The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word SEMIFINAL
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
S
E
M
I
F
I
N
A
L
More clues leading to the result SEMIFINAL
- In flames? I lit match
- Important packs provided, round near the end
- Important to retain condition for pivotal match
- Midriff revealed during important match
- Inspiring work in groundbreaking encounter for half the remaining contestants
- Specially planned meals if in later stage of competition
- Last house on left when only four remain standing?
- Sort of match that could make fan smile — gripping one
- Poem brought into major match towards end of tournament?
- F1 to cut major part of championship
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "round near the end" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case round near the end = semifinal.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does SEMIFINAL mean?
SEMIFINAL noun- A playoff in the round with only four players or teams left, the stage before the final.
- (general) A competition that narrows a field of contestants (semifinalists) to a set of finalists, for a subsequent final.