Play in close match (7)
I believe the answer is:
endgame
'play' is the definition.
(play by Samuel Beckett)
'close match' is the wordplay.
'close' becomes 'end' (close can mean to end or finish).
'match' becomes 'game' (I've seen this before).
'end'+'game'='ENDGAME'
'in' is the link.
(Other definitions for endgame that I've seen before include "closing moves on chessboard" , "moves before mating" , "final moves" , "drama" , "Beckett play" .)