> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://countertrade.gitbook.io/docs/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://countertrade.gitbook.io/docs/battles/battle-lifecycle.md).

# Battle lifecycle

The room states from Open to Finalized, the Cancelled and Refunded path, what each means for you, and how they map to on-chain states.

Every state a room moves through, in order, and what each one means for you. A room that fills runs all the way to prizes being claimable; a room that doesn't fill is cancelled and refunded instead.

## The states you'll see

These are the states a room passes through when it fills and runs. The status shows as a badge on the room page and on its card in Battle Hub.

| State           | What it means for you                                                                                                                                                           |
| --------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Open**        | The room is accepting players. Joining charges the entry fee into escrow. This is the only time you can [join](/docs/battles/join-a-room.md), and only until the join deadline. |
| **Starts soon** | Joins are closed and the room is counting down to its start. You can't join or trade yet. If you're in, this is the moment to get ready — the trading window opens next.        |
| **Live**        | The trading window is open. This is the only time you can place orders. Your paper balance and your rank move with the market until the clock runs out.                         |
| **Ended**       | Trading is over. Any open orders are cancelled and open positions are closed out, then your final result is computed. You can review the room but can't trade.                  |
| **Settling**    | Final standings are being turned into on-chain payouts. There's nothing for you to do; prizes aren't claimable yet.                                                             |
| **Settled**     | Payouts have been recorded on-chain. Finalizing follows right after — the prize claim opens once the room reaches Finalized.                                                    |
| **Finalized**   | The room is done and prizes are claimable. If you placed in the money, [claim your prize](/docs/funds-and-settlement/claims-and-refunds.md).                                    |

## If a room doesn't fill

A room that hasn't reached its minimum number of players by the join deadline won't run. Instead of going Live, it moves onto the refund path.

| State         | What it means for you                                                                                                                                                                  |
| ------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Cancelled** | The room didn't reach its minimum player count in time, so it won't run. Your entry fee is no longer at stake — [claim your refund](/docs/funds-and-settlement/claims-and-refunds.md). |
| **Refunded**  | Every participant has taken their refund and the room is closed out. If you already claimed, there's nothing left to do.                                                               |

Your paper balance is simulated and never leaves the room. Only the entry fee is real, and it stays in escrow until you claim a prize (Finalized) or a refund (Cancelled).

## What a block explorer shows

If you look the room up on the chain's block explorer, you'll see fewer states than the app does. The escrow contract tracks six: `Open`, `Cancelled`, `Refunded`, `Ended`, `Settled`, and `Finalized`.

On-chain, the room stays `Open` from the moment it's created until settlement runs. That one `Open` window covers everything the app labels Open, Starts soon, Live, and Ended — so a room the app shows as Live, or one that has just Ended, still reads as `Open` on the explorer. That's expected, not a mismatch. The chain only advances to `Ended` and `Settled` while the app shows Settling, as the payout is submitted, and to `Finalized` once prizes open.

| App state   | On-chain state       |
| ----------- | -------------------- |
| Open        | `Open`               |
| Starts soon | `Open`               |
| Live        | `Open`               |
| Ended       | `Open`               |
| Settling    | `Open`, then `Ended` |
| Settled     | `Settled`            |
| Finalized   | `Finalized`          |
| Cancelled   | `Cancelled`          |
| Refunded    | `Refunded`           |

## Related

* [Join a room](/docs/battles/join-a-room.md)
* [Claims and refunds](/docs/funds-and-settlement/claims-and-refunds.md)