Creating a Tournament

Getting Started with Tournament Creation

Creating a tournament on Spaghetti Showdown is straightforward thanks to the step-by-step creation wizard. Whether you are running a local weekly or a major regional event, the process guides you through every decision you need to make.

Step 1: Basic Information

Start by navigating to your community dashboard and clicking Create Tournament. You will be prompted to enter the tournament name, a short description, and the date and time the event will take place. Choose a name that clearly communicates the game and format so players know what to expect at a glance.

Step 2: Select Your Game

Next, pick the game for your tournament from the game library. Spaghetti Showdown supports a wide range of fighting games and other competitive titles. Selecting a game automatically applies relevant defaults such as match length and player count per match. If your game is not listed, you can request it or configure a custom game entry.

Step 3: Choose a Format

Select the bracket format that best fits your event size and goals. Available formats include Single Elimination, Double Elimination, Round Robin, and Swiss. Each format has different implications for how long the event will run and how many matches each participant plays. See the Tournament Formats Explained article for a detailed comparison.

Step 4: Configure Settings

Fine-tune your tournament with additional settings:

• Max participants - Cap the number of registrants to keep the bracket manageable.
• Check-in window - Require players to confirm attendance before the bracket is generated.
• Registration deadline - Set a cutoff time for new sign-ups.
• Approval mode - Manually approve each registration instead of allowing open entry.
• Best-of setting - Define whether matches are best-of-3, best-of-5, or another count, with the option to set different values for finals.

Step 5: Publish

Once everything looks right, hit Publish. The tournament will appear on your community page and players can begin registering immediately (or after the registration window opens, if configured). You can always return to the settings page to make adjustments before the bracket is started.

Tips for a Smooth Setup

Double-check the timezone on your event to avoid confusion, especially for online tournaments with participants in different regions. If you are running an in-person event, include the venue address in the description. Finally, consider enabling the check-in feature for larger events to reduce the number of no-shows cluttering the bracket.