1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
Across
8
Starts off one risky transaction in black, ready to divide into groups (8)
9
Cardinal recently appointed black or white bishop, say (6)
10
Most tragic need in defeat (8)
11
Manipulate position after white’s opening (6)
12
One who sits obsessively writing letters in square (9,6)
15
Some players’ forte, oddly – its key components are black and white (5)
16
Old district that’s frequently created 20 (2,3)
20
Home sides in some games recorded on paper (2,5,3,5)
21
American rock-and-roller’s piece to play, combining two numbers (6)
23
Male joining females in white, typically, in part of Scotland (8)
25
Black bird that transported Darwin (6)
26
Problem for plant that could be why I left (8)
Down
1
Black headgear for some cops and some cricketers (7)
2
Statuesque sheep, for example, all the same? (5-5)
3
Starters for All Blacks look extremely talented (4)
4
Movie with traditionally distinctive headgear we back (7)
5
Like Mont Blanc, with cow wandering into shot (4-6)
6
Singular white bird that’s rarely black (4)
7
Hard cheese dished up initially with black spread (3,4)
13
White container we put outside in prison (4,6)
14
Like Labrador, as opposed to 5? (4-6)
17
Game which ends with white dispatching black (7)
18
Gets ready for gathering in white nuts (7)
19
Play game for two (7)
22
I advance after securing a major role in 19 (4)
24
Vivacity of performance in part of noir blockbuster elevated (4)