Cheat kind-hearted adversary (9)
I believe the answer is:
contender
'cheat kind-hearted adversary' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both people as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps you can see an association between them that I don't see?
'cheat kind' is the wordplay.
'cheat' becomes 'con' (con is a kind of cheat).
'kind' becomes 'tender' (tender can mean kind or thoughtful).
'con'+'tender'='CONTENDER'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for contender that I've seen before include "Struggler in rivalry" , "One engaged in a struggle" , "One striving" , "One struggling" , "No red cent (anag.)" .)