Types of Tournaments
Leisure Time Games hosts a variety of tournaments on a regular basis. The type of tournament we host is usually dependent on the game and the number of participants.
The most common types of tournaments we host are
swiss tournament
A Swiss Style Tournament is
- A tournament format which has a set number of rounds based on the number of players (see below)
- All competitors play in each round unless there is an odd number of players, in which case a player with the least amount of wins gets a "Bye"- A free win
- Players are matched using a scoring system that ensures that competitors play opponents with a similar score
- Scores are typically-
- 3 points for a round win
- 1 point for a round draw
- 0 points for a round loss
- The first round, since everyone's score is the same, are matched randomly
- Each subsequent round players are matched against someone with an equal score. In the case of a tie in score with more than 2 players, they are typically matched randomly
- Scores are typically-
- Players should not (but on rare occassions will) play the same opponent more than once
- The winner is the competitor with the highest score at the end of the tournament
- If at the end of the tournament there is a tie in the match points score, there are a series of tie breakers, that usually go in the order of:
- Opponent's match/win percentage
- Game win percentage (in a best 2 of 3 scenario)
- opponent's game win percentage (in a best 2 of 3 scenario)
- If at the end of the tournament there is a tie in the match points score, there are a series of tie breakers, that usually go in the order of:
- Any other places are based on the same criteria as above, highest score taking the highest remaining place, and therefore prize support if any, ie first has the highest score, second the next highest and so forth. In the case of a tie, see the tie breakers above.
Single Elimination Tournament
Leisure Time Games only uses Single Elimination Tournaments during a Modified Swiss Tournament (see below), or in the case of a Magic the Gathering Tournament run at a Rules Enforcement Level of Competitive or Professional with exactly 8 participants.
In a single elimination tournament, players are paired against one another randomly unless there is some sort of method used to determine a "Seed", such as a Swiss Tournament played before the single elimination tournament (also known as a Modified Swiss Tournament). Once the matches are over, the players that did not win are out of the tournament. Winners then move on to the next opponent. This process of elimination continues until there is a single winner. In the case of an odd number of participants, one player will get a "Bye"-an automatic win, and move on to the next bracket.
Pairings are typically done to assure that there are no "Byes" in any bracket other than the first. For example, if there are 5 players in a single elimination tournament, 3 players will get a "Bye", two players will play each other. The winner will then go on to the next bracket. Because of this, the next bracket will have 4 players in it; 3 "Byes" and 1 because of the previous round victory.
Placing in this tournament is based on the final result of the outcome of the bracket above a player when they are eliminated. A player that is not eliminated, and therefore undefeated, is the winner. The opponent they defeat in that final round takes second. The player that faced the ultimate winner of the tournament in the previous round takes third. The player that lost to the second place finisher takes fourth, and so on.
If there is a "Seed" system being used- players facing each other based on known criteria such as how well they've done in a previous tournament, they will face one another based on their "Seeding" using a "Bracket" system. The best player would be considered the first "Seed". The player that is considered the next best would be the second "Seed" and so forth. Each of these players are then put onto a "Bracket" facing a player of lesser skill from the bottom of the group-IE 1st faces 8th, 2nd faces 7th, 3rd faces 6th and 4th faces 5th. The winner of the 1/8 pairing will then face the winner of the 4/5 pairing, and the winner of the 2/7 pairing will face the winner of the 3/6 pairing. The final round will be played by the winners of those matches.
The pairings would give any "Byes" to the top seed or seeds depending on how many "Byes" are issued.
Round Robin Tournament
This tournament is a rarity at Leisure Time Games, but they have been known to happen.
Every player will play all the other players at some point during the event. This system uses the same scoring system as the Swiss Tournament in regard to round wins and tie breakers. It is usually used in a tournament with 3 - 4 players.
Modified Swiss Tournament
This tournament is used at Leisure Time Games during a Magic The Gathering Tournament that is being ran at a Rules Enforcement Level of Competitive or Professional.
For the record, we have never run a tournament at REL Professional, but if we ever do, this is how it would go:
A Modified Swiss Tournament is a Swiss Style Tournament (See above) that is then followed by a single elimination tournament (see above) that usually consists of the top 8 players from the Swiss Tournament that are "Seeded" on a "Bracket" based on the results of the Swiss Tournament. There is an instance of the Single Elimination tournament being played by 4 players instead of 8, which will be addressed below.
The winner and other places are determined by the result of the single elimination tournament.
ROUNDS/PARTICIPANTS BREAK DOWN
The number of rounds played in a tournament are typically determined by the total number of participants. The more players, the more rounds there will be. The number of rounds can vary greatly depending on the type of tournament it is, as well as the number of participants playing.
We typically break down our tournaments like this:
2 Players
Typically best two out of three matches but can also be run as a single elimination tournament.
3 Players
Round Robin
4 Players
Round Robin
Swiss: 2 rounds
Single Elimination
5 - 8 players
Swiss: 3 rounds
Single Elimination- Must be used during a Magic the Gathering Tournament with a rules enforcement level of Competitive or Professional and exactly 8 players.
9 - 16 players
Swiss: 4 rounds
Modified Swiss: 4 rounds Swiss, then top 8 single elimination
Further, if it a Magic the Gathering Tournament with a Rules Enforcement Level of Competitive or Professional
Constructed Format: 5 round Swiss, followed by a top 4 single elimination tournament
Limited Format: 4 rounds Swiss, followed by a top 8 single elimination
17 - 32 players
5 rounds Swiss
top 8 single elimination
33 - 64 players
6 rounds Swiss
top 8 single elimination
And so forth