Phases and Brackets
Every category (Valid) in a tournament is divided into one or more phases. A phase is a distinct competition stage with its own format and rules.
Phase types
Group Stage
Players are divided into groups (pools) and play against every other player in their group. At the end of the group stage, the top-ranked players from each group advance to the next phase.
Configuration options:
- Number of groups
- Players per group
- Points for a win, loss, and walkover
- Tiebreaker rules (head-to-head, point differential, etc.)
- Number of players that advance from each group
Knockout Bracket
Players are placed in a single-elimination bracket. The loser of each match is eliminated. The winner advances until only one player remains.
Bracket rounds:
- Finals
- Semifinals
- Quarterfinals
- Round of 16
- Round of 32
- And more, depending on draw size
Combined: Group Stage + Knockout
The most common format for medium-to-large tournaments. Players first play in groups, then the top finishers from each group advance into a knockout bracket.
Phase categories
Within each phase, you can designate its purpose:
| Category | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Main | The primary bracket all players compete in |
| Consolation / Repechage | A secondary bracket for early-round losers, giving them more matches |
Setting match rules per phase
Each phase can have its own match rules:
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Periods to win | Number of sets or games a player must win to win the match (e.g., best of 3) |
| Score to win | Points needed to win each period (e.g., 11 in table tennis, 6 in tennis) |
| Tiebreak rules | How to resolve tied periods |
How bracket advancement works
When a match is marked as finished by the referee or operator:
- The result is recorded automatically.
- The winner advances to their next match in the bracket.
- The bracket display updates for all viewers in real time.
- If it is a group stage match, the group standings update automatically.
No manual intervention is needed for advancement — it is fully automatic.
Viewing the bracket
Participants and spectators can view the live bracket from the public tournament page. The bracket updates in real time as matches are completed — no page refresh needed.