(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
Can you rise above the challenge of the outside sum clues and end up on cloud nine in this Sudoku by clover!?

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Theme: Cloud Nine

Author/Opus: This is the 163rd puzzle from Clover, part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) team.

Rules: Standard Sudoku rules (insert a number from 1 to 9 into each cell so that no number repeats in any row, column, or bold region). Clues outside the grid indicate the sum of all numbers that appear before the 9 in that row or column, looking from that direction. (For example, a row with a clue of “6” to its left might start with values like 249, 1329, or 69.)

GAS Time Standards (highlight to view): Two party hats (🎩🥳): 6:30; One party hat (🥳): 12:00. All other solvers earn a 🦕: cloudy Claosaurus.

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 1:41, with SudokuPad replay file shared as a download for now (requires loading via settings menu with improvements expected before people should use this regularly).

Solution: PDF; solving video with explanation to be added later from GAS team.

Note: Follow this link for other less common variations of Sudoku.

Note 2: Comments on the blog are great! For a more interactive discussion, please also consider using our Daily GAS discussion post on the GMPuzzles Discord. Not a member of the Discord? Click this link for basic access.