Respect for hard old game played (6)
I believe the answer is:
homage
'respect' is the definition.
(homage is a kind of respect)
'hard old game played' is the wordplay.
'hard' becomes 'h'.
'old' becomes 'o' (common abbreviation eg in OE for Old English).
'played' indicates anagramming the letters.
'game' anagrammed gives 'mage'.
'h'+'o'+'mage'='HOMAGE'
'for' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for homage that I've seen before include "Public tribute" , "respectful acknowledgment" , "Tribute, reverence" , "Show of respect to someone" , "Respectful deference" .)