Tiebreakers

A tiebreaker is a rule or procedure used to resolve a tie in standings, scores, or match results when competitors have identical records after a defined phase of a competition. Tiebreakers determine who advances, who is seeded, or who receives a prize, and they may require additional matches or a calculation-based method rather than another full contest. The exact method and order of criteria are set by the competition or governing body.

Common tiebreaking methods include head-to-head results between the tied competitors, goal difference (goals scored minus goals conceded), total goals scored, and points earned in head-to-head matches. Additional criteria such as away goals, fair-play points, or goal differential across a group may also be used. If a tie remains after the selected criteria, further steps such as extra matches, playoff games, or even drawing of lots can be employed. The exact sequence and availability of these options vary by sport and event.

Examples by sport include: in association football group stages, teams tied on points are ranked using a combination of head-to-head results, goal difference, and goals scored; in tennis, sets reaching 6-6 are often decided by a tiebreak, typically a 7-point tiebreak with a two-point margin; in golf, a playoff (sudden-death or multi-hole) determines the winner when players are tied after the regular rounds; in chess, tie-breaks may involve rapid or blitz games or systems like Sonneborn-Berger or Buchholz.

Tiebreakers aim to be fair while preserving schedule integrity, but they can introduce additional play and pressure on participants.