Cheat to get money from a rival (9)
I believe the answer is:
contender
'a rival' is the definition.
(synonyms)
'cheat to get money' is the wordplay.
'cheat' becomes 'con' (con is a kind of cheat).
'to get' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'money' becomes 'tender' (I've seen this in another clue).
'con'+'tender'='CONTENDER'
'from' is the link.
(Other definitions for contender that I've seen before include "One striving" , "Struggler in rivalry" , "No red cent (anag.)" , "One fighting others (for something)" , "Candidate" .)