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What will happen if all the games in the World Chess Championship are draws? Who will be considered the world champion?

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    In the 1972 world championship match, 24 games were scheduled. If the two players had equal numbers of wins, Spassky, the reigning champion, would have retained the title.
    – Mark Dominus
    Nov 29, 2021 at 10:23

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From the Wikipedia page of WCC 2021:

The match consists of 14 games, and a score of 7½ wins the world championship. If the score is equal after 14 games, tie-break games with faster time controls will be played:

  • 4 rapid games with 25 minutes each + 10 seconds increment starting from move 1. If a player scores 2½ points or more, [they win] the championship.
  • If the score is equal after the rapid portion, up to 5 mini-matches of 2 blitz games will be played. Time control is 5 minutes + 3 seconds increment. If any player wins one of these mini-matches, the tie-break ends and [they win] the championship.
  • If all 5 blitz mini-matches are drawn, 1 sudden death (Armageddon) game will be played, where black has draw odds and 4 minutes, and white has 5 minutes. Players receive 2 seconds increment starting move 61.

Meaning, if they draw the Armageddon match, it is counted as a win for black.

See also: Regulations for the FIDE World Championship Match 2021 (section 4.3.2)

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    Armageddon and chess go together like ... [draws a blank]
    – Peter - Reinstate Monica
    Nov 29, 2021 at 10:08
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    after a tie in the main set of 14 games, a tie in the 4 rapid games, and five draws in blitz games, one might think just sharing the title might be in order. :) I wonder how the colors are chosen for the last sudden death game, randomly?
    – ilkkachu
    Nov 29, 2021 at 13:12
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    @ilkkachu you can find more and detailed information on FIDE Handbook of WC, which is also the source of Wikipedia in this case.
    – Minot
    Nov 29, 2021 at 13:37
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    "...one (1) sudden death game is played. The player who wins the drawing of lots may choose the colour." -- yeah, no surprise there. Wikipedia only had a broken link to the 2020 handbook.
    – ilkkachu
    Nov 29, 2021 at 13:43
  • So if I'm counting right, once all the games are drawn and the players reach the Armageddon stage, it should be the contestant for the title who play black, right?
    – kopaka
    Nov 30, 2021 at 10:39

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