do-or-die

frantic last-gasp

desperate eleventh-hour final last-chance last-minute last-resort

crisp firm obstinate reserved

aloof distant dug in formal hard as nails hard-line hold one's ground hold the fort hold the line incompliant inelastic inexorable inflexible intractable locked-in obdurate relentless resolute set in stone severe single-minded standing one's ground standing pat sticking to one's guns stiff strict stubborn uncompromising unflexible unrelenting unswayable unyielding uptight

flexible soft yielding

bending pliable pliant relaxed

championship clash event fight game match meeting race rivalry sport struggle tournament trial

antagonism bout candidacy contention controversy counteraction emulation encounter engagement jungle matchup opposition puzzle quiz racing run strife striving tilt tug-of-war warfare

athletic event concours dog-eat-dog go for it go for the gold horse race one-on-one one-upping pairing off rat race

peace

accord agreement harmony surrender sympathy