Your First Tournament

Finding Tournaments

Spaghetti Showdown makes it easy to discover tournaments that match your game, skill level, and schedule. There are several ways to find events:

Tournament List

The main Tournaments page shows all upcoming and active events. You can filter by game, region, format, and date to narrow down the results. Each tournament card displays key information at a glance: the game, format, number of entrants, registration deadline, and start time.

Community Pages

If you have joined a community on the platform, check their community page for upcoming events. Many local scenes and Discord servers run recurring weeklies or monthlies through their Spaghetti Showdown community hub.

Calendar View

Switch to the calendar view to see events laid out by date. This is especially useful if you are trying to plan your week or avoid scheduling conflicts between multiple tournaments.

Signing Up for a Tournament

Once you find a tournament you want to enter, the registration process is straightforward:

1. Click on the tournament to open its detail page.
2. Review the tournament information: rules, format, schedule, and any specific entry requirements set by the organizer.
3. Click the Register button. If the tournament requires character selection at registration, you will be prompted to choose your character.
4. You will see a confirmation that you are registered. The tournament will now appear in your My Tournaments list.

Some tournaments may have additional requirements such as joining a specific Discord server, being part of a community, or completing check-in before the event starts. These requirements are clearly listed on the tournament page.

Understanding Bracket Formats

Spaghetti Showdown supports multiple bracket formats. Knowing the basics helps you understand what to expect:

• Single Elimination — Lose one match and you are out. Fast-paced and high-stakes. Common for smaller events or later stages of larger tournaments.
• Double Elimination — The most common FGC format. You must lose two matches to be eliminated. After your first loss, you drop to the losers bracket and can still fight your way to grand finals.
• Round Robin — Every player plays against every other player in their group. Final standings are determined by win-loss record. Often used in pool stages.
• Swiss — Players are paired against opponents with similar records each round. Provides several matches for everyone without the time commitment of a full round robin.

During the Tournament

Once the tournament starts, here is what you need to know to stay on track:

Checking Your Bracket

Navigate to the tournament page and open the Bracket tab. Find your name to see your current match assignment. The bracket updates in real time as results are reported, so you always know who you are playing next.

Reporting Scores

After completing your match, one or both players can report the result:

1. Find your match in the bracket view.
2. Click on the match to open the score reporting interface.
3. Enter the score (e.g., 2-1) and select the winner.
4. Submit the result. If the organizer has enabled player reporting, the result is applied once both players agree or after a timeout period.

Staying Informed

Keep an eye on the tournament page for announcements from the organizer. Notifications will alert you when your next match is ready. If you are playing online, make sure you are reachable through whatever communication channel the organizer has specified (usually Discord).

After the Tournament

When the tournament concludes, final standings are posted on the tournament page. Your results are automatically recorded on your player profile and contribute to your ranking. You will also earn Spaghetti Points based on your participation and placement — more on that in the Spaghetti Points guide.