Why use a tool built for card games
A TCG tournament isn’t ranked like a football league: it’s played in Swiss rounds, each match is best of 3 games, and ties on points are broken with the tiebreakers from the Magic Tournament Rules (MTR), which almost every card game follows: OMW% (your opponents’ match-win %), GW% (your game-win %) and OGW% (your opponents’). The “TCG” sport comes set up that way: 3 points for a win, 1 for a draw, a 33% floor, and the bye counted as a 2-0 win.
- Automatic Swiss rounds: Random pairing within each points group, with no repeat opponents while there’s an alternative.
- Best of 3: Record the 2-1 game by game (or the draw on time); GW% comes straight from it.
- MTR tiebreakers: OMW%, GW% and OGW% calculated for you and shown in the standings.
- Top 8 after Swiss: Add a knockout stage with the top finishers to crown the champion.
How to run a TCG tournament step by step
- Create a free account. Sign up in under a minute; no card required.
- Create the competition with the “TCG” sport and the Swiss format. For a top cut, add a knockout stage after the Swiss. Points and tiebreakers already use the MTR values.
- Register the players. Add them yourself or share a code so they sign up themselves.
- Generate each round. If you don’t set the number of rounds, it’s worked out from the player count (about 5 for 24). Each match gets its table number.
- Enter results and share the standings. Enter each result game by game; the next round is paired by points and the public standings update instantly.
A practical example: a 24-player store tournament with top 8
Picture a Magic tournament at your store with 24 players. Swiss needs just 5 rounds to sort the field; then the top 8 play a single-elimination top 8 (quarterfinals, semifinals and final). With 24 players, no round has a bye. After round 5 it’s normal for several players to finish 4-1 (12 points) and not all of them fit in the top 8. That’s where OMW% decides: whoever faced opponents with better records gets in first. If they’re still tied, GW% decides (a 2-0 isn’t the same as a 2-1), then OGW%.
Tips for a TCG tournament without arguments
- Record games, not just the winner: GW% needs to know whether it was 2-0 or 2-1; entering game by game is enough.
- Mark drops as soon as they happen: the player stops being paired but keeps their points, and their opponents’ percentages stay correct.
- Announce the number of rounds and the cut before starting: knowing upfront it’s 5 rounds and top 8 avoids surprises at the end.
- Share the public link: players see their table, opponent and standings on their phone without asking the organizer.
Common mistakes when running a TCG tournament
- Pairing by hand: with more than a handful of players it’s easy to repeat an opponent or mess up the points groups.
- Breaking ties by game difference: that isn’t the TCG standard; the MTR uses OMW%, GW% and OGW%, which is what players expect.
- Always giving the bye to the same player: with an odd count, the bye should rotate; the tool hands it out without repeats while possible.
- Too many or too few rounds: with too few rounds the top 8 is almost random; with too many the event drags on for no reason.
Swiss, knockout or Swiss + top 8: which format?
Swiss is the TCG standard: nobody is knocked out for losing a round, and a few rounds sort a big field. A plain knockout is quick but unfair for a large group: one bad round and you’re out. The usual choice for competitive events is Swiss + top 8: Swiss ranks everyone and the final knockout crowns the champion among the best.
Frequently asked questions
Does it work for Magic, One Piece, Lorcana and other games?
Yes. The “TCG” sport works for any card game played as 1-vs-1 best-of-3 matches (Magic, One Piece, Lorcana, Riftbound, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Flesh and Blood, Star Wars: Unlimited…). Pokémon has its own sport with its own rules.
Which tiebreakers does it use?
Those of the Magic Tournament Rules (MTR): OMW%, GW% and OGW%, with a 33% floor. You can reorder them or add other criteria.
How does the bye count?
As a 2-0 win for the player’s own percentages, but never as an opponent in anyone else’s, just like the MTR.
Can draws be recorded?
Yes. A draw on time or by agreement is worth 1 point each; you can also record drawn games within a match.
Does it work for 4-player Commander?
No: matches are 1 vs 1. This tool isn’t the right fit for multiplayer Commander pods.
Can I use it for official events?
It’s built for store tournaments, leagues and community events. Official events that count towards each publisher’s rankings are reported with that game’s official tool.
Is it free?
Yes. Creating the tournament, generating rounds, entering results and sharing the standings is free and needs no card.
Create your TCG tournament now
Set up your Magic, One Piece, Lorcana or any TCG tournament with Swiss rounds, MTR tiebreakers and a top 8 in a few minutes. Create your free account or explore the competitions to see real tournaments.