Hi all,
Season 9 kicks off with 5-player groups, and I’ve worked with the tech team to implement a custom matchmaking format that keeps our 3-games-per-player structure while balancing matchups by seed.
Match Schedule (by seed):
Game 1: [1, 4, 5]
Game 2: [1, 2, 5]
Game 3: [1, 3, 4]
Game 4: [2, 3, 5]
Game 5: [2, 3, 4]
Higher seeds get slightly easier draws — for example, the 1st seed plays the 2nd and 3rd seeds once, and the 4th and 5th seeds twice. Lower seeds face progressively tougher matchups. Everyone rotates through each seat position once.
Game Start Schedule:
Week 1 (6/3): Start Games 1 & 3
→ Seed 1 begins early and may finish two games ahead, gaining more insight into standings.
Week 2 (6/10): Start Games 4 & 5
Week 3 (6/24): Start Game 2
→ At this point, Seed 1 may be focusing on just one game - their matchup vs Seed 2, potentially their toughest opponent.
This format is now built into the system and ready for future seasons if needed.
Good luck and have fun!
