This crossword No. 22209 clues and answers were published on Tue 15 May 2001 and the puzzle can be visited by following The Guardian Cryptic Crossword No. 22209 link.
All Across Clues and Answers:
7-across – Game soon involved king and queen : SNOOKER
8-across – They bet plate-layers drop dead : PLAYERS
10-across – It goes pear-shaped for self-centred person : EGOIST
11-across – The territory above a taxman’s scope : AIRSPACE
12-across – In Nepal, it’s a sacred language : PALI
13-across – Records found before Ezra : CHRONICLES
14-across – Big names in disarray: I cite rebels : CELEBRITIES
19-across – Where they might bring back the birch? : ARBORETUMS
22-across – Colour: mostly green with a hint of yellow : GREY
23-across – Free kind of house? : DETACHED
24-across – Exercising choice of imitation : ECHOIC
25-across – Slander male trapped in silly lunacy : CALUMNY
26-across – Colours moving slowly around Spain : YELLOWS
All Down Clues and Answers:
1-down – Harvester is one of the ravers : ANAGRAM
2-down – One hero in domestic murder : HOMICIDE
3-down – Irishman in charge of Scottish club : CELTIC
4-down – I am almost certainly played : CLARINET
5-down – My subject, Wasting Time, is short-sighted : MYOPIC
6-down – Game played by heartless Greig? : CRICKET
9-down – Lovely parks, places for shy and painted horses : FAIRGROUNDS
15-down – One big in the game, other than Pele : ELEPHANT
16-down – Thin paint : EGGSHELL
17-down – Club magazine : ARSENAL
18-down – Surveys about attitudes : REVIEWS
20-down – In chess, when to swop a queen isn’t clear : OPAQUE
21-down – Set out to marry drunk : STEWED
This crossword has in total 26 where 13 are across and 13 are down.