2: chap stealing hearts, ending in despair (6)

I believe the answer is:

mahler

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'2' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are singular nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?

'chap stealing hearts ending in despair' is the wordplay.
'chap' becomes 'male' (I've seen this in other clues).
'stealing' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'hearts' becomes 'h' (abbreviation used in card games e.g. bridge).
'ending in' suggests the final letters.
The last letter of 'despair' is 'r'.
'male' going around 'h' is 'mahle'.
'mahle'+'r'='MAHLER'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for mahler that I've seen before include "Gustav . . . . . ., Austrian composer" , "Lift" , "Vienna and New York opera conductor" , "Gustav -, Austrian symphonist" , "Harlem (anag) - composer" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.

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