Stage 1 is the Group Stage. In this stage teams will play against teams within their group to eliminate and decide rankings for the next stage. Each group is made up of 4 teams. Round 1 will determine the opponents for Round 2: Winners will play the losers from the other game in Round 1 within their group. Once a team losses twice in this stage that team is eliminated from the tournament and will not play in the next stage. Unless that number is greater than 4, in this case the highest rated of those teams will compete in Round 3 to determine which teams advance. (See the Rules/Guidelines Section for more info.)
STAGE 1
Once a team reaches 2 wins in the Group Stage that team will advance to the next stage of the tournament. Teams that gain a win and a loss in Rounds 1 and 2 will play in round 3 to eliminate teams should the number of teams remaining after Round 2 be greater than 8. Should the number of teams remaining after Round 2 be less than 8 the highest ranked of eliminated teams will play for the open spots in the next stage. Up to 3 games may be played in Round 3. Click here for more information on how rankings work
STAGE 2
Stage 2 is the Playoff Stage. In this stage the 8 remaining teams will be ranked according to their performance in Stage 1. Teams that lose in Games 1-4 will be eliminated from the tournament; all other teams will advance to play two more games no matter the outcome of Games 5 and 6. Winners will advance to the Championship game while the Losers will advance to play for 3rd place. Click here for more information on how the rankings work
