Guardian Genius 260

[LeenaH]

Guardian genius 260

I want a hint on how to manipulate the down answers .

E.g1d

Wine winner Jonathan the cricketer losing wickets (9)

Ans.  champagne

Crossers are

C-a-p-a-e

I also have the first and last letters of extra words from across clues. 

And the thematic phrases

But still can't manipulate the down answers

Thanks in advance 

E.g

[bhg481]

winner = champ

Jonathon agnew is a cricket commentator - w)icket)

champagne = wine

[Neveracrossword]

Leenah, detailed instructions, about how to manipulate the answers, were given earlier today. Maybe check 'Recently answered' in Crosswords?

 

 

[ProfessorMaisie]

The single black square between the two down answers in each column represents a magnet, with the top of the black square being N(orth) and the bottom S(outh). 

Given that opposite poles attract and equal poles repel, the N or S in each answer moves either up or down away from its proper position. The N in champagNe is pushed up the way and the S in Steam is pushed down the way (their entries are champNage and teaSm). The next column shows the opposite effect - N(orth) attracts the S in the top answer and S(outh) attracts the N in the bottom answer (the degree of movement varies but there is always some movement either way).

But if you randomly move N or S into an available square after you've entered the other letters in their correct order, you'll get the right entry anyway - you don't really have to understand how magnets work if you don't already know.

[ProfessorMaisie]

As it's impossible to have a magnet with only one pole the Ns and Ss in each down answer can't function as magnets in themselves and can't effect each other without some intermediate agency.

[LeenaH]

Thanks a lot. I found your explanation very illuminating.