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'Clutch' is a term that's been used in classic sports for some time, but nowadays it is more relevant than ever in eSports:

Its meaning in this context is clear... kind of. As per the accepted answer in this question back at Gaming.SE:

Definitions of "clutch" (adjective):

  1. happening during a very important or critical time especially in a sports competition

  2. able to perform well in a very important or critical situation especially in a sports competition

This term has since migrated to competitive gaming, where is used in similar situations, usually in professional gaming events where there is a lot at stake.

It is one of those words that is short and simple while at the same time it describes a very specific setting.
That's probably the reason why Spanish specialized media use 'clutch' as-is, like here and here, instead of looking for a similar Spanish term. Even mainstream media like EL MUNDO shows some trouble picking a word for this concept:

(...) eso que los americanos llaman clutch, digamos ser decisivo cuando el sol más calienta.

Source

Clearly we know how to define the word in Spanish, but it'd be great if we could find a single word for it.
How would you translate this concept to Spanish using just a couple words at most?

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  • This is probably going to be one of those questions that have two answers: one for each definition of clutch. For the second one I'd use temple: "Fortaleza enérgica y valentía serena para afrontar las dificultades y los riesgos." But I'm sure there must be better options.
    – Charlie
    Commented May 29, 2018 at 9:05
  • 2
    remontada maybe Commented Jun 15, 2018 at 12:43
  • Agree about remontada! Commented Jun 25, 2018 at 7:25

1 Answer 1

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As a native speaker and a eSports passionate, I think good translations could be clave or decisivo when used as an adjective.

For example:

This play was started by a clutch save by SKT support Lee "Wolf" Jae-wan on top laner Heo "Huni" Seung-hoon

Could be translated to:

Esta jugada se inició a partir de una salvada decisiva del soporte Lee "Wolf" Jae-wan sobre el carrilero superior Heo "Huni" Seung-hoon

Hope I've been helpful

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  • Totalmente de acuerdo. Commented Jul 6, 2018 at 14:01
  • No me gustaría poner remontada porque remontar es ir perdiendo y luego devolver la situación desfavorable y ganar. Puedes ser "clutch" incluso yendo empatado, p.e: SKT vs ROX en la semifinal del mundial del 2016 de LoL. Iban 2-2 pero SKT mantuvo la calma y ganó. "clutch" en el sentido de cold-minded podría traducirse como con cabeza fría, o de cabeza fría Commented Jul 6, 2018 at 15:41

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