No 14527, Thursday 03 Jul 2025, Arden

Solution to 1D 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

6   Exult as the ultimate champion bags final medal (5) GLOAT {G{m..aL}OAT}

7   Fancy yachts carrying it is seen as a virtue (8) CHASTITY {CHAST{IT}Y*}

10 Reason it's said to make one laugh in hell (7) INFERNO {INFER}{NO} NO or N2O?

11 Activity protects America flooding (7) DOUSING {DO{US}ING}

12 Fought over how the woman was dressed overall (7) CLASHED {CLA{SHE}D}

13 Small place in China ruined Charlie (7) CHAPLIN {CHA{PL}IN*}

14 Compromising on death - there is hidden rage (11) ENDANGERING {END{ANGER}ING}

19 Home gets, say, butane fuel (7) BAGASSE {BA{GAS}SE}

21 Arranged in sets - a kind of poetic form (7) SESTINA {IN+SETS}*{A}

23 Help set back foundation of black granite (7) DIABASE {AID<=}{BASE}

25 Reportedly not a pleasant end for the family (7) DYNASTY (~die nasty}

26 Copier, it provided a welcome drink (8) APERITIF {APER}{IT}{IF}

27 Works with team leader on lubricants (5) TOILS {Team}{OILS}

DOWN

1   Combine ideas with Charlie, one gets even (8) ?O?F?A?E (Addendum - CONFLATE  {C}{ON{FLAT}E} - See comments)

2   Request architects to provide a stiffener (6) STARCH [T]

3   Agreement that electric cable can be wound close to armature (10) ACCORDANCE {AC}{CORD}{CAN*}{a...rE}

4   Poet's come up with something mediocre (4) BARD<=

5   A material to suit oneself (2,4) AT WILL {A}{TWILL}

6   Malfunction starts - good luck charm has it inside (6) GLITCH {Good}{Luck}{Charm}{Has} over {IT}

8   Huge waves have no rocky mountains (7) TSUNAMI {TSUNAMI+NO}*=MOUNTAINS [CA]

9   Any indoor game is a pain (5) AGONY {A{GO}NY}

13 Angry VIP will raise (7,3) CHEESED OFF {CHEESE}{DOFF}

15 Anguish of the French couple (7) DESPAIR {DES}{PAIR}

16 Denied profits, Matilda dropped the odds (8) GAINSAID {GAINS}{mAtIlDa}

17 Follow a union member right away (5) ABIDE {A}{BrIDE}

18 Greek gods deal with strays (6) SATYRS*

20 Drink and academic performance gets hit (6) GRAPPA {G{RAP}PA}

22 Witness Brown coming up into the house (6) SENATE {SE{TAN<=}E}

24 Leaders enjoy and take sufficient provisions (4) EATS Acrostic

Reference List

Ultimate champion = GOAT(Greatest of all time), Charlie = C, Electric = AC, Of the in French = DES, Right = R