Scrims vs Tournaments
SquadsSpace supports two event types: Scrims and Tournaments. Understanding the difference helps you pick the right one for your event.
Scrims
A scrim is a single-group event with multiple matches. Think of it as a practice lobby or a weekly competitive session.
Use scrims when:
- You’re running a daily or weekly practice lobby
- All teams play in one group
- You want cumulative points across multiple matches (e.g., 6 matches in one evening)
- No stages, no advancement — just play and see who’s on top
How it works:
- One group of teams
- Multiple matches (up to 8)
- Points accumulate across all matches
- Final leaderboard shows combined standings
Example: 12 squads play 6 custom rooms on a Saturday evening. After all 6 matches, the leaderboard shows total points across all games. The top squad wins.
Tournaments
A tournament is a multi-stage event with a roadmap. Teams progress through stages — qualifiers, semifinals, finals — with advancement rules at each stage.
Use tournaments when:
- You’re running a competitive event with multiple rounds
- Teams need to qualify and advance through stages
- You want elimination, round robin, or a mix of both
- You need invited slots for pro teams
How it works:
- Multiple stages connected by a roadmap
- Each stage can be Elimination or Round Robin
- Set advancement rules (e.g., top 4 from each group advance)
- Results flow between stages automatically
- Supports invited slots at any stage
Example: 192 teams enter Open Qualifiers (16 groups of 12, Elimination format). Top 4 from each group advance to Semifinals (8 groups of 8). Top 3 from each advance to Grand Finals (4 groups of 6, Round Robin format). The combined Round Robin leaderboard determines the champion.
Key Differences
| Feature | Scrim | Tournament |
|---|
| Stages | One | Multiple |
| Roadmap | No | Yes |
| Advancement | No | Yes — auto or manual |
| Group count | One | As many as needed |
| Invited slots | No | Yes — any stage |
| Matches per group | Up to 8 | Up to 8 |
| Point calculation | Cumulative | Per stage + cumulative |
| Best for | Practice, weekly events | Competitive events, opens |
Can I Convert Between Them?
Currently, you can’t convert a scrim into a tournament or vice versa. Choose the right type when creating your event. If you’re unsure, start with a scrim — it’s simpler to set up and you can always create a tournament later.Last modified on March 4, 2026
