tie-breakers
Extra rounds deciding
Tie-breakers are methods or criteria used to determine a winner when competitors are level.
In sports, a tie-breaker might be an extra period of play, a penalty shootout, or a statistical comparison.
In elections or rankings, tie-breakers establish which candidate or item takes precedence: Head-to-head record serves as the first tie-breaker.
The singular tie-breaker often names a decisive final game or point.
Work beyond scheduled hours
- sudden deathInstant-win tiebreaker format
- penalty shootoutKicks determining drawn match
- extra timePeriod after a draw
- golden goalImmediate overtime decider
playoffs · head-to-head · goal difference · away goals · aggregate score · decider · final set · deuce
Contest deciding advancement
- showdownDecisive final confrontation
- deciderOne who resolves matters
- face-offDirect clash between opponents
- finalsConcluding tests or matches
championship match · elimination · bracket · tournament · semifinals · winner-take-all · grudge match · rematch
Vote that breaks ties
- runoffExcess water drainage
- swing voteBallot determining close outcomes
- ballotVoting document
- recountNarrate or retally
majority · quorum · deadlock · stalemate · impasse · gridlock · resolution · split decision
Ordered position assignment
- seedingPlanting or ranking
- point spreadWagering handicap between teams
- coin tossRandom two-outcome selection
- alphabetical orderArrangement by first letters
overtime
Work beyond scheduled hours
- sudden deathInstant-win tiebreaker format
- penalty shootoutKicks determining drawn match
- extra timePeriod after a draw
golden goal · playoffs · head-to-head · goal difference · away goals · aggregate score · decider · final set · deuce
playoff
Contest deciding advancement
- showdownDecisive final confrontation
- deciderOne who resolves matters
- face-offDirect clash between opponents
finals · championship match · elimination · bracket · tournament · semifinals · winner-take-all · grudge match · rematch · decisive round
casting vote
Vote that breaks ties
- runoffExcess water drainage
- swing voteBallot determining close outcomes
- ballotVoting document
recount · majority · quorum · deadlock · stalemate · impasse · gridlock · resolution · split decision
ranking
Ordered position assignment
- seedingPlanting or ranking
- point spreadWagering handicap between teams
- coin tossRandom two-outcome selection
alphabetical order · random selection · seniority · timestamp
- tournamentstournament, tournaments, bracket, brackets, tournament brackets
- skating rulesscoring, judges, penalties, deductions, short program
- competitionscontests, tournaments, match, matches, game