No 11388, Thursday 07 May 2015, xChequer

Wow! I got through a xChequer without a hiccup.

ACROSS
7   Thrusting weapon through before I parry in retreat (6) RAPIER [T<=]

8   Complete boarding English and French on the wagon (8) TEETOTAL {T{E}{ET}OTAL}
9   High pay has winning team providing a breathless experience? (8) ASPHYXIA {PAY+HAS}* around XI
10 Regard female, oddly ugly, as a pretty sight (6) EYEFUL {EYE}{F}{UgLy}
11 Butchers place sliced steaks at the edges (5) SLAYS {Ste{LAY}akS}
12 Outline of small boat (6) SKETCH {S}{KETCH}
14 University caught in dubious set-up, a top tutor forced to retire (3,3,2,7) PUT OUT TO PASTURE {SET-UP+A+TOP+TUTOR}* around U
17 Returning 3 diamonds, East in fix (6) DECIDE {D}{ECI}D}<={E}
18 John, a climber, chases publicity (5) PRIVY {PR}{IVY}
22 Sensual, fair, one very outgoing (6) CARNAL CARN1vAL
23 Outrage over rule breaking into strife (8) ENORMITY {EN{O}{R}MITY}
24 They keep records correct it's said when there's room for a margin of error (8) DIARISTS {ITS+SAID} around {erroR}
25 Discouraging liquid for pen (6) FROSTY {FOR*}{STY}

DOWN
1   Mother keeps gold only in vault (9) MAUSOLEUM {M{AU}{SOLE}UM}
2   Very tall sides of lobby (6) HIGHLY {HIGH}{LobbY}
3   Substitute for male sexual identity (5) PROXY {PRO}{XY}
4   Retreat in fear, breaking window (8) FENESTRA {FE{NEST}RA*}
5   A bit of waste reduced with home recycling (8) SOMEWHAT {WASTe+HOME}*
6   Greek character entering pistol range (5) GAMUT {GA{MU}T}
8   Gets nooks and awkward corners warmth at last — what a relief! (5,8) THANK GOODNESS {GETS+NOOK+AND}* around {w...tH}
13 Be drawn randomly via target (9) GRAVITATE*
15 Common soldiers joining racket, millions dismissed from army (8) ORDINARY {OR}{DIN}{ARmY}
16 Awkward moment left one silent (8) TICKLISH {TICK}{L}{1}{SH}
19 Strictly supervise staff without arm-twisting (6) RAMROD {R{ARM*}OD}
20 Mad sailor breaks free (5) RABID {R{AB}ID}
21 Females stitching jumpers in shelters (5) ROOFS {ROO{F}S}

GRID