Tie-breaking system
IIHF Divisions World Championships · Participants Regulations · Sport · Three Point And Tie Breaking Systems
164.1The tie breaking procedure is applicable when three or more teams are tied in points in a Championship standing.
164.2The tie-breaking system for two teams with the same number of points in a standing will be the game between the two teams, the winner of the game taking precedence.
164.3Shall three or more teams be tied on points, then a tie breaking formula will be applied creating a sub-group amongst the tied teams. This process will continue until only two or none of the teams remain tied. In the case of two remaining tied teams, the game between the two would then be the determining tiebreaker. The tie- breaking shall be as follows:
a.Taking into consideration the games between each of the tied teams, a sub- group is created applying the points awarded in the direct games amongst the tied teams from which the teams are then ranked accordingly.
b.Shall three or more teams still remain tied in points then the better goal difference in the direct games amongst the tied teams will be decisive.
c.Shall three or more teams still remain tied in points and goal difference then the highest number of goals scored by these teams in their direct games will be decisive.
d.Shall three or more teams still remain tied in points, goal difference and goals scored then the results between each of the three teams and the closest best- ranked team outside the sub-group will be applied. In this case the tied team with the best result (1. points, 2. goal difference, 3. more goals scored) against the closest best ranked team will take precedence.
e.Shall the teams still remain tied, then the results between each of the three teams and the next highest best-ranked team outside the sub-group will be applied.
f.Shall the teams still remain tied after these five steps have been exercised then Sport considerations will be applied the teams will be ranked by their positions coming into the Championship (i.e., seeding).
g.The IIHF tie-breaking system shall be used to resolve ties before the end of the Preliminary Round.
h.In case two teams are tied and they have not yet played against each other in case three or more teams are tied and not all mutual games have been played within the sub-group, the following criteria will be used to break the tie:
i.Fewest number of games played;
ii.Highest Goal Differential (GF-GA) in all games;
iii.Highest number of Goals For (GF) in all games;
iv.Highest tournament seeding entering the tournament.
i.In case three or more teams are tied this process will continue until only two teams remain tied. The game between the two remaining tied teams would then be the determining tiebreaker. If the two remaining tied teams have not played each other than the tie break will be determined by re-starting the process only for these two teams.