The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word CHECKMATE
I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
C
H
E
C
K
M
A
T
E
More clues leading to the result CHECKMATE
- Verify surprisingly tame end of game
- Defeat vet and friend
- Winning position of pal from Prague, do we hear?
- Friend in Prague reportedly winning position on board?
- End of game sees friend following regular pattern
- You’re a loser, says European partner
- Stop couple finishing move on board
- Completion of game requires way to pay American friend
- Utter defeat to confirm with ship’s officer
- Stop partner signalling end of engagement on board
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "finishing move on board" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case finishing move on board = checkmate.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does CHECKMATE mean?
CHECKMATE noun- The conclusive victory in a game of chess that occurs when an opponent's king is threatened with unavoidable capture.
- (by extension) Any losing situation with no escape; utter defeat.
- To put the king of an opponent into checkmate.
- (by extension) To place in a losing situation that has no escape.
- Word called out by the victor when making a move that wins the game.
- (by extension) Said when one has checkmated someone (placed them in a losing situation with no escape.)