Related Clues:

• Period with few pieces
• Finishes with mates?
• Men aged badly; this is the final stage
• Last part of a chess match
• Willing to finish first — it's nearly over now
• Final stage in a chess match
• Last stage of a chess match
• Willing to support objective when mate approaches?
• Final stages of a chess game, negotiation, etc
• Moves to mate, perhaps willing to support objective
• When mate's most likely to kill grouse?
• Late-stage play
• Last stage of a chess match, and what each answer to a starred clue literally has
• Play in close match
• Chess match finales