Walkover

In common chess tournament usage, a walkover is a win received without play because an opponent had been assigned but did not appear in time or could not start the game. No move is made, and the result is usually recorded as a forfeit win.

The winner normally receives the points given for a win, but the unplayed game does not change either player's rating with the International Chess Federation (FIDE). The usual cause is a no-show after the arrival deadline, although some organizers use walkover more broadly for other wins without play. The event regulations control the exact usage.

Different from a bye

With a bye, the pairing system does not assign an opponent, often because the field has an odd number of participants. With a walkover, a specific pairing existed but the game was not contested. The technical term also does not mean an extremely easy win: the game never began.