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41a: Win big game following exclusive article (5,3,4)
*C*O* T*E *O**
Looks like SCOOP THE ? but I'm stuck. Any help, please?
(May very well be back for more. This puzzle's a stinker!)

SCOOP THE POOL?
meaning "Win big", with "pool" as the game?

Thanks chrise. That possibility had occurred to me, but I had never heard the phrase before. I had heard "Scoop the pools" but that was in the good old days of football pools.

I think it's a term from poker. The "pool" is the "kitty", and if someone scoops the pool, he/she wins it all.

I see. Shows what a blameless life I've led!

Here's another I'm stuck on:
1a: (5,4) Supporters, British, stopping Polish players.
B*A** *A*D I have BRASS BAND as "players" and B for British but cannot parse. Help please!

Supporters - Bras , then B(ritish) in sand (polish)

That was quick Mamya, thanks. Now can you help with this?
3d: Maidenhead may be wanted in exchange for Slough (5).
S*A** I wondered if Slough could mean sloughing of skin as in snake, but that's as far as I got.

Swamp .slough, pool - it's in Chambers. Swap, exchange, with the M from Maiden (Maiden head).

Thanks for that Malone. Looks like I need to buy a Chambers, though I probably should have got it from Slough of Despond (currently what this crossword has deposited me in)