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I have, apart from 5 blanks, a full grid. The first column, stared at for some time, yields nothing by way of what-to-do-next-ishness. The thematic subject eludes me - is the area to be barred off a square or rectangle, I wonder, or some fancy shape. A hint or two would be welcome.

Ir's not a regular shape, and it uses some bars already in the grid as well as the added 16. Look for a couple of common names vertically, and Google.

(Include col 1 and 42 as well as the names in your search)

Thanks, buddy: why didn't I think of that? But I can find only 2 (not 3) letters to add. I still have blanks in 6, 20/22 and 29. What am I missing?

...instead of "Y" try IE ...then it makes more sense in your surrounded shape....

Save for the 2 remaining blanks, your shape should be completely filled with the names (6,4) and (4,5,5) of the two participants.

Thanks buddy..I get it now...had the other person....

My end result was a little “approximate”; but then I guess the original was too….

I'm well behind with this and at a complete standstill. I have the answers to all the clues and the unclued 42. Despite the always excellent hints above I can't see where to place the 16 bars. At the moment I have 5 blank cells. 2 of those are singletons and the other 3 are in a straight horizontal line. I suspect I could be wrong there. Any pointers in the right direction would be more than welcome.

I now have the 4, 5, 5 name so will use that to try to find the 6, 4 one.