According to chess.com help, "the next round of a tournament will start once all the current round's games have been finished". However, this seems inaccurate. I'm playing a tournament in which round 2 has already started even though there is a game in round 1 that hasn't finished. The game that is still being played is inconsequential: both players are already eliminated regardless of the result of that game. I like that approach, there's no point in delaying the beginning of the next round if all the ongoing games in the current round are inconsequential. But that's not what the rules say. So what are the actual rules?
Yes, I have seen the system work this way.
For example, even though it is clear who advances, if they can reach each other thanks to one of the remaining games, the advancement of the round is delayed until- (even though that does not change who qualifies).
I think the rule could be: "Until each of the qualifying positions is defined", not said, but the one that applies.
According to chess.com help, "the next round of a tournament will start once all the current round's games have been finished". However, this seems inaccurate. I'm playing a tournament in which round 2 has already started even though there is a game in round 1 that hasn't finished. That game is inconsequential: both players are already eliminated regardless of the result. I like that approach, there's no point in delaying the beginning of the next round if all the ongoing games in the current round are inconsequential. But that's not what the rules say. So what are the actual rules?