Loss due to time?

Hi there, I've done some reading around the forums and haven't come across anything that addresses my question specifically. I apologize if this has been answered before.

Situation: I was up a queen, had a good amount of time left (more than 1m, from what I recall), and most assuredly was going to win the match. Here's a snapshot:

(I apologize, I didn't think to take a snapshot of the original screen before making this post, so the times aren't visible--but it was my opponent's time that ran out, not mine)

It's not a big deal, I know, but I'm just curious as to why it defaulted to a win for my opponent, instead of me. Every other "blitz" or "live" game that I've played, when time runs out the win is defaulted to whomever was "up" in points; I figured that was how it worked. Could someone please explain this situation to me? It would have been nice to receive a victory since, as far as I can tell, there is no way I would have lost if there were no time limit. Like I said it's no biggie--if my "score" could be adjusted to correct the mishap that would be cool, and if not that's fine too... clarification is all I'm really hoping for here. Thanks!

Note: I'm not trying to report my opponent for unsportsmanlike conduct! I did go on to beat him/her the next game anyway >=)

It may work out that way often, but that's not the actual rule.  Whoever runs out of time loses the game.  The exception is if the other opponent (who would get the win) does not have enough material so he would have been able to achieve checkmate had the game continued-- in that case, the game becomes a draw.

By the way, the game page shows that it was you who timed out in that game, not your opponent.

Oh really? I could have sworn that it was his/her time that ran out. I'm just a basic member so maybe that's a feature I can't see--anyway, thanks for your response! That pretty much answers my original question.

I may be reading your response incorrectly, but by what you said

shouldn't it have been a draw, then?

The game result is also displayed right in the diagram you posted, near the upper right:  "mkadric won on time"

As long as your opponent has pawns, then he has the potential to promote one or more of them and thus acquire enough material to mate.  So a game that ends because someone ran out of time won't ever be a draw if the person who still has time left has any pawns.

 good to know about the pawns- i knew that whoever runs out of time loses, but not about the draw- thanks-

Ahh, I see. Much thanks Cystem_Phailure!

i REGULARLY CUT MY OPPONENT TO RIBBONS BUT CAN NOT ACHIEVE CHECKMATE. i THINK i HAVE VICTORY IF ONLY ONE MORE PIECE CLEARS ACCESS TO OPPONENTS KING. not hard to clear off his pieces or pawns but too many of them for me to have direct access to his king. Then the bell rings I havelost on time. I may be ahead by a queen and a rook but can not bypass his position and I lose. I thhink out of thousands of games I have won three on time. I am bewildered.

Another 12 year old topic resurrected by an insane spammer for no reason...