Possible Clues:

• Non-achiever
• Dud
• Defeated player looks teary from time to time
• One missing out -- gets nearer, but not number one
• No-hoper is more relaxed with one round to go
• Paper, vis-à-vis scissors
• Jenga tower toppler, e.g
• One can't win with philosopher dismissing hip-hop
• Young adult novel by Jerry Spinelli
• No-hoper’s new role picking up seaweed at front