| RAINOUT | Unwanted outcome for a sports match...and a hint as to how to make sense of twelve across answers in this puzzle |
| DONTLOOKATME | "I had nothing to do with it!" . . . or how to make sense of twelve of this puzzle's clues |
| AUDREY | Girl poking tip of twelve across into a squirrel's nest |
| TRAIN | Prepare for a sports match |
| OMNIDIRECTIONAL | Like the answers to eight starred clues ... and a hint as to how to fill them in |
| EVERYTHINGBUT | Musicians Tracey Thorn and Ben Watt, and a hint as to how to enter answers to asterisked clues * (13) |
| TWINKILLING | Baseball double play, in slang ... or a hint to understanding the 12 Across answers that have circles |
| RINGSIDE | Choice seating at a boxing match, and a hint to making sense of the peripheral answers |
| NORWAY | See twelve across |
| DISAPPOINTMENT | Unwanted outcome (14) |
| BLOWNSAVE | Relief pitcher's unwanted outcome |
| IFIWEREYOU | Lead-in to a bit of advice, and a hint as to how 17-, 24-, 37- and 45-Across might arise |
| ENDGAME | Late stage of a chess match, and a hint to the puzzle theme |
| DISAPPEARINGINK | Medium for secret messages, and a hint to making sense of 12 Down answers |
| CENTERCOURT | Site of a tennis focus match ... and a hint to what's hidden in 16-, 30- and 45-Across? |
| NOUMENON | Something identified by intellect but not by the senses of twelve accepting new menu (8) |
| TRIMTHETREE | Decorate for Christmas, in a way, and how to make sense of the answer to each starred clue? |
| TAKEALETTER | Dictator's order, and how to make sense of the answers to the starred clues, in two ways |
| OUTBID | One may be in doubt as to how to make a better offer |
| QUIETCAR | Place for Amtrak passengers to unwind ... and a hint to how to interpret eight puzzle answers |
