1 across
Friend’s
securing
check
after
check
–
he
wins
lots,
ultimately,
in
these
(5,7)
Friend’s securing check after check – he wins lots, ultimately, in these (5,7)
hints
0
checks
0
hints
The definition is at the end of the clue.
How the clue works
This is a lovely &lit clue where the entire sentence — Friend's securing check after check – he wins lots, ultimately, in these — serves as both the definition and the wordplay. You start with CH for 'check', then take the last letters of 'hE', 'winS', and 'lotS' to get ESS. Finally, MATE'S (meaning 'friend's') wraps around another CH ('check'), giving you MATCHE+S. Put it all together and you've got your answer — games where all of this literally happens!