No 14497, Thursday 29 May 2025, Saral

Solution to 23A 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 solve, if not solved by 1 PM.

ACROSS

1   Company president followed by a policeman (6) COPPER {CO}{P}{PER}

5  Security added covers, at first to check (8) MORTGAGE {MOR{To}{GAG}E}

9  Rebel in Crimea fighting with king crossing Vatican (8) MAVERICK {CRIMEA}*{K} over {V}

10 Throng primarily major milk products counter (6) MYRIAD {Ma..r}{DAIRY<=}

11 Single guy is disheartened and serious (6) SOLEMN {SOLE}{MaN}

12 Sceptical German overwhelmed by crazy actions (8) AGNOSTIC {A{G}NOSTIC*}

13 Part of very large spinning instrument (4) LYRE [T<=]

14 Used steel to join small devices (10) TELESCOPES {STEEL}{COPE}{S}

16 Perfect leotard I am ordering (6-4) TAILOR-MADE*

18 Cases of dopes lost, missing drug (4) PODS DOPeS*

20 Projecting smart among accountants (8) CASTINGS {CA{STING}S}

22 Grab ananas stuffed fruit (6) BANANA [T]

23 Escort filled with fury essentially in agency (6) ?U?E?U ()

24 Lifts players' hopes losing opener (8) ENHANCES {E}{N}{cHANCES}

25 Barge had ample light (8) HEADLAMP*

26 Dislike rejecting a piece of plastic gift (6) RESENT pRESENT

DOWN

2   Art of public speaking in chapel (7) ORATORY [DD]

3   Gradually spread slice in front (9) PIECEMEAL {MEAL}<=>{PIECE}

4   Again American soldiers backing nationalist in power (5) REIGN {RE}{GI<=}{N}

5   Ace English lawman keeps working to win very easily (4,1,5,5) MAKE A CLEAN SWEEP {ACE+E+LAWMAN+KEEPS}*

6   Think back about short stories initially by church (9) REMINISCE {RE}{MINIS}{CE}

7   Kids often ignoring grid rules (5) GIRLS {GrId+RuLeS}

8   Crushing grain with the hollow rock (7) GRANITE {GRAIN*}{ThE]

14 Web designer creating a natural environment at last (9) TARANTULA  {A+NATURAL}*{e...nT}

15 Rivals playing? Stop entry of writer hiding old name (9) OPPONENTS {STOP}* over {P{O}{N}EN}

17 Generally a market stores royal uniform (2,1,4) AS A RULE {A}{SA{R}{U}LE}

19 Mafia leader holds gun, flashing above enemy's head in cell (7) DUNGEON{D{GUN*}{En..y}ON}

21 Guard controlling anger finally in rage (5) TREND {T{a..eR}END}

22 Stop outside one hotel in state (5) BIHAR {B{1}{H}AR}

Reference List

President = P, King = K, Vatican = V, German = G, Small = S, Drug = E, Players = E,N, Again = RE, Nationalist = N, English = E, About = RE, Church =CE, Old = O, Name = N, Royal = R, Uniform = U, Hotel = H