Det lykkes modspilleren at vinde; taberen giver op.

In this sentence, det is a formal subject or dummy subject. Danish often uses det in expressions where English might use a more direct subject.

So Det lykkes modspilleren at vinde means something like:

• The opponent manages to win
• literally, closer to It succeeds for the opponent to win

The real content of the clause is at vinde, but Danish commonly puts det in subject position first.

A very similar pattern is:

• Det er svært at forstå = It is difficult to understand
• Det lykkes ham at flygte = He manages to escape

Lykkes means to succeed, to work out, or to manage successfully.

In this sentence, det lykkes modspilleren at vinde means that the opponent succeeds in winning or manages to win.

A useful thing to remember is that lykkes often works differently from English succeed. In Danish, it commonly appears in the pattern:

• Det lykkes nogen at + infinitive

For example:

• Det lykkes hende at finde nøglerne = She manages to find the keys
• Det lykkedes os at blive færdige = We managed to finish

The correct form is modspilleren because the noun is modspiller.

It is made from:

• mod- = counter-, opposing
• spiller = player

So:

• en modspiller = an opponent / opposing player
• modspilleren = the opponent

The definite ending -en is added to the whole noun: modspiller + en = modspilleren.

Modspilleren means the opposing player or the opponent. It is especially natural in games, sports, chess, cards, and similar contexts.

It is close in meaning to modstanderen, which also means the opponent. The difference is mostly one of nuance and usage:

• modspiller often sounds more tied to a game or play situation
• modstander is a broader word for opponent, including debates, politics, sports, and general opposition

In your sentence, modspilleren fits very well because vinde and taberen suggest a game or contest.

Because Danish is using the expression det lykkes nogen at ...

In that structure:

• det is the grammatical subject
• modspilleren is the person for whom something succeeds
• at vinde is the action that succeeds

So Danish organizes the sentence differently from English.

You can think of it like this:

• Det lykkes modspilleren at vinde
• literally: It succeeds for the opponent to win
• natural English: The opponent manages to win

This is one of those places where Danish and English express the same idea with different grammar.

Because at vinde is an infinitive clause, and it tells you what the opponent succeeds in doing.

The pattern is:

• Det lykkes nogen at gøre noget

Examples:

• Det lykkes ham at åbne døren = He manages to open the door
• Det lykkes dem at vinde = They manage to win

So in your sentence:

• at vinde = to win

It explains the successful action.

Taberen giver op means the loser gives up.

The verb here is the fixed expression at give op, which means:

• to give up
• to surrender
• to quit trying

So:

• giver = present tense of give
• op = particle meaning up

Together they function like an English phrasal verb: give up.

Examples:

• Han giver op = He gives up
• Vi gav op = We gave up

You do not say giver sig op for this meaning.

Because the sentence refers to specific roles in a specific situation:

• modspilleren = the opponent
• taberen = the loser

In English, this is also natural: the opponent wins; the loser gives up.

Danish often uses the definite form when the identity is clear from the context, even if the person has not been named before. In a game situation, there is a clear opponent and a clear loser, so the definite form sounds natural.

The base form is taber.

• en taber = a loser
• taberen = the loser

It comes from the verb at tabe, which means to lose.

So the relationship is:

• at tabe = to lose
• en taber = a loser

This is similar to English lose and loser.

The semicolon links two closely related independent clauses:

• Det lykkes modspilleren at vinde
• taberen giver op

Each part could stand as a sentence on its own, but the semicolon shows that they are tightly connected in meaning.

It is a bit more formal or literary than using a period, and slightly stronger than a comma.

You could also write:

• Det lykkes modspilleren at vinde. Taberen giver op.

That would still be correct, but the semicolon emphasizes the close link between the two events.

Yes, but the meaning or emphasis may change slightly.

The normal order here is:

• Det lykkes modspilleren at vinde

You could also front another element in a larger context, but then Danish keeps the verb-second rule. For example:

• Til sidst lykkes det modspilleren at vinde = In the end, the opponent manages to win

Notice that when til sidst comes first, the finite verb lykkes comes second, and det comes after it.

That verb-second pattern is very important in Danish main clauses.

Yes. Both verbs are in the present tense:

• lykkes = succeeds / manages
• giver = gives up

So the sentence describes events as present or as part of a narration in present tense:

• The opponent manages to win; the loser gives up.

If you wanted past tense, you could say:

• Det lykkedes modspilleren at vinde; taberen gav op.
• The opponent managed to win; the loser gave up.

Yes, it is grammatical and understandable, especially in a game or contest context.

That said, many Danes might more often say something slightly simpler in everyday speech, for example:

• Modspilleren vinder, og taberen giver op
• Det lykkes modspilleren at vinde, og taberen giver op

Your original version sounds a bit compact and slightly literary because of the semicolon and the use of det lykkes. But it is still perfectly valid Danish.