Crossword Genius

Chess player losing learner’s support (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

back

'support' is the definition.
(to back is to support or endorse)

'chess player losing learner's' is the wordplay.
'chess player' becomes 'black' (one of the two players in a game of chess).
'losing' is a deletion indicator.
'learner' becomes 'l' (as in a learner driver with L-plates on their car).
'black' with 'l' removed is 'BACK'.

(Other definitions for back that I've seen before include "Series of popular time-travel movies" , "Support (from behind?)" , "Support - football player" , "part of the body" , "Support a play - player" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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