MATING TIME is a term used in chess to refer to the end of the game when both players have only a few pieces left on the board. ENDGAME is the 7-letter solution to the crossword, and it is also a term used in chess to refer to the stage of the game when there are few pieces left on the board. This is usually the last stage of the game before checkmate or stalemate. MATING TIME and ENDGAME are often used interchangeably to refer to the same stage of the game.