Irish mathematician solves complex Sudoku riddle

WITH the help of a complex algorithm and by utilising millions of hours of supercomputing time, an Irish mathematician has worked out that Sudoku players need a minimum of 17 clues to definitively solve the puzzle.

Gary McGuire of University College Dublin, has established a puzzle with 16 clues or less will not have a unique solution.

Mathematicians at a conference in Boston over the weekend concluded Mr McGuire’s proof is likely valid and an important advance in the growing field of Sudoku maths. “The approach is reasonable and it’s plausible.