No 14792, Wednesday 13 May 2026, Dr. X

Solution to 17A has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered 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

1   American throttled by armed culprit violently - it could result in death penalty (7,6) CAPITAL MURDER {A} in {ARMED+CULPRIT}*

8   Brief, sporadic fights (5) SPARS SPARSe 

9   Falls down badly, loses consciousness primarily after consuming drink (9) COLLAPSES {LOSES+Co...s}* over {LAP}

11 Revives tipsy marines with tea (10) REANIMATES {MARINES+TEA}*

12 Fun in Gujarat's first sanctuary (4) GLEE {Gu...t}{LEE}

14 Support copper beginning to berate beastly youngster (4,3) BEAR CUB {BEAR}{CU}{Be...e}

16 Gasp about diamond's size (7) BREADTH {BREA{D}TH}

17 Finest century, extremely impressive in final (7) L?C?E?T (Addendum - LACIEST  {LA{C}Im...vE}ST} - See comments)

19 Involve head of radiology in treatment of emboli (7) EMBROIL {EMB{Ra...y}OIL*}

21 A little malfunction in opening umbrella (4) GAMP {GA{Ma...n}P}

22 Moving injured girl at once (10) RELOCATING*

25 Remove coach after losing one game (9) TRANSPORT {TRAiN}{SPORT}

26 Lyric poet in neighbourhood is terrific (5) ODIST [T]

27 Forbid foolish attendant picking up dope for transient visitor (4,2,7) BIRD OF PASSAGE {FORBID}*{P{ASS}AGE}

DOWN

2   A Tibetan monk embracing a bishop in American state (7) ALABAMA {A}{L{A}{B}AMA}

3   How patient after surgery might be laughing uncontrollably (2,8) IN STITCHES [DD]

4   Cocaine found in a car travelling to capital city (5) ACCRA {C} in {A+CAR}*

5   Supple batter turned and smashed ball over English umpire's foot (9) MALLEABLE {LAM<=}{L{E}ABL*}{u...rE}

6   Stern parent (4) REAR [DD]

7   Stored fodder in citadel is nearly over (7) ENSILED [T<=]

8   Flasher in spot, without pants or belt (6,5) STROBE LIGHT {S{OR+BELT}*IGHT}

10 Find out and be incensed by drunk husband chasing girl inside (3,3,5) SEE THE LIGHT {SEETHE}{LI{H}<=>{G}T}

13 Like a film with some new rumba moves (10) MEMBRANOUS {SOME+N+RUMBA}*

15 Gambler turned richer (6,3) BETTER OFF {BETTER}{OFF}

18 Musical instruments in church mass on island in Asia (7) CEMBALI {CE}{M}{BALI}

20 Thinking of love and longing (7) OPINING {0}{PINING}

23 Nearly all going topless on island near a port city of ancient Rome (5) OSTIA {mOST}{I}{A}

24 Exercised in shade, Sun's coming up (4) USED [T<=]

Reference List

American = A, Diamond = D, Century = C, Bishop = B, Cocaine = C, English = E, Husband = H, Girl = G, New = N, Church = CE, Mass = M, Island = I

No 14791, Tuesday 12 May 2026, Dr. X

Solution to 20D has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered 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

1   Most annoyed with extremely obnoxious head of syndicate in summit (8) CROSSEST {CR{Ob...uS}{Sy...e}EST}

5   Gorgeous associate goes bare, intoxicated after drink (6) SUPERB {BaRE}*<=>{SUP}

10 One captivated by young lady working in office (7) MISSION {1} in {MISS}{ON}

11 See 3 Down

12 Left to inquire about patient at centre for eye surgery (5) LASIK {L}{AS{patIent}K}

13 Extremely tense guys entering a club for relaxation (9) ABATEMENT {TensE}{MEN} in {A}{BAT}

14 Stylish fellow on island lied about relationships for affairs (12) INFIDELITIES {IN}{F}{I}{LIED*}{TIES}

18 A few words after fellow involved in deceit gets long term of imprisonment (4,8) LIFE SENTENCE {SENTENCE}<=>{LI{F}E}

21 One evaluating flight, spin etc in cricket match with plan to trap India's opener (4,5) TEST PILOT {TEST}{P{In..a}LOT}

23 Group going topless on excellent Hawaiian island (5) LANAI {cLAN}{A1}

24 Large lizards in Antigua, nasty (7) IGUANAS [T]

25 CIA list about right-leaning characters (7) ITALICS*

26 Rodent in hotel behind park caught by energetic person (6) GOPHER {H}<=>{P} in {GOER}

27 Moves forward, kills extremely peculiar female monsters (8) OGRESSES prOGRESSES

DOWN

1   Observe beautiful European falling for Prince (6) COMPLY COM(-e+p)PLY

2   Torment in sob session (6) OBSESS [T]

3 & 11 What tortoise might do to take a risk (5,4,4,3) STICK ONES NECK OUT [C&DD]

4   Make a big thing of American involved in deplorable liaisons with teens (14) SENSATIONALISE {A} in {LIAISONS+TEENS}*

6   Fun clearly to host a relative (5) UNCLE [T]

7   Old erotic novel is popular (8)  EXOTERIC {EX}{EROTIC}*

8   Venture by American group backing Tesla's trial of a product in final stage (4,4) BETA TEST {BET}{A}{SET<=}{T}

9   Promising band in arena after struggle (10,4) ENGAGEMENT RING {RING}<=>{ENGAGEMENT}

15 Charge stylish college head ensnaring university student (9) INCULPATE {IN}{C}{PATE} over {U}{L}

16 Dope, heroin and gin? Horrible habit (8) CLOTHING {CLOT}{H}{GIN*}

17 Bad defeat for one on cricket field (3,5) OFF STUMP {OFF}{STUMP}

19 Pranks by comic in cast (6) ANTICS*

20 Wife is winner of American beauty contest (6) ?I?S?S (Addendum - MISSUS {MISS US} - See comments)

22 Tubular pasta in stall, extremely nice (5) PENNE {PEN}{NicE}

Reference List

Associate = A, Drink = SUP, Left = L, Stylish = IN, Fellow = F, Island = I, Hotel = H, Park = P, European = E, Prince = P, American = A, Tesla = T, College = C, University = U, Student = L, Heroin = H