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Brendan, I didn't see that video, but watched the Zagreb blitz online. Somewhere in the depths of the Prize thread I mentioned that 25a had a chess connection...also later posted you a message on the thread about the "Beast from 25"'s fiasco. It didn't get much better today. Garry actually won one game (his only W out of 18 games); in the next game, emboldened, he followed up with a Bishop sacrifice on h3. A naive recapture would have lost the Queen, but unfortunately for Garry, Grishchuk found a couple of "Zwischenzugs" and "The Beast", down a piece, had to resign. He wound up scoring +1, =3, -14 (2.5 out of 18). 😢

Sorry, I misrecalled; recapture on h3 would have lost material, but not the Queen.
The last 2 days were sad for those who saw the Beast, in his prime, run roughshod over all opposition.

I wasn't aware there was a tournament going on, but I've just checked on YouTube and it looks like many, if not all, of the games are on there.

Been puzzling over these two for 24 hours and just can't parse 'em. Probably being very dense. Will someone enlighten me please?

7D The REM introduction begins with eerie instrument (9) Theremin. I'm assuming this is the first two words of the clue but how does 'begins' translate into 'in''

3D Losing unfurled umbrella Simon Russell Beale unusually quiet. (9) I think the answer is 'noiseless' which might be a partial anagram of 'losing' but completely flummoxed really.

7D In fact the first three words of the clue.

3D One of the most ingenious clues I have ever seen! However the setter discovered that Simon Russell Beale minus umbrella becomes the letters of noiseless is quite amazing.

Hi kitabu,
7d is hidden in the first three words of the clue, hence ‘begins’…

3d is an anagram of the quoted actor’s name, but you need to subtract the various (hence unfurled) letters from umbrella before attempting to construct it

5a fooled me for a bit until I had some crossers.
I was sure it was a reverse hidden with the letters tek there but google couldn't help me!

Thanks Jono and JMDC for your prompt and full explanations! 7D was just me not seeing what's in front of my eyes but I must say I would never have twigged the parsing of 3D without your explanations - so much appreciated!