Group Stage
A group stage splits entrants into small round-robin groups; the top finishers from each group advance to a knockout phase.
How a group stage works
Entrants are divided into groups. Within each group everyone plays a round-robin, building a mini standings table. The best-placed players in each group — often the top one or two — qualify for the knockout playoffs that decide the title. It's the format the World Cup and Champions League use.
Why combine group and knockout
A pure knockout can eliminate a strong player after one bad match; a pure round-robin can be long and low on drama at the end. A group stage gives everyone several games to prove themselves, then a knockout delivers a sharp, exciting finish.
Put it into play with Cupside.
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