| 34% | KARPOV | 6 | Two time world chess champion with a style described as that of a "boa constrictor" |
| 27% | TEAM | 4 | Squad that plays a match together |
| 26% | DINGLIREN | 9 | Became World Chess Champion in 2023 |
| 26% | XBOXLIVE | 8 | Service that allows you to play Gears of War with someone in a different country |
| 25% | CURTSCHILLING | 13 | Red Sox pitcher who played in the 2004 World Series with a damaged ankle: 2 wds. |
| 25% | TAL | 3 | Youngest world chess champion before Kasparov |
| 25% | ASHE | 4 | ___ Stadium, venue with a cushioned acrylic surface that is the largest of its type in the world |
| 25% | CRICKET | 7 | Sport that originated in England and is played with a bat and ball between teams of eleven |
| 25% | SARAHCONNOR | 11 | Action hero played by 48-Across in a film series that began with 15-Across (2 wds.) |
| 25% | NIL | 3 | Nothing that plays a prominent role in this puzzle |
| 25% | ROD | 3 | Eye cell that plays a role in night vision |
| 24% | THYMUS | 6 | Gland that plays a key role in T cell maturation |
| 24% | DEEPBLUE | 8 | Chess supercomputer that's a color |
| 24% | SAHARA | 6 | World's largest hot desert in Africa with a name that translates to "desert" in Arabic |
| 24% | WINDCHIMES | 10 | Tinkly noisemakers that play in a breeze |
| 24% | GUKESHDOMMARAJU | 15 | Grandmaster who became the youngest-ever World Chess Champion in December 2024 |
| 24% | FINALISTS | 9 | Teams that play in the ultimate cup match |
| 24% | KASPAROV | 8 | Garry __, Russian politician, chess world champion |
| 24% | DRAW | 4 | Match that ends in a tie |
| 24% | CHUKKER | 7 | Playing period in a polo match |
| 23% | TIA | 3 | Carrere who played a fox in "Wayne's World" |
| 23% | JONVOIGHT | 9 | He played a snake hunter in 1997 horror Anaconda |
| 23% | PUN | 3 | Joke that plays with different meanings of a word |
| 23% | ROOK | 4 | Chess piece that starts in a corner |
| 23% | LIP | 3 | With 5-Down, match, in a way |
| 23% | MATE | 4 | Defeat in a chess match |
| 23% | MATED | 5 | Beaten in a chess match |
| 23% | MOVED | 5 | Made a play in chess |
| 23% | MOVES | 5 | Makes a play in chess |