How to Set Up a League or Tournament

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6 min read

This guide walks you through everything from your first league to a finished tournament bracket. If any term is unfamiliar, see ELO, K-Factor & Other Terms Explained.

Part 1 — Create a league

A league is a long-running group that tracks ELO over time. To create one:

  • From your home screen, click New League.
  • Pick a template (Ping Pong, Chess, etc.) for sensible defaults, or choose Custom setup.
  • Name your league and optionally add a sport and description.
  • Set your Starting ELO (default 1000) and K-factor (default 32). Not sure? Leave the defaults.
  • Optionally enable score margin, team matches, or an automatic reset policy.
  • Click Create League.

The free plan includes up to 3 leagues you own, plus unlimited leagues shared with you.

Part 2 — Add players

Open your league and head to the Players tab. You have three options:

  • Add manually — type in a name. Players don’t need an account.
  • Invite by link or QR code — share the league invite so friends can join from their own accounts.
  • Add from friends — pull in people from your friends list in one tap.

Part 3 — Record matches

With at least two players, record results from the Matches tab. Pick the winner and loser (and the score if your league uses score margin), then save. Ratings update instantly, and you’ll see the points each player gained or lost. Need a quick pairing? Use Random Matchup to have the app suggest two players.

Part 4 — Run a tournament inside a league

From the Tournaments tab in a league:

  • Click New Tournament, name it, and choose single or double elimination.
  • Choose whether to seed by ELO and whether the results affect ratings.
  • Either Generate Bracket Now with selected players, or Open Registration so players add themselves first.
  • Tap a match to set its winner; the bracket advances automatically until a champion is crowned.

Part 5 — Run a standalone “for fun” tournament

Want a one-off bracket with no league and no ELO? From your home screen, find the Tournamentssection and click New Tournament.

  • Name it and pick single or double elimination.
  • Add player names now, or leave it open and share the join link.
  • Share the link or QR code — friends enter their name to join, no account required.
  • When everyone’s in, click Generate Bracket. Duplicate names are flagged so you can resolve them.

You can create up to 5 standalone tournaments on the free plan, and joining other people’s tournaments is unlimited. Anyone who joins can create a free account to follow the bracket from their home screen.

That’s it

Create a league for ongoing rivalries, or spin up a quick tournament for game night. Either way, TrackMyElo keeps the standings honest so you can focus on the competition.