The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word STALEMATE
I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
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T
A
L
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M
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More clues leading to the result STALEMATE
- No-win situation fair, on reflection, in report
- Old friend causing impasse
- Position on board is grounds for divorce?
- Draw old china
- No longer inspired, companion creating impasse
- Inability to get on with jaded partner
- Dated lover allowing no room to move
- Old partner in deadlock on the board?
- Draw one that’s not a new friend?
- For Spooner, masculine condition is a no-win situation
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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 STALEMATE mean?
STALEMATE noun- The state in which the player to move is not in check but has no legal moves, resulting in a draw.
- Any situation that has no obvious possible movement, but does not involve any personal loss.
- To bring about a state in which the player to move is not in check but has no legal moves.
- To bring about a stalemate, in which no advance in an argument is achieved.