Before you register for any Compete tournament, the format is shown clearly on the event listing page. You will either see Knockout or Round Robin. Here is what each means.
Knockout (single elimination)
You play a match. If you win, you advance. If you lose, you are out. The field narrows with each round until one player or team remains.
Knockout is fast and high-stakes per match. Every game matters. A single bad performance ends your day. It is the purest test of form on the day — you cannot rely on accumulating points across multiple results.
Round Robin
Every player or team in a group plays every other player or team. Your record across all those matches determines your final standing — not a single loss on a bad day.
Round Robin guarantees you more matches regardless of results. It gives the rating system more data points to work with, which is why it tends to produce more accurate early-stage rating adjustments for newer players.
Which format should you play?
For players still getting used to competitive formats, Round Robin is usually the better starting point. You get more games, more experience against different opponents, and the pressure per match is lower.
For players who want a pure competitive test, Knockout is the format. No safety net — just results.
Some events use a hybrid: Round Robin groups in the early stages to establish standings, then Knockout from the semifinals onward. This is noted on the tournament page when applicable.
Check the full tournament calendar to see which formats are coming up.