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Tournaments

Tournament Overview

iGames tournaments provide the perfect platform to grow your game and community:

  • Increase Visibility: Attract new players and boost your game's reach.

  • Drive Engagement: Encourage competitive play and skill development.

  • Build a Strong Community: Connect players, fans, and sponsors in a thriving ecosystem.

By fostering competition and bringing skilled players together, iGames tournaments help your game grow player count and competition. Ready to elevate your game?

Tournament eligibility depends on the access type:

  • Open Access: Anyone can join.
  • Request Access: Players must request entry.
  • Invite Access: Entry is by invitation from the tournament director.

Some tournaments will label custom requirements in the tournament rules section, such as minimum skill level, in-game rank, geographical location, and team membership status. Check these details ahead of time to ensure you meet all criteria for participation.

Tournament Details

There are three different formats that a tournament can choose:


  1. Single Elimination: A straightforward format where participants are eliminated after a single loss. In each round, competitors are paired off, and the winner advances while the loser is immediately removed from the competition. This process continues until only one participant remains as the champion. The format is easy to organize and allows for a quick resolution, making it ideal for events with limited time or resources. However, it has some drawbacks, such as eliminating participants early, which can reduce engagement. Additionally, strong contenders may be knocked out due to a poor round performance.


  1. Double Elimination: Allows participants to stay in the competition even after a single loss. Each participant starts in the ‘winners bracket’, and those who lose a match move to the ‘losers bracket’. If a participant loses in the losers bracket, they are eliminated from the tournament. The format continues until one player or team remains in the winners bracket and one in the losers bracket, who then compete for the championship. This format provides more opportunities for redemption and ensures that a single bad round does not immediately disqualify a strong contender. While it takes longer to complete compared to single elimination, it keeps more participants engaged for a longer period.


  1. Swiss: Allows participants to play multiple rounds regardless of their performance in previous matches. Competitors are paired against others with similar win-loss records, and no one is eliminated during the tournament. After a predetermined number of rounds, the standings are determined based on points. This system is commonly used in chess and card games and works well for ranking participants fairly without requiring a large number of rounds. The advantage of this format is that everyone gets to play several games, increasing participation and engagement. However, it requires careful pairing each round and may not produce a clear winner unless paired with a final playoff or tie-breaking method.

Tournaments can be structured using three distinct access types:


  1. Open Access: Designed to be inclusive and allow anyone to join without restrictions. They are perfect for fostering community engagement and attracting new players to a game. In these tournaments, participants can register directly, either as individuals or as teams, making them a popular choice for casual competitions and promotional events.


  1. Invite-Only: Exclusive events where participation is limited to those who receive formal invitations. This format is often used for elite competitions, special showcases, or events involving professional players and influencers. Tournament Directors manually select and invite participants based on factors such as skill, reputation, or previous accomplishments. Invite-only tournaments emphasize prestige and are frequently tied to sponsorships or high-profile collaborations.


  1. Request Access: Strikes a balance between openness and exclusivity by requiring participants to apply for entry. Interested players or teams submit requests to join, and the Tournament Director evaluates their applications based on eligibility criteria, such as skill level, rank, or other qualifications. This format is particularly suited for ranked competitions or qualifier events, where maintaining a competitive participant pool is essential without entirely closing off opportunities for newcomers.


The choice of tournament access type ultimately depends on the event’s goals. Open tournaments maximize reach and engagement, invite-only events create exclusivity and prestige, and request-based tournaments ensure a curated yet inclusive competitive environment.

Management Fees: These represent the earnings for the Tournament Director for managing the event.

Expense Budget: A dedicated budget to cover tournament-related costs, such as hiring commentators and other necessary services.

Any leftover funds from the expense budget are added to the management fees after the tournament ends. A 4% deduction is applied to the expense budget when it’s transferred to the Director, discouraging inflated tournament cost estimates. 

The prize pool is the total amount of money or rewards available for distribution in a tournament. It reflects the overall payout that will be given to participants based on their performance. 

Tournament Directors have the flexibility to customize the prize breakdown, tailoring it to the specific structure of the tournament. This includes:

  • Number of Positions: Directors determine how many positions will be rewarded, such as the top 10, top 5, or other arrangements.

  • Portion of Distribution: Directors also decide what percentage/portion of the prize pool each position will receive. For example, the first-place winner may receive a larger portion, while lower positions get progressively smaller payouts.

Before entering a tournament, players are encouraged to review both the prize pool and its breakdown.

Tournament Creation and Management

Anyone can take the role of a Tournament Director on iGames, including game developers! Tournament Directors play a key role in promoting games and earning through competitive play.

Tournament Directors have full flexibility and are responsible for several key tasks to ensure the success of the tournament:

  • Set Tournament Details: Establish the format, rules, and prize structure, including determining the tournament type, gameplay rules, and prize distribution.
  • Assist with Team Formations, Rosters, and Sponsorships: Help organize teams, manage rosters, and support securing sponsorships to enhance the event.
  • Manage Prize Distribution: Oversee the accurate and timely distribution of prizes to winners, ensuring smooth payouts.
  • Start and Close the Tournament: Responsible for the start and closure of the tournament, making sure everything runs on time and issues are addressed.

Tournament Directors are responsible for overseeing the tournament and ensuring a seamless and enjoyable experience for all participants. Directors are rewarded Management Fees for providing these services.

Tournament Directors earn money by setting Management Fees on their tournaments, which serve as their compensation for organizing and overseeing the event. Additionally, they establish an Expense Budget to cover tournament-related costs, such as hiring commentators or other necessary services. Any leftover funds from the Expense Budget are added to the Management Fees after the tournament concludes. To prevent inflated cost estimates, a 4% deduction is applied when transferring the Expense Budget to the Director.

To fund the Prize Pool, Tournament Directors can either charge entry fees or secure sponsorships for their event.

 

Tournament Rules and Fair Play

When competing in an iGames tournament, you must follow these essential rules to ensure fair play, sportsmanship, and compliance with tournament guidelines.

1. Follow the Tournament Director's Rules

Each tournament has its own specific rules, found in the 'Rules' section of the tournament view. These rules may include game settings, match formats, and scoring systems. Always review and adhere to the official tournament rulebook.

2. Maintain Fair Play

  • No cheating, hacking, or exploiting game mechanics.

  • No match-fixing or collusion with other players.

  • No use of unauthorized software or hardware advantages.

3. Respect Other Players & Officials

  • Follow the instructions of tournament organizers and referees.

  • Keep communication professional and sportsmanlike.

4. Adhere to the Tournament Schedule

  • Be on time for matches.

  • If you experience technical issues, report them immediately.

  • Failing to show up on time may result in a forfeit.

By following these rules, you help maintain a fair, competitive, and enjoyable tournament environment for all participants.

Tournaments on the iGames platform involve multiple parties—players, teams, and Tournament Directors (TDs)—all competing under rules and regulations. While the platform is designed to streamline and automate many aspects of tournament management, disputes can still occur. Any breakage of the ruleset can justify filing a dispute. Some common causes of disputes include:

  • Match Result Discrepancies: Disagreements over the outcome of a match, such as disputes over lag, disconnections, or match interference.

  • Prize Distribution: Misunderstandings or disagreements over how prize pools are distributed, especially in team-based tournaments.

  • Schedule Conflicts: Disputes about match times or team attendance due to scheduling conflicts or miscommunication.

Disputes should first be communicated to the Tournament Director. Many disputes, such as minor scheduling conflicts or match delays, can be mediated between players and Tournament Directors.

Disputes are first submitted to the Tournament Director. Reach out to the Tournament Director through any contact provided. Many disputes, such as minor scheduling conflicts or match delays, can often be resolved quickly between players and Tournament Directors.
 
In the instance that players or the Tournament Director believe the resolution was unfair or improper, the dispute can be further forwarded to iGames Support. Follow through the support process, and submit a support ticket regarding the tournament. We encourage tournament participants to report a dispute whenever they feel there has been any wrongdoing. 
 
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