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Thanks, Prospero.

Not in the slightest, Prospero - on the contrary, I'm sorry to have broken your run. It's a game, after all, and I want you to have fun; I knew this puzzle was going to be really hard, and not to everyone's taste. I quite enjoyed the one which I did in a similar style, and wanted to try my hand at it. Hope I haven't diminished your appetite for Soup.

Certainly the most difficult for a long time. Thanks Hamish Soup for keeping me awake for 24 hours!

Appetite for Soup undiminished. After all, one does not attempt the Genius because it is easy. This one did require a whole new mindset, though, with little help from crossers and none from outside aids. Am grateful for this site - and thanks for the challenge, Hamishsoup.

Having spent the whole of Monday on this puzzle and nearly finished it, I have only just had time to get back to it. I was stuck on 22d - mainly because I had confidently assumed 'astispumante' for 21a - but now have those two.
However, I am still stuck on 3d. I am working with ?SCN?T. A nudge, please, would be so welcome!

I was stuck on 3 (as on most) for a good while. Your crossers are right.
Definition is the first word, which I took to be notation but in fact it begins with an i. Also the Sussex County openers don't go together. International is the usual abbreviation (x2).

Thanks, Prospero - but I was just returning to say that I had got it. I think I was expecting it to be more complicated than it was! Phew! What a brainteaser!

last one for me is 2d, where I can't seem to make a clue that has a reasonable surface reading, A hint as to what is def & what is wordplay should nudge me (staggering and bruised) over the line. Thanks.

The first 3 words punningly define the real definition 'pr'.

kt - it's a double definition (first 3 words/last word). The last word needs 2 vowels inserted between the consonants.