Crossword Genius

Friend from Eastern Europe reported fall of King (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

checkmate

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'fall of king' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both acts as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps there's an association between them I don't understand?

'friend from eastern europe reported' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
'friend' could be 'mate' (mate is a kind of friend) and 'mate' is found within the answer.
'eastern' could be 'e' and 'e' is present in the answer.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for checkmate that I've seen before include "Chess game ending" , "Where the king can't move" , "final defeat" , "Declaration of chess victory" , "ending on board" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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