Check-mate may not be the norm to wrap up a chess game in modern times as most games are fought for positional supremacy where the loss of a piece or a pawn is enough to warrant a resignation from  a player.
However even though the games may not finish with a flourish, the threats leading to a check-mate are enough to excite the audience watching the games.

A player would have resigned in a particular position where the material balance is maintained. One is then left calculating and what is not played on the board, but thought out, is more interesting.

The game which follows is a good example where there are no visible fireworks on board.

Black however quietly whips up a strong attack on the queenside and at the position where White resigns one is left calculating to see the various threats leading to check-mate.

White: Andrej Kryschilovskij (2343) — Black: Vasily Yemelin (2500)
St Petersburg , 1999
English opening
1.Nf3 c5 2.c4 Nc6 3.Nc3 e5 4.g3
White can also play here 4.e3
4...g6 5.Bg2 Bg7
Both players have fianchettoed their bishop on the King side but note that both the bishops are controlling different diagonals on the queen side
6.0–0 Nge7 7.d3 0–0
Both have taken the safety of their King into account and have been playing to opening theory. If 7...d6 8.Ne1 Be6 9.Nc2 d5
8.Ne1
Coming Back to restart a new journey
8. ..d6 9.Nc2 Be6 10.Ne3
Aiming for the strong d5 square
10...Rb8 11.Ned5
He could have also consdiered 11.a4
11...a6
If 11...Qd7 12.Bg5 f6 13.Bd2 Kh8 14.a3 f5 15.e3 Bg8 16.Qa4 a6 17.Nxe7 Qxe7 18.Nd5 Qe8 19.Bc3 Ne7 20.Qxe8 Rfxe8 21.Nb6 Be6 22.b4 and White won in a previous game
12.Bg5
White could have played more dynamically with 12.f4
12...f6
Immediately wanting the bishop to retreat
13.Bd2 b5
Black is interested in opening up the queen side
14.Rb1
If 14.cxb5 axb5 15.a3 f5 with more or less an equal game (15...Nxd5 16.Nxd5 Qd7
14...b4 15.Nxe7+ Nxe7 16.Nd5
Still wanting to hold onto the vital square. If 16.Ne4 h6 (16...f5 17.Ng5 Bd7)
16...Nxd5 17.Bxd5
White has forced a few exchanges. If 17.cxd5 Bd7 leads to equality
17...Bxd5 18.cxd5 f5 19.e4
A good advance. This pawn has been backward for a long time
19...Rb7
Interesting move! He wants to head for the f7 square
20.f3 Rbf7
Doubling on a file which is threatening to be opened
21.Kg2 h5
A fresh attack aimed on the King side. White might not like this developments on the King side
22.h3
If 22.h4 f4
22...Kh7 23.a3 a5
If 23...bxa3 24.bxa3
24.axb4 axb4 25.Ra1
Immediately getting control of the open file in a hope of creating some threats. Worth a look was 25.Qc1
25...Bh6 26.Bxh6 Kxh6
Black appears better at this point
27.Qd2+ f4 28.Ra6
If 28.g4 Rh8
28...Rh8 29.Rfa1
White also doubles his rooks on the open file
29. ..Qg5
The queen comes into action later but more devastatingly
30.g4
If 30.Qf2 fxg3 31.Qxg3 Qd2+ 32.Kh1 Rf6 with Black maintaining the upper hand
30...Rfh7 31.Rxd6 hxg4 32.hxg4
If 32.fxg4 f3+ and White loses his queen and the game
32...Qh4
Diagram 1
Entering the enemy territory rather dangerously.   White has no option as his position is hopelessly lost and nothing works. If 33.Rh1 Qxh1+ 34.Kxh1 Kg5+ 35.Kg2 Rh2+ and White loses.
And if 33.Qf2 .Kg5 34.Qxh4+ Rxh4 35.Rf1 (35.Rg1 Rh2+ 36.Kf1 Rxb2) 35...Rh2+ 36.Kg1 Rxb2
And White resigned.
Diagram 2
White to play and win
1.Bg5 g1(Q)
If 1...Be5 2.Kg6
2.Bxf6+ Kg8 3.h7+ and white wins.