The round of competition just before the final championship match, where the remaining competitors battle to earn a place in the finals.
From 'semi' (half or partial) and 'finals.' A 20th-century sports term describing the penultimate round of tournaments.
The drama of semifinals is legendary—you're SO close to winning it all, but you have to beat another elite competitor first. Some of the most exciting sports moments happen in semifinals because the stakes are highest but the field is narrowed down to the best.
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