| 100% | ANATOLYKARPOV | 13 | Six-time World Chess Champion and frequent rival of 15-Across (2 wds.) |
| 46% | DAFFYDUCK | 9 | Best friend and occasional rival of 15-Across, the iconic black duck from "Looney Tunes": 2 wds. |
| 42% | GARRYKASPAROV | 13 | Six-time World Chess Champion who was ranked No. 1 for a record 255 months overall during his career (2 wds.) |
| 41% | MELBLANC | 8 | The voice of 15-Across and many other Looney Tunes characters: 2 wds. |
| 41% | ERICIDLE | 8 | Cocreator and lyricist of 15-Across: 2 wds. |
| 39% | GOLDMEDAL | 9 | Olympic honor won six times by 15-Across: 2 wds. |
| 39% | TOMHIDDLESTON | 13 | "Loki" star who was a schoolmate of 15-Across and 32-Across at Eton College: 2 wds. |
| 39% | KARPOV | 6 | Two time world chess champion with a style described as that of a "boa constrictor" |
| 38% | USSENTERPRISE | 13 | Starship of 15-Across: 2 wds. |
| 38% | JIMHENSON | 9 | Creator of 15-Across: 2 wds. |
| 38% | BRANDONTAYLOR | 13 | Alabama-born writer of 15-Across and 26-Across/27-Across (2 wds.) |
| 37% | VERONICALODGE | 13 | Dark-haired off-and-on girlfriend of 15-Across: 2 wds. |
| 37% | DANIELHANDLER | 13 | Real name of 15-Across: 2 wds. |
| 37% | MISSPIGGY | 9 | Pink star of 15-Across: 2 wds. |
| 37% | MANDYPATINKIN | 13 | Former star of 15-Across: 2 wds. |
| 37% | MAGNUSCARLSEN | 13 | Five-time World Chess Champion who was defeated by teenage chess prodigy Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa in February (2 wds.) |
| 36% | RICHARDBURTON | 13 | Costar (and later, husband) of 15-/21-Across: 2 wds. |
| 36% | DIERKSBENTLEY | 13 | Singer of "Home" and 15-Across: 2 wds. |
| 36% | BRITNEYSPEARS | 13 | Singer of 15-Across and 50-Across known as the "Princess of Pop" (2 wds.) |
| 36% | BRUNOMARS | 9 | Singer of 15-Across and 29-Across who was born October 8, 1985 (2 wds.) |
| 36% | MAGNUSCARLSEN | 13 | Norwegian chess grandmaster who is the current World Chess Champion and earned his grandmaster title when he was only 13: 2 wds. |
| 36% | PARKPLACE | 9 | Second-most expensive property in the US edition of 15-Across: 2 wds. |
| 34% | RANDYORTON | 10 | 10-time WWE Champion and son of WWE Hall of Famer Bob: 2 wds. |
| 34% | CHARLIEHUSTLE | 13 | Nickname of 15-Across in his playing days: 2 wds. |
| 34% | EDDIEREDMAYNE | 13 | Star of 15-Across, 33-Across, and "The Theory of Everything" who was born January 6, 1982 (2 wds.) |
| 34% | KENJENNINGS | 11 | "Jeopardy!" champion and host who was inducted into the Jeopardy! Hall of Fame in 2025: 2 wds. |
| 34% | BOSTONREDSOX | 12 | 15-Across team that traded away 45-Across in 1919 and endured the "Curse of the Bambino" until winning the World Series in 2004 (3 wds.) |
| 34% | KRISHUMPHRIES | 13 | Brooklyn Nets player and husband of 15-Across for 72 days in 2011: 2 wds. |
| 34% | DONNYHATHAWAY | 13 | Singer of 15-Across who also sang duets with Roberta Flack: 2 wds. |
| 34% | SERGEANTMAJOR | 13 | Army reserve title of 15-Across before his promotion in 2011: 2 wds. |