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Cockie, the first word of the preamble is deliberately chosen. Read the directions, then do as the puzzle title instructs.

Finally got there after probably falling for every red herring there was. Spent ages looking for a link to a famous Norwegian and solved the second part first - without realising why. Very clever and a good work out for the little grey cells.

Dylan, 3d is mostly anagram (plus word for 'exploit')
29ac is a homophone. First two letters sound like 'income', last two mean 'as stated'

Thanks murky, but it's still not unambiguous (to me, at least). Following the title would suggest the earlier alphabetically of the two possibilities ... but there is a third. Following the title again it should be left blank. The mists are getting thicker.

Cockie, as I am a bear of little brain I have simply followed the second set of instructions and left the second word in the unclued entry.

But the directions tell you to "fill the empty space with the related title".

Thanks, Murky, grid now filled. Now on to see what everyone’s discussing!

I think that the second title must be inserted. Since the first title could indicate either of the players, this is the only way to indicate that you have found both alternatives.

I am currently in the "undecided" camp, as to which title goes in the unclued cells. Without wishing to obfuscate the issue further than is necessary, the following thoughts occur.

The last 4 words of the instruction obtained from the unchecked letters don't necessarily have to indicate one word.

The second player has to have a "shared" highlighted cell, surely, in order to satisfy the 22 stipulated by the preamble.

Therefore the title we are left with must pertain ONLY to the "second" player and the subject. Only one player is covered by both unclued possibilities and a horizontal specialism.

It has been mooted on several occasions in the past that the editors encourage these possibly ambiguous/contiguous scenarios in order to knock down the number of "corrects" arriving at AL3 6HE.

Good morning, all. I for one don’t see any ambiguity here. I *eventually* unravelled the amended directions and have a final grid that I’m completely happy with. I think it’s a brilliant construction by Artix. I thought that the phrase “A clued down answer…” was particularly helpful.