[Tuor of Gondolin]

I think Saruman is being rather underestimated in this thread. While there is
considerable doubt about Elrond, Galadriel, Aragorn, et. al. defeating Sauron
using the Ring, Gandalf and Saruman were Maiar on, I believe, an equivalent
level with Sauron and could therefore have been essentially his equal, once
they would ignore the ban on their using their powers openly in Middle-earth.