Skip to content

Feature Overview

A comprehensive look at everything MatchZy Auto Tournament can do.

Tournament Management

Bracket Generation

Supported Formats:

Format Teams/Players Matches Description
Single Elimination 2-128 teams ~N One loss = eliminated
Double Elimination 2-128 teams ~2N Two losses = eliminated
Round Robin 2-32 teams N(N-1)/2 Everyone plays everyone
Swiss 4-64 teams ~log₂(N) rounds Similar records face off
Shuffle Tournament 10+ players Dynamic Individual competition, teams reshuffled each round

Features:

  • ✅ Automatic bye handling for non-power-of-two team counts
  • ✅ Smart seeding (random or manual)
  • ✅ Walkover support (missing team advances opponent)
  • ✅ Third-place match (optional)
  • ✅ Bracket regeneration without losing tournament

Tournament Lifecycle

States:

  1. Setup → Configuring tournament and teams

  2. Add teams

  3. Select format and map pool

  4. Can modify teams

  5. Ready → Bracket generated, waiting to start

  6. Bracket preview available
  7. Can regenerate bracket
  8. In Progress → Tournament active, matches running
  9. Matches automatically progress

  10. Real-time updates

  11. Tournament title can be renamed (settings remain locked)

  12. Completed → All matches finished

  13. Final results available
  14. Demos ready for download

Match System

Match Statuses

Pending → Match created but tournament not started
Ready → Tournament started, waiting for veto or server
Loaded → On server, warmup mode, players connecting
Live → Match in progress, rounds being played
Completed → Winner determined, bracket updated

Shuffle tournaments (no veto)
Shuffle tournaments skip the map veto phase entirely. Matches are still created with status pending, but once the tournament is started they behave like the “waiting for server” cases below (no "VETO PENDING" or veto-related messaging).

Intelligent Match Status Messages

The system shows context-aware status messages:

Status Condition Message
Pending Tournament not started "Waiting for tournament to start..."
Pending Veto not complete "VETO PENDING" / "Waiting for map veto to begin..."
Pending/Ready Veto complete, no server "WAITING FOR SERVER" / "Veto complete - Waiting for server assignment..."
Ready Server assigned, not loaded "READY"
Loaded 0 players "WARMUP" / "Server ready - Waiting for players (0/10)"
Loaded Some players "WARMUP" / "Waiting for players (3/10)"
Loaded All players "WARMUP" / "All players connected - Waiting for ready up"
Live - "LIVE" / "Match in progress"

For shuffle tournaments, the system automatically treats veto as completed (since there is no voting step), so once the tournament is started and no server is assigned yet, pending/ready matches go straight to the “WAITING FOR SERVER” variants rather than showing any veto-related messages.

Real-Time Features

WebSocket Events

Frontend automatically updates when:

  • 🔄 Match status changes (pending → ready → loaded → live → completed)
  • 🔄 Players connect/disconnect
  • 🔄 Players ready/unready
  • 🔄 Veto actions happen (ban, pick, side selection)
  • 🔄 Tournament state changes (starts, completes)
  • 🔄 Bracket updates (winners determined)

No page refresh required!

Player Connection Tracking

Shows live roster of all 10 players with status:

  • ✅ Offline — Player not connected (gray)
  • ⚠️ Connected — Player joined, not ready (yellow)
  • ✅ Ready — Player typed .ready (green)

Tracked via events:

  • player_connect → Add to roster
  • player_disconnect → Remove from roster
  • player_ready → Mark as ready
  • player_unready → Mark as not ready

Server Management

Auto Server Allocation

When tournament starts or veto completes:

  1. System attempts to find available servers (online + not in use)
  2. If server available: Allocates immediately
  3. If no server available: Backend polls every 10 seconds for available servers
  4. Allocates server to match when found
  5. Generates match config with teams and maps
  6. Sends RCON: matchzy_loadmatch_url "http://api/matches/{slug}.json"
  7. Configures webhook: matchzy_remote_log_url "http://api/events/{slug}"
  8. Configures demo upload
  9. Match goes to warmup
  10. Updates sent via WebSocket — teams see server info automatically

Waiting for Server

If all servers are busy, matches show "WAITING FOR SERVER" status. The system automatically checks every 10 seconds and assigns servers as they become available. No manual intervention needed!

All automatic!

Server Status Monitoring

  • RCON Heartbeat: Periodic status checks
  • Match Tracking: Which match is on which server
  • Auto-Config: Webhook configured on status check
  • Health Indicators: Online/offline status with colors

MatchZy Enhanced Configuration

Automatic Match Configuration

The platform automatically applies MatchZy Enhanced v1.3.0 configuration (11 cvars) based on tournament type, providing enhanced match control without manual configuration.

Configuration Profiles:

Tournament Type Profile Auto-Ready Pauses Forfeit (.gg) FFW
Single Elimination Official ❌ Manual 2 per team (5 min) ❌ Disabled ✅ 4 min
Double Elimination Official ❌ Manual 2 per team (5 min) ❌ Disabled ✅ 4 min
Swiss Official ❌ Manual 2 per team (5 min) ❌ Disabled ✅ 4 min
Round Robin Official ❌ Manual 2 per team (5 min) ❌ Disabled ✅ 4 min
Shuffle Tournament Shuffle ✅ Auto 1 per team (3 min) ❌ Disabled ❌ Disabled
Manual Matches Default ❌ Manual ♾️ Unlimited ❌ Disabled ❌ Disabled

Features:

  • Auto-Ready System — Players automatically marked ready on connect
  • Enhanced Pause Controls — Limit pauses per team, duration, unpause requirements
  • Side Selection Timer — Enforce time limit after knife round
  • Match Forfeit (.gg) — Team surrender via vote (disabled in competitive)
  • Forfeit/Walkover (FFW) — Auto-forfeit timer when team disconnects
  • Demo Recording — Control demo recording for performance tuning

Official Profile (Competitive Tournaments):

{
  "matchzy_autoready_enabled": 0,              // Manual ready
  "matchzy_both_teams_unpause_required": 1,    // Both teams must unpause
  "matchzy_max_pauses_per_team": 2,            // 2 pauses per team
  "matchzy_pause_duration": 300,               // 5 minute limit
  "matchzy_side_selection_time": 60,           // 60 seconds
  "matchzy_gg_enabled": 0,                     // No forfeits
  "matchzy_ffw_enabled": 1,                    // Handle disconnects
  "matchzy_ffw_time": 240                      // 4 minutes
}

Shuffle Profile (Fast-Paced):

{
  "matchzy_autoready_enabled": 1,              // Auto-ready
  "matchzy_max_pauses_per_team": 1,            // 1 pause
  "matchzy_pause_duration": 180,               // 3 minutes
  "matchzy_side_selection_time": 30,           // Quick (30s)
  "matchzy_ffw_enabled": 0                     // No FFW for temp teams
}

Default Profile (Manual Matches):

{
  "matchzy_autoready_enabled": 0,              // Manual ready
  "matchzy_max_pauses_per_team": 0,            // Unlimited
  "matchzy_pause_duration": 0,                 // No limit
  "matchzy_gg_enabled": 0,                     // No forfeits
  "matchzy_ffw_enabled": 0                     // No FFW
}

Manual matches can override these defaults by providing custom cvars in the match configuration.

Event Processing

25+ MatchZy Events Processed

Player Events:

  • player_connect, player_disconnect
  • player_ready, player_unready
  • player_death, round_mvp

Match Phase Events:

  • series_start, series_end
  • going_live, warmup_ended
  • knife_round_started, knife_round_ended
  • halftime_started, overtime_started

Round Events:

  • round_started, round_end
  • bomb_planted, bomb_defused, bomb_exploded

Pause Events:

  • match_paused, unpause_requested, match_unpaused

Admin Events:

  • side_swap, backup_loaded

All events:

  • ✅ Logged to console
  • ✅ Stored in database (match_events table)
  • ✅ Logged to files (data/logs/events/)
  • ✅ Broadcast via WebSocket
  • ✅ Trigger appropriate service updates

Admin Controls

Live Match Controls

Available during warmup/live:

  • ▶️ Start match (force start)
  • 🔄 Restart match
  • ⏸️ Pause match (admin pause - players can't unpause)
  • ▶️ Unpause match
  • 💬 Broadcast message
  • 🔄 Restore backup (specific round)
  • 🗺️ Change map
  • 🔀 Swap teams
  • ⏭️ Skip veto
  • 🔪 Toggle knife round
  • ⏱️ Add time
  • 🏁 End match
  • 👥 Add backup player (new!)

Backup Player System

How it works:

  1. Admin opens match modal
  2. Scrolls to "Add Backup Player"
  3. Types player name in autocomplete search
  4. Selects player from dropdown (shows all tournament players)
  5. Chooses target team (Team 1 or Team 2)
  6. Clicks "Add Player to Match"

Backend sends RCON:

get5_addplayer {steamId} {team} "{nickname}"

Features:

  • ✅ Searches across all teams in tournament
  • ✅ Filters out players already in match
  • ✅ Shows player's original team
  • ✅ Real-time autocomplete
  • ✅ Requires player to reconnect after adding

Demo Recording

Automatic Demo Upload

MatchZy automatically uploads demos when matches complete:

Backend endpoint: POST /api/demos/{matchSlug}/upload

Features:

  • ✅ Streaming upload (doesn't load entire file into memory)
  • ✅ Match-specific folders (demos/{matchSlug}/)
  • ✅ Original filename preserved
  • ✅ Metadata from headers (map number, match ID)

Demo Download

Admins can download demos from:

  • Match Details modal
  • Match History page
  • API: GET /api/demos/{matchSlug}/download

Team Experience

Public Team Pages

URL Format: /team/{team-id}/match

No login required — teams access via shared link

Features:

  • 🎮 Current match info (opponent, round, status)
  • 🗺️ Map veto interface (BO1/BO3/BO5)
  • 🖥️ Server connection details (IP, port, connect command)
  • 📊 Live player status (who's connected, who's ready)
  • 📈 Team statistics (wins, losses, win rate)
  • 📜 Match history (past opponents and scores)
  • 🔊 Sound notifications (customizable)

Sound Notifications

8 Available Sounds:

  • Notification (default)
  • Alert
  • Bell
  • Chime
  • Ding
  • Ping
  • Pop
  • Success

Controls:

  • 🔊 Volume slider
  • 🔇 Mute toggle
  • 🎵 Sound preview
  • 💾 Persists per browser

Plays when: Match status changes to "loaded" or "live"

Monitoring & Debugging

Server Events Monitor

Admin Tools → Server Events Monitor

Shows unfiltered stream of all MatchZy events from all servers:

  • ✅ Last 100 events buffered
  • ✅ Real-time WebSocket updates
  • ✅ Color-coded by event type
  • ✅ Full JSON payload display
  • ✅ Pause/resume streaming
  • ✅ Server filter (optional)

Perfect for debugging:

  • Verify events are being sent
  • Check player Steam IDs
  • Monitor match progression
  • Identify configuration issues

Event File Logging

All events logged to: data/logs/events/{serverId}/{date}.log

Retention: 30 days
Format: JSON lines
Use case: Historical analysis, debugging, recovery

Maps & Map Pools

Custom Map Management

Features:

  • ✅ Automatic map import - Latest maps imported from GitHub on first start
  • ✅ Add custom maps with Map ID and display name
  • ✅ Upload map images or fetch from GitHub automatically
  • ✅ Edit map details (display name, image)
  • ✅ Delete unused maps

Automatic Import:

  • Fetches maps from CS2 Server Manager repository
  • Imports all de_, cs_, and ar_ maps automatically
  • Creates map pools by type (Defusal, Hostage, Arms Race)
  • Runs on first start or when maps table is empty

Map Pool System

Create Reusable Pools:

  • ✅ Build custom map pools for different tournament types
  • ✅ Active Duty pool (7 competitive maps) always available
  • ✅ Automatic pools - Defusal only, Hostage only, and Arms Race only pools created automatically
  • ✅ Select pools during tournament creation
  • ✅ Save custom selections as new pools

Tournament Integration:

  • Select from Active Duty, custom pools, or create custom selection
  • System validates 7 maps required for veto formats (BO1/BO3/BO5)
  • Map pools used in Round Robin/Swiss for rotation

📖 Managing Maps — Complete guide to maps and map pools

Players, Ratings & Shuffle Tournaments

Global Player System

  • ✅ Players page – Central directory of all players with name, avatar, Steam ID, and current ELO
  • ✅ Team integration – Team import and team editing automatically create/link players (single source of truth)
  • ✅ Public player pages – /player/:steamId with ELO history, match history, performance metrics, and current/next match info including server connect details
  • ✅ Find Player flow – /player search by Steam URL/ID

OpenSkill-Based Rating Engine

  • ✅ OpenSkill-backed ratings – Bayesian rating with FaceIT-style ELO scale for all tournament types
  • ✅ Global Skill Rating system – Single Skill Rating per player (default ~1500 from OpenSkill), shared across all tournaments and matches
  • ✅ Per-match rating updates – Ratings update automatically when matches complete
  • ✅ Rating history – player_rating_history tracks before/after ELO and OpenSkill values per match

ℹ️ Background reading

  • OpenSkill: modern Bayesian rating system for teams and games – see the official docs at openskill.me.
  • ELO-style ratings: classic chess-inspired rating model; we present OpenSkill results as an ELO-like number so it feels familiar.
  • Bayesian ratings vs. simple ELO: Bayesian systems (like TrueSkill/OpenSkill) handle uncertainty and team games better than naive win–loss ELO.

ELO Calculation Templates

  • ✅ ELO templates – Define how stats (ADR, K/D, assists, utility, MVPs, etc.) adjust base ELO
  • ✅ Per-tournament configuration – Select template per tournament or use pure win/loss mode
  • ✅ Stat storage – Detailed per-match stats stored in player_match_stats and surfaced on player pages

Shuffle Tournament Mode

  • ✅ Shuffle tournament format – Individual player competition with teams reshuffled every round
  • ✅ Automatic team balancing – Greedy + optimization algorithm balances teams by updated ELO each round
  • ✅ Automatic rounds – System generates matches, detects round completion, reshuffles teams, and advances
  • ✅ Player leaderboard – Tournament-specific leaderboard sorted by wins → ELO → ADR with public leaderboard page
  • ✅ Player-centric match access – Players can keep their /player/:steamId page open to always see their current/next shuffle match and server connect info (no per-round team links needed)

Next Steps