Possible Clues:

• Gloomy match-goer with sore throat apt do this?
• Miserable poet's always left absorbed in board game
• Game over before getting to grips with first level is not fun
• Grim and unpleasant leer interrupts game
• Gloomy — depressing
• Gloomy church always getting smaller in number
• Dreary
• Miserable chap tucking into toast
• Dismal
• Dull game capturing Queen almost allowed