noun
contest held before a lord; match in the presence of a daimyo, shogun, or emperor
Historical term for a formal match or competition performed in front of a high-ranking feudal lord or the emperor.
江戸時代、御前試合は将軍の前で行われた。
In the Edo period, gozen-jiai were held in front of the shogun.
noun
match attended by the team owner; game with the owner present
Modern extended use, especially in sports, for a match that the team's owner or top executive attends.
今日はオーナーが来るので、選手たちは御前試合のつもりで頑張っている。
Since the owner is coming today, the players are giving their all as if it were a gozen-jiai.