Crossword Genius

Close friend -- solitary, it's said, facing position of defeat (4,4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

soul mate

'close friend' is the definition.
(a soul mate is a close friend or romantic partner)

'solitary it's said facing position of defeat' is the wordplay.
'solitary' becomes 'sole' (synonyms).
'it's said' indicates a 'sounds like' (homophone) clue.
'facing' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'position of defeat' becomes 'mate' (checkmate in chess).
'sole' sounds like 'soul'.
'soul'+'mate'='SOUL MATE'

(Other definitions for soul mate that I've seen before include "Person ideally suited to another" , "Person ideally suited to self, spiritual pal" , "One ideally suited to another" , "One's ideal partner" , "lover?" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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