The Sunday Crossword No 3325, Sunday 29 Sep 2024

ACROSS

1   Micropalaeontologist’s hiding a gemstone (4) OPAL [T]

3   Stemwinder repaired in Central America? (10) MIDWESTERN*

9   Few assets periodically offering direction (4) EAST {fEw+AsSeTs}

10 British genius’s drunk natural gin (4,6) ALAN TURING*

11 Friend of Oliver King has nickel-iron tool (7,5) STANLEY KNIFE {STANLEY}{K}{NI}{FE}

15 What William came to do with horse chestnut, you say? (7) CONQUER (~conker)

16 Hamper with feathers from Siam, we’re told (3,4) TIE DOWN (~ thai down)

17 Pieces of doom-laden rag edited in a fury (7) ENRAGED [T]

19 Monster in a fairy tale? (7) WHOPPER [C&DD]

20 Office ‘allies’ differing in everyday scene (1,5,2,4) A SLICE OF LIFE*

23 Bouncer or 10 at Northern Ireland’s dance (6,4) TENNIS BALL {TEN}{NI'S}{BALL}

24 That man’s going to somewhere very hot (4) HELL (HE'LL)

25 Checked in to hotel and did sink in (10) REGISTERED [DD]

26 Bolt, horse (4) STUD [DD]

DOWN

1   Duck, swans and egret – cold, not good – and everyone knows it! (4,6) OPEN SECRET {O}{PENS}{E(-g+c)CRET}

2   Teetotallers ordering teas in bars (10) ABSTAINERS* 

4   Everyman competes – with, in final stages, prize winner – in BBC shows (7) IPLAYER {I}{PLAY}{p..zE}{w...eR}

5   What implement niftily gyrates, nearing ultimate tightness primarily? (4,3) WING NUT Acrostic &lit

6   Dealt a bad hand, left this mortal coil? (8,3) SHUFFLED OFF {SHUFFLED OFF}

7   In uprising, be malevolent (4) EVIL<=

8   Badgers and horses (4) NAGS [DD]

12 Relaxes, taking in clubs perhaps in informal attire (6,5) LOUNGE SUITS {LOUNGE{SUIT}S}

13 Praise remark describing snarled lip (10) COMPLIMENT {COM{LIP*}MENT}

14 Son enrolled uncertainly having invested £1,000, and explored underwater (10) SNORKELLED {S}{NOR{K}ELLED*}

18 What a very young footballer might do, repeatedly? (7) DRIBBLE [C&DD]

19 BMX trick from Jonathan Ross: honestly! (7) WHEELIE (~really)

21 Upset, curses celebrity (4) STAR<=

22 Poles’ uniform, grand and tight-fitting (4) SNUG {S}{N}{U}{G}

Reference List

King = K, Swan = PEN, 1000 = K, Poles = S,N, Uniform = U, Grand = G