Armageddon game

An Armageddon game is a special form of a chess game that can be used as a tie-break in duels . In contrast to other competition modes, a tie is excluded from the start. The name is based on the biblical term Armageddon , which in the Book of Revelation stands for the decisive battle at the end of the times.

Competition mode

An Armageddon game is usually used when previously played games could not bring a decision. One of the two players receives the white stones and thus the right to move . He also gets the longer reflection period . However, these two advantages come with the obligation to win the game. If the game ends in a draw , the game is automatically counted as a victory for Black. Since the game can only end with a victory for White or Black, the duel is decided.

The allocation of colors in the Armageddon game can be done in different ways. A lottery draw often determines a player who can choose whether to play with black or white.

Application examples

At the World Chess Championship , which is traditionally held as a duel, the rule used to be that in the event of a tie, the reigning world champion was allowed to keep his title. However, with the 2008 World Chess Championship this right was abolished. Since then, in the event of a tie, the originally scheduled competition games with a classic time limit have been followed by a tie-break with a shortened time limit. If this should also end in a draw, an Armageddon game would bring the decision. However, this regulation has never had to be applied until today (as of 2020).

In the World Chess Cup , which is played in a knockout system , the Armageddon game is also used as a tie-break to decide who will go to the next round.

At the Norway Chess 2019 chess tournament , Armageddon games were also used in a round-robin tournament . Every win in the long game was rated with 2 points (instead of the usual one point), every draw with half a point. A draw game was immediately followed by an Armageddon game, the winner of which was rewarded with an additional point. The organizer hoped that this would reduce the draw rate and increase the drama. At least the first goal was not achieved. 33 of the 45 long games ended in a draw (73%). This is the highest draw rate Norway Chess has ever achieved.

At the Grand Final of the Magnus Carlsen Chess Tour 2020, the tournament victory in the event of a tie after the Rapid and Blitz games was decided in the decisive seventh set of the final between Hikaru Nakamura and Magnus Carlsen in Armageddon, which Carlsen was able to hold with the black pieces.