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Dated china impossible to move (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

stalemate

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'move' is the definition.
(I know this)

'dated china' is the wordplay.
'dated' becomes 'stale' (I've seen this in another clue).
'china' becomes 'mate' (china plate is Cockney rhyming slang for mate).
'stale'+'mate'='STALEMATE'

'impossible to' is the link.
This may not be correct. Some or all of it may be part of another bit of the clue.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for stalemate that I've seen before include "a position on board" , "Inconclusive result" , "Deadlocked position" , "Deadlock, impasse" , "Possible outcome of chess game" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Times.
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