Send your entry by post with your NAME/ADDRESS and TIME TAKEN, and £15 entry fee to: The Times National Crossword Championship, P.O. Box 59229, London NW3 9FT, to be postmarked by Thursday, July 3. The solution will be live on this link on Friday, July 4.

Full entry details & previous qualifying puzzles

ACROSS
1 Censor has drink with journalists (8)
5 Divine birthplace needs second item of furniture (6)
10 Old lady’s diversion — not English but European trip (5,4)
11 Much follows black marks (5)
12 Ideas — just half for you (4)
13 Guards one that’s wild, and this? (9)
15 How Louis XIV reigned? Yes indeed (10)
17 Having spoken, look for support (4)
19 Celebrated antelopes’ return (4)
20 Make fresh appointment to arrest criminal aliens (10)
22 Be forced to acknowledge debts? Not interested (9)
24 Wine jar not opened (4)
26 Clumsy writer turned into Italian (5)
27 Fish portion — partners tucked in (not head) (5,4)
28 Gestate extremely tiny twins (6)
29 Following on’s a beauty for spectator (8)

DOWN
1 In evil, find good omen (4)
2 Exercise on Long Beach best for such a complexion (7-3-5)
3 Currency, journalist held, is to appreciate significantly again (8)
4 Rate summer at first lacking warmth (5)
6 Addict able to conceal form of drug (6)
7 Inside one’s body, a ticker? (10,5)
8 Simple way to find comfort (4,6)
9 Rule plan out to get silk for lawyer (8)
14 Had taken cruise for Christmas merrymaking (10)
16 Hot dogs cooked with last of sauce — they are successfully produced (3,5)
18 Bash woman as well? Not quite, yet (8)
21 Frenchman is second to arrive in British school (6)
23 Such initially divisible by two? No! (5)
25 Dam is bizarre, not finished (4)

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