Crossword Genius

Finish session in a tie, losing heart (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

terminate

'finish' is the definition.
(I know that finish is a more specific form of terminate)

'session in a tie losing heart' is the wordplay.
'session' becomes 'term' ().
'losing heart' suggests removing the centre.
'tie' with its middle removed is 'te'.
'term'+'in'+'a'+'te'='TERMINATE'

(Other definitions for terminate that I've seen before include "Put an end to, finish" , "Finalise" , "Stop" , "Put an end to, discontinue" , "Cut short" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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