Swiss ladder
Updated
In a Swiss ladder, teams play a set number of rounds, and each round pairs teams against opponents with similar records. It's a good fit when there isn't time for a full round robin but you still want competitive matchups.
How to set up a Swiss ladder
- Open the Manage tab and select Format, then click Select format.
- Choose Swiss ladder and continue.
- Configure your standings: the points teams earn for their results, and your tiebreakers.
- Confirm your format.
- Open Teams and click Add teams.
- Open Rounds and create your ladder:
- Optionally, seed your teams for the first round.
- Choose how many rounds the ladder has.
- Choose a pairing algorithm: Group Pairing or Ranked Pairing.
- Click Save.
- Review the first-round pairings. To change them, click the edit icon on the round.
- Decide whether to turn on automatic pairing.
The Schedule tab lists the first-round games, followed by upcoming games where teams haven't been assigned yet. In the Standings tab, select View ladder to see every round and its pairings. Next, schedule your games.
Swiss ladder FAQs
Q: What's the difference between Group Pairing and Ranked Pairing?
A: Group Pairing pairs teams within groups of similarly ranked teams, saving the most competitive matchups for later rounds. Ranked Pairing pairs each team with its closest opponent in the current standings.
Q: Can I change pairings after they're generated?
A: Yes. Click the edit icon on a round to change who plays who.
Q: How many rounds should my ladder have?
A: It depends on your time and number of teams. More rounds produce more accurate final standings.
Q: What if I have an odd number of teams?
A: One team gets a bye each round and sits that round out. The team with the bye is shown with that round's pairings.
Learn more about Swiss ladder tournaments on Tourny.