Kronometrenin durmamasına rağmen oyunu bitirdik.

Because the subject of the subordinate clause is in the genitive.

In kronometrenin durmamasına rağmen, the part durmamasına rağmen is built from a nominalized verb phrase rather than a normal finite clause. In this kind of structure, the subject is typically marked with -in / -ın / -un / -ün.

So:

• kronometre = stopwatch
• kronometrenin = of the stopwatch / the stopwatch's

That genitive marking matches the possessed-style ending later in durmamasına.

A very literal structural reading is something like:

• kronometrenin durmaması = the stopwatch's not stopping

Then rağmen is added to that whole unit.

It contains several layers:

• dur- = stop
• -ma- = negation
• -ma = verbal noun / nominalizer
• -sı = 3rd person possessive
• -na = dative

So:

• durma = stopping / to stop
• durmama = not stopping
• durmaması = its not stopping
• durmamasına = to its not stopping

That last dative ending is there because rağmen requires the dative.

So the grammar is not random at all: it is a stack of smaller pieces.

Because they are doing two different jobs.

In dur-ma-ma-sı-na:

1. the first -ma- is the negative suffix

   • durmak = to stop
   • durmamak = not to stop

2. the second -ma turns the verb into a noun-like form

   • durmama = not stopping

So even though they look the same, they are not the same suffix in function.

This is very common in Turkish, and it often surprises English speakers at first.

That -sı is a 3rd person possessive ending.

When Turkish uses this kind of nominalized subordinate clause, the subject is often marked like a possessor:

• kronometrenin = of the stopwatch
• durmaması = its not stopping

Together:

• kronometrenin durmaması = the stopwatch's not stopping

So the genitive subject and the possessive ending work together as a pair.

This is a very important Turkish pattern:

• Ali'nin gelmesi = Ali's coming
• çocuğun ağlaması = the child's crying
• kronometrenin durmaması = the stopwatch's not stopping

Because rağmen is a postposition, not a preposition.

English says despite X, with the equivalent word before the noun/clause. Turkish says X'e rağmen, with rağmen after it.

Also, rağmen requires the thing before it to be in the dative:

• buna rağmen = despite this
• yağmura rağmen = despite the rain
• gelmemesine rağmen = despite his/her not coming

So in your sentence:

• durmaması becomes durmamasına
• then rağmen follows it

That is why you get durmamasına rağmen.

Because it is a definite direct object, so it takes the accusative ending.

• oyun = game
• oyunu = the game

In Turkish, a specific/definite direct object is usually marked with the accusative:

• kitap okudum = I read a book
• kitabı okudum = I read the book

So:

• oyun bitirdik would be wrong here
• oyunu bitirdik = we finished the game

The -u marks the object as a specific known thing.

Bitirdik breaks down as:

• bitir- = finish
• -di = past tense
• -k = we

So bitirdik means we finished.

A useful comparison:

• bitti = it ended
• bitirdik = we finished it

That is why oyunu bitirdik works well: bitirmek is the transitive verb to finish something.

Because Turkish usually does not need an explicit subject pronoun when the verb ending already shows the person.

In bitirdik, the ending -k tells you the subject is we.

So Turkish often leaves out biz unless it is needed for emphasis or contrast.

Compare:

• Bitirdik. = We finished.
• Biz bitirdik. = We finished it. / It was we who finished it.

The sentence sounds natural without biz because the verb already contains that information.

No, that would not be grammatical.

Rağmen usually does not attach directly to a normal finite verb form like durmuyor. Instead, Turkish typically uses a noun-like / nominalized clause before rağmen.

So Turkish prefers:

• kronometrenin durmamasına rağmen

not:

• kronometre durmuyor rağmen

This is one of those places where Turkish and English build clauses very differently.

They express two different perspectives:

• oyunu bitirdik = we finished the game
• oyun bitti = the game ended

The first uses a transitive verb with a direct object:

• someone did the finishing

The second uses an intransitive verb:

• the game itself came to an end

English also has this difference:

• We finished the game
• The game ended

Turkish makes that contrast very clearly.

The given order is very natural:

• Kronometrenin durmamasına rağmen oyunu bitirdik.

Turkish often puts the subordinate clause first and the main verb at the end.

That said, Turkish word order is somewhat flexible for emphasis. For example, the object can sometimes be moved for focus. But the most neutral version is the one you have here.

A key point is that bitirdik normally stays near the end, because Turkish is strongly verb-final in neutral sentences.

So this sentence is both grammatical and stylistically natural.

You would remove the negative suffix.

Current form:

• durmamasına rağmen = despite its not stopping

Positive version:

• durmasına rağmen = despite its stopping

So:

• kronometrenin durmamasına rağmen = despite the stopwatch not stopping
• kronometrenin durmasına rağmen = despite the stopwatch stopping

This is a useful comparison because it helps you see where the negative -ma- is in the structure.