRS	new_solver	reference	30:36	0.76
242	The Real Steve Snackman	new_solver	reference	30:37	0.69
243	Manveru	reference	reference	30:51	0.59
244	timbo	tracked	reference	30:52	0.89
245	rv_1	new_solver	reference	30:57	0.75
246	eniamretrauq	reference	reference	31:09	0.71
247	Rookie	new_solver	reference	31:11	0.74
248	wolfcloud	new_solver	reference	31:17	0.53
249	Archie	tracked	reference	31:20	0.93
250	MichelinPoitiers	new_solver	reference	31:21	0.66
251	crucihacker	new_solver	reference	31:56	0.85
	Cryptique	new_solver	neutrino	32:14	0.06
252	Gussie	new_solver	reference	32:18	0.91
253	gbestanley	reference	reference	32:24	0.73
254	docjd	new_solver	reference	32:24	0.68
255	Grumpole	new_solver	reference	32:34	0.76
256	Birdingbob	new_solver	reference	32:44	0.82
257	Yatton50	tracked	reference	32:46	0.65
	6098mr	tracked	neutrino	32:50	0.18
258	laurence_da	new_solver	reference	33:01	0.67
259	gothick	new_solver	reference	33:10	0.66
260	JGP	tracked	reference	33:13	0.78
261	MalcolmD	new_solver	reference	33:17	0.71
262	CoxBurglar	new_solver	tracked	33:19	0.46
263	symbenall2	tracked	reference	33:22	0.79
	Maggot	tracked	neutrino	33:27	0.06
264	MartianAlien	tracked	tracked	33:29	0.49
265	Alias Noble	new_solver	reference	33:30	0.69
266	Jambo20	tracked	reference	33:45	0.81
267	SlumdogEngineer	tracked	reference	33:51	0.79
268	barracuda	reference	reference	34:09	0.84
269	Pelforth	new_solver	reference	34:19	0.72
270	neil.rutledge	new_solver	reference	34:30	0.63
271	Col-y-wobble	new_solver	reference	34:59	0.82
272	Bossbutbee	new_solver	reference	35:03	0.62
273	griftdrift	new_solver	reference	35:21	0.91
274	GordonIsANeuron	new_solver	reference	35:30	0.86
275	vinyl12345	new_solver	reference	35:36	0.75
276	kapietro	new_solver	reference	36:21	0.82
277	plusjeremy	new_solver	reference	36:40	0.88
278	E Bradford	new_solver	reference	37:03	0.72
	RaghuS	tracked	neutrino	37:17	0.29
279	BertieVII	new_solver	reference	37:31	0.54
280	Dr Dolittle	new_solver	reference	37:54	0.81
281	koro	reference	reference	38:05	0.78
282	Pleasuredome	tracked	reference	38:22	0.55
283	Peloton	new_solver	reference	38:26	0.72
284	joss henry	tracked	reference	38:37	0.53
285	birthday girl	new_solver	reference	38:38	0.73
286	Shushannah	tracked	reference	38:40	0.75
287	Aidleys	new_solver	reference	39:10	0.68
288	Gordon B	new_solver	reference	39:26	0.69
289	starstruck	tracked	reference	39:30	0.75
290	bobbb	tracked	reference	39:34	0.75
291	Julian Ray	new_solver	reference	39:50	0.89
	maryht	tracked	neutrino	40:08	0.1
292	WordPlodder	new_solver	reference	40:12	0.71
293	jackk.larg	new_solver	reference	40:15	0.63
294	Troothful	new_solver	reference	40:27	0.84
	HanS	tracked	neutrino	40:31	0.32
295	clivejharlow	new_solver	reference	40:43	0.86
296	bridgesong	new_solver	reference	40:47	0.66
297	SK42	tracked	reference	41:19	0.92
298	baronrob	tracked	reference	41:19	0.66
299	dosbarth	new_solver	tracked	41:28	0.44
300	Srb1	new_solver	reference	42:17	0.73
301	Steve Wood	tracked	reference	42:31	0.85
	Mike Mansbridge	new_solver	neutrino	45:04	0.18
302	hydrochoos	tracked	tracked	45:24	0.73
303	MichaelE	new_solver	tracked	45:32	0.77
304	timcro	tracked	tracked	46:48	0.76
305	MartinP	tracked	tracked	47:09	0.67
	VictoriaW	tracked	neutrino	49:24	0.34
306	empty	reference	tracked	50:34	0.77
307	Ron's mum	reference	tracked	50:39	0.49
308	paulmcl	tracked	tracked	50:50	0.59
	ibaram	new_solver	neutrino	51:07	0.29
309	Merlin_55	new_solver	tracked	53:00	0.83
310	profsjpayne	new_solver	tracked	58:37	0.57