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Do games automatically end after a player abandons them? I just had two games end in a stalemate. I was less than two turns in winning one and probably 15 in the other. My opponent disappeared in Oct, and just now, I got Stalemate on the replay. I have not been keeping up with the boards, but what gives?

Birdw wrote: Sat Dec 07, 2024 11:18 pm Do games automatically end after a player abandons them? I just had two games end in a stalemate. I was less than two turns in winning one and probably 15 in the other. My opponent disappeared in Oct, and just now, I got Stalemate on the replay. I have not been keeping up with the boards, but what gives?

They end on the server when there is inactivity from one side after about 6 weeks.
It's unfortunate when you get ghosted like this, and that's how the PBEM server announces the end of the match, as a Stalemate. That's how the server as always announced a match that times out.
It isn't the same as an In-game VC Stalemate, which can happen.
I do know about the PBEM 'Stalemate' as about 3 years ago I got ghosted from opponents I found in open challenges in the Server lobby. I stopped joining open challenges with unknown people and never got ghosted again in MP.
Ghosters suck. In this day in age, with all the different comms platforms available, there is no reason not to be courteous and just drop a message that one can't continue on.
In your case, if it matters, consider that you 'won' those ghosted matchs.

Thank you for the explanation. It is slightly better that the computer ended the match vs. my opponent quitting to achieve the result.

That's why many only play ELO matches wirh known players versus random people. The rule for ELO is the player who abandons the game for a month loses by default unless otherwise agreed.

Birdw wrote: Sat Dec 07, 2024 11:18 pm Do games automatically end after a player abandons them? I just had two games end in a stalemate. I was less than two turns in winning one and probably 15 in the other. My opponent disappeared in Oct, and just now, I got Stalemate on the replay. I have not been keeping up with the boards, but what gives?

Got ghosted at the finish line, eh. Classy.

My fav is the dude, who some know, that will play one turn on the last day of the month to string their doom for years.
That's what the Patton Slap is for.