Explanation
The game result states the competitive outcome. The usual records are 1-0 when White wins, 0-1 when Black wins, and 1/2-1/2 when the game is drawn.
A result may arise on the board through checkmate, stalemate, an agreed draw, or resignation. It may also be administrative, such as a loss by default or an arbiter's ruling. The final record identifies the outcome under the rules, although it does not always describe who stood better in the position.
Result and score are not identical. The result says what happened; the says how much that outcome is worth in the standings. An event can use a special scoring scale without changing the fact that a game was won, lost, or drawn.
An does not yet have a known final result. An may receive administrative treatment, but it remains different from a game that was actually started and completed.
Usage and context
On scoresheets, in databases, and in broadcasts, the result is structured data rather than an assessment of who was better.
Common confusions
Position evaluation
Saying that one side is better does not determine the result. Errors, time, or a rule can produce a different outcome.
Sources
- 1.Article 5: The Completion of the Game, FIDE Rules Commission
- 2.Glossary of Terms in the Laws of Chess, FIDE Rules Commission
- 3.FIDE Laws of Chess taking effect from 1 January 2023, FIDE
