Tournaments Guide

Everything you need to create and run a professional gaming tournament on GotNext.gg

Creating a Tournament

Use the tournament wizard to create your event in a few guided steps. You need a GotNext account to host tournaments.

Setup steps:

Choose game and platform — Select the game you are running the tournament for and the platform (PC, Xbox, PlayStation, etc.).
Set the format — Choose Single Elimination, Double Elimination, or Round Robin. See Tournament Formats below for details.
Configure registration — Set registration to open (anyone can join) or invite-only, and define team size (1v1, 2v2, 5v5, etc.).
Set the schedule — Choose the tournament start time and the check-in window. Players must check in before the tournament begins.
Add Discord integration — Connect your Discord server to enable webhook notifications and bot commands. Optional but strongly recommended.
Review and publish — Review all settings, then publish your tournament so players can register. Published tournaments appear on the public Tournaments page.

Tournament Formats

Choose the bracket format that best fits your event size and structure. Each format has different implications for how many matches are played and how a winner is determined.

Single Elimination

The standard bracket format. One loss and you are out. The last team standing wins the tournament.

Best for: Large player pools, fast events, and situations where you want a clear, quick path to a champion. Requires fewer total matches than other formats.

Double Elimination

Players compete in both a winners bracket and a losers bracket. You must lose twice to be eliminated. The losers bracket winner faces the winners bracket champion in the grand final.

Best for: Competitive events where one bad match should not end your tournament. Gives players a second chance and tends to produce more matches and better competition.

Round Robin

Every participant plays every other participant. Final standings are determined by win/loss record, with tiebreakers applied if needed.

Best for: Small groups (4–8 players or teams) where you want everyone to get maximum playtime. Works well as a group stage before a knockout bracket.

Registration and Check-in

Tournament registration and check-in are separate steps. Players must first register, then actively check in before the tournament starts to confirm they are present.

How it works:

1.Registration — Players visit the tournament page on GotNext.gg and click Register. Open tournaments are available to any player; invite-only tournaments require a link.
2.Check-in window opens — At the configured time before the tournament starts, the check-in window opens. A Discord webhook notification is sent if Discord is connected.
3.Check-in via Discord or website — Players use the /checkin Discord command or the check-in button on the tournament page to confirm their attendance.
4.Automatic removal — Players who do not check in before the window closes are automatically removed from the bracket. This keeps your bracket clean and prevents no-shows.

Tip: Set a check-in window of 15–30 minutes before the start time. This gives players enough notice while keeping the event on schedule.

Running Your Tournament

Once your tournament starts, use the organizer dashboard to manage the bracket and keep things moving.

Bracket Management

After check-in closes, seed your bracket and start the first round. GotNext automatically handles byes if the player count is not a power of two. You can manually adjust seeding before locking the bracket.

Match Reporting

Players report scores using the /report Discord command or the report button on the bracket page. Both players must confirm the reported result before the match is finalized and the bracket advances.

Disputes

If reported scores conflict between the two players, the match is flagged as a dispute. Admins can review the match and override the result from the organizer dashboard. Only tournament admins and super admins can override results.

Disqualifications

Admins can disqualify a player or team at any point during the tournament — for no-shows, rule violations, or other conduct issues. The disqualified participant is removed from the bracket and their opponent advances automatically.

Discord Integration

Connect your Discord server in the tournament settings to unlock bot commands and automated notifications that keep players informed throughout the event.

Webhook notifications

GotNext sends automated Discord messages to your configured webhook channel for:

Registration opens
Check-in reminder (sent when the check-in window opens)
Match-ready alerts (notifies both players when a match is ready to play)
Round results and bracket updates

Bot commands for players

/checkin

Check in to an active tournament directly from Discord.

/mymatch

View your current match details, including opponent info and lobby instructions.

/report

Report the result of your match. Both players must confirm the score.

Optional: You can designate a tournament-specific Discord channel for announcements to keep tournament traffic separate from your general channels.

Tips for Organizers

Set a generous check-in window — 15–30 minutes is recommended. Too short and players miss it; too long and it holds up your event.
Connect Discord webhooks — Players who get a ping in Discord are far more likely to check in and show up for their matches than those who have to check the website manually.
Have at least one admin available — Keep an admin online during the event to handle disputes, no-shows, and any technical issues as they come up.
Run a practice tournament first — Before hosting a large event, run a small practice tournament with friends or community members to get comfortable with the tools and flow.
Communicate rules clearly — Add your tournament rules in the description before publishing. Clear rules reduce disputes and keep your event running smoothly.

Need Help?

Check the FAQs for quick answers, or submit a support ticket and we'll get back to you.