No 14924, Thursday 15 Oct 2026, Mythical

Solution to 28A has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered only by a non-regular / novice commenter, with proper annotation. Those who have answered earlier in the week, please give others a chance.

Open for anyone to answer, if not solved by 1 PM.

ACROSS

7   Tolerate burn (5) BROOK [DD]

8   Fighting with others leads individuals nowhere good primarily (9) WRESTLING {W}{REST}{Le,,,s}{In...s}{No...e}}{Good}

10 Some excitement all around? It could make one sick (6) EMETIC [HIPS]

11 Ill-treats player's family members (8) STEPSONS {STEPS ON}{S}

12 Attack popular victor when ace returns (8) INVASION {IN}{V}{AS}{NO 1<=}

13 Be different occasionally! That's good in France (4) BIEN {Be+dIffEreNt}

15 Injured kitten ultimately recovered, healed (7) KNITTED {KITTEN}*{r...eD}

17 Jogs memory of confused nursemaid after a uniform goes missing (7) REMINDS NuRSEMaID*

20 Lying about research centre on island somewhere in Indonesia (4) BALI {LAB<=}{I}

22 Say, man from Zagreb ordered raincoat (8) CROATIAN*

25 Mentioned favour after leader left with communist (8) REFERRED {pREFER}{RED}

26 Bond with judge having lunch (6) TREATY {TR{EAT}Y}

27 A most harsh setter offering sweetener (9) ASPARTAME {A}{SPARTAn}{ME}

28 Government control discussed (5) ?E?G? (Addendum - REIGN (~rein) - See comments)

DOWN

1   Renowned expert to fund books (9) PROMINENT {PRO}{MINE}{NT}

2   Tense agreement (8) CONTRACT [DD]

3   Quietly object to host (7) PRESENT {P}{RESENT}

4   This group row affected seam bowlers  (8)  ASSEMBLE {ASSEMBLE+ROW}=SEAM+BOWLERS

5   Likely seen going around Presidential Palace (6) ELYSEE [T]

6   Foolish sign painter crossing out every other letter (5) INANE {sIgN+pAiNtEr}

9   Bill given top quality fruit (4) ACAI {AC}{A1}

14 Notice vehicle near gate needing repair? Good! (9) ADVANTAGE {AD}{VAN}{GATE*}

16 Resettle girl in Sharjah, perhaps (8) EMIGRATE {EMI{G}RATE}

18 Broke thin reed casually (2,3,3) IN THE RED*

19 A scoundrel essentially surveying my school? (7) ACADEMY {A}{CAD}{s..vEy..g}{MY}

21 Rings sound artist in recess (6) ARENAS {SANE}{RA}<=

23 Heartily dislike obscenity (4) OATH lOATHe

24 Basically, brutish evildoer always showing temper (5) BEAST Acrostic &lit

Reference List

With = W, Player =S, Popular = IN, Victor = V, When = AS, Island = I, Books = NT(New Testament), Quietly = P, Bill = AC, Notice = AD, Girl = G, Artist = RA

No 14923, Wednesday 14 Oct 2026, Gridzilla

Solution to 13D has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered only by a non-regular / novice commenter, with proper annotation. Those who have answered earlier in the week, please give others a chance.

Open for anyone to answer, if not solved by 1 PM.

ACROSS

8   Bored by country song in party? (8) CAROUSAL {CARO{USA}L}

9   Way, reportedly, to get to big house (5) MANOR (~manner)

10 European has half Polish name (4) FINN {FINish}{N}

11 What's seen in hands of orthodontists, etc? (3,2,5) AND SO FORTH [T]

12 Overwhelmed by arthritis sometimes? Yes! (2,2,2) IT IS SO [T]

14 The University dean's building is cool (8) UNHEATED {THE+U+DEAN}*

15 Heartbroken chaps continue to sigh? (7) BREATHE {HEART}* in {BE}

17 Hip and leg operation basically pending (2,5) IN LIMBO {IN}{LIMB}{Op...n}

20 Wretched fellow's killing time inside (8) INFERNAL IN(+f-t)FERNAL

22 Play fine puzzle right away (6) FIDDLE {F}{rIDDLE}

23 Ones you can bank on, to get serious? (2,8) NO NONSENSE {ONES}* [Letter Bank]

24 OK to pester for repayment of a loan, we hear (4) DONE (~dun)

25 One of the best violinists ever from Russia, enthralled millions, for starters (5) EFREM Acrostic Semi&lit

26 Even lower? (8) DECREASE [DD]

DOWN

1   Support staff for flights? (8) BANISTER [CD]

2   Either way, it's lunch time (4) NOON<=>

3   Up in Saratoga, I sampled some cheese (6) ASIAGO [T<=]

4   Lids came off easily? (4,3) SLID OUT {LIDS}* [RA]

5   Even in those days, dogs primarily scavenged meals on occasion (8) SMOOTHEN {THEN}<=>{Sc...d}{Me..s}{On}{Oc...n}

6   Ordinary and OK? Fine and fantastic? Or exceptional? (3,2,1,4) ONE OF A KIND {O+AND+OK+FINE}*

7   Jerk starts to expose his tummy in restaurant, when getting a tip (6) WRITHE [Acrostic<=]

13 Spooner's hound got a ride (10) S?A?E?O?R?  (Addendum - SKATEBOARD (bait scored to skateboard - See comments)

16 Fine day to board carriage back from office (8) HANDSOME {HAN{D}SOM}{o...cE}

18 Cat is able to jump around corner (8) BALINESE {IS+ABLE}* over {NE}

19 Full day, one dude's getting fleeced in city (4-3) ULAN-UDE {fULl}{dAy}{oNe}{dUDEs}

21 What's set up quickly, at the conclusions of some trials? (6) NOOSES {SOON<=}{somE}{t...lS} &lit

22 Strong fellow gets hurt unloading piano (6) FIERCE {F}{pIERCE}

24 Flower placed on top of policeman's grave (4) DEEP {DEE}{Po...s}

Reference List

Name = N, University = U, Fellow = F, Time = T, Fine = F, Right = R, Ordinary = O, Day = D, Corner = NE, Piano = P