How to get more players to join your tournament

Fill your gaming tournament: pick the right size and time, share one link in the right places, make entry easy, remind people and cut no shows.

To get more players to join your tournament, make it easy to say yes: pick a game and time that suit the people you already reach, keep the bracket a size you can fill, share one link everywhere, and remind people before it starts. On RoundsWon players enter with one tap, public tournaments are listed on the wall for new players to find, and check in removes no shows so a half full bracket still runs well.

Start with who you can reach

The players for your first tournament come from places you already have: your Discord, your stream, your friends, your game server, your club. Before you pick anything else, ask:

• Who will see the link? List the channels where you will post it.
• What do they play? Pick that game, not the one you wish they played.
• When are they online? Look at when your Discord or chat is busiest, and pick that time.

Pick a size you can fill

A full bracket of 8 looks and feels better than a bracket of 64 with 11 players in it.

• First tournament: room for 8 or 16.
• Regular series: grow the size as entries grow.
• Big or unsure turnout: use a leaderboard, which works with any number of players, or round robin groups.

Under Room for, set the size. When the tournament is full, the join button says so, which also makes people quicker to enter next time.

Make entering easy

Every extra step loses players. On RoundsWon:

• Players enter with one tap on a free account. Teams enter together: a captain picks the team and who plays.
• Entry is always free.
• You can add players with no account yourself, by name, in Run the tournament.

Only add requirements you really need. Asking for a game account, a stream link or a Discord join each makes sense in the right tournament, but each one adds a step.

Write a page people want to enter

The tournament page is your pitch. Make it clear:

• A clear name: game plus event, like "Friday Rocket League 2v2 Cup".
• A start time: it shows as a countdown.
• A poster: leave it empty and RoundsWon makes one from the game's color and your name, or upload your own.
• The prize, if any, with a picture if it is an item. See Tournament prize ideas that are not cash.
• Short rules in the description: how matches are played and how to join.

Share it in the right places

• Your Discord: post in announcements, pin it, and add a Discord scheduled event with the link. See How to run a tournament in your Discord server.
• Your stream: say it, put the link in chat, add it to your panels or description.
• Socials: post the poster with the link. Post again when half the spots are taken.
• The RoundsWon wall: set Who can see the tournament to "Everyone" and it is listed for players looking for tournaments.
• Game communities: subreddits, forums and Discords for the game, following each one's rules on self promotion.
• Your website: embed the tournament card or bracket. See Embed a bracket on any website.

Ask players to share it

Players who have entered are your best promoters. Ask them to invite a friend or their team. If players stream, their stream card has a QR code that opens the tournament, so their viewers can enter while entries are open.

Remind people

RoundsWon sends no emails or popups, so reminders are up to you:

• one week before: the announcement
• the day before: a reminder with the link
• when check in opens: a ping in Discord and chat
• at the start: a last call

Cut no shows with check in

No shows break brackets. Turn on check in under Name and date and pick when it opens: 15, 30, 60 or 120 minutes before. Players get a Check in button on the page, and anyone who has not checked in when you press Start the tournament is left out. The bracket is drawn from the players who are actually there.

Make it a habit

The easiest tournament to fill is the second one in a series. Same game, same day, same time. Post the winner, announce the next date before the stream or chat goes quiet, and keep a winners list. Regulars bring friends.

FAQ

What is a good number of players for a first tournament?

Eight or sixteen. It fits one evening and is easier to fill. You can always grow the next one.

What if not enough people sign up?

Run it anyway with the players you have, or switch to round robin so everyone plays more matches. A small, fun tournament gets more entries next time than a cancelled one.

Is it better to list the tournament publicly?

If you want new players, yes: public tournaments go on the RoundsWon wall. If it is only for your community, keep it "Only with the link".

Does a prize help fill a tournament?

Often, yes, but it does not have to be cash. Gear, game keys, merch or a champion role in your Discord can all help.