Format gallery

Pick the right shape for your day

Every format the engine speaks, explained the same way: what it is, who it suits, the trade-off — with a diagram and a real generated example.

• League (round robin)

  Everyone plays everyone; the table decides.

  Season-long divisions and social groups where everyone wants a full card of matches.

• Groups + knockout

  Pools qualify their best into a bracket — the World Cup shape.

  One-day tournaments: guaranteed group matches for all, a dramatic bracket for the best.

• Knockout (single elimination)

  Lose once and you're out.

  Big fields on tight time — a 32-draw resolves in five rounds.

• Double eliminationPro

  Everyone gets a second life in the losers bracket.

  Competitive brackets where one bad match shouldn't end a tournament.

• Swiss

  Equals play equals for a fixed number of rounds.

  Big fields, short time, nobody eliminated — chess's gift to weekend events.

• Stepladder finals

  The lowest seed climbs; the top seed waits at the summit.

  Finals night after a league — every match eliminates someone, seeding really matters.

• Playoffs (IPL style)Pro

  The Page playoff — the top two earn a second chance.

  Finals week after a league — rewards the top two with a safety net while third and fourth fight for survival.

• Americano & MexicanoPro

  Individuals rotate partners; personal points decide.

  Padel and social doubles — solo sign-ups, everyone plays with everyone.

• LadderPro

  A living ranking — challenge above you, defend below.

  Ongoing club rankings with no fixed schedule — squash boxes, TT clubs.