Crossword Genius

Game to be in a revolutionary vessel (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

chess

'game' is the definition.
(chess is a kind of game)

'a revolutionary vessel' is the wordplay.
'a revolutionary' becomes 'che' (Che Guevara).
'vessel' becomes 'SS' (short for steamship).
'che'+'ss'='CHESS'

'to be in' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for chess that I've seen before include "This is played on board" , "Sixteen-men-a-side game" , "In which two bishops will participate" , "Musical - board game" , "Ancient war game whose name may have derived for the Persian for 'king'" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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