Hosted by adorluigi, Ghostilex, AhmedxWaleed, Celever, Flights of Fantsy, meamPearl and 35Q71N
Approved by A Cake Wearing A Hat
Signups | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Round 4 | Round 5 | Round 6 | Round 7
Thanks to nemoauditur for the banner!
~Standings Spreadsheet~
Approved by A Cake Wearing A Hat
Signups | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Round 4 | Round 5 | Round 6 | Round 7
Thanks to nemoauditur for the banner!
~Standings Spreadsheet~
Randbats Spotlight Tournament
Welcome to the fifteenth bimonthly Spotlight Tour! This iteration will feature the recently elected Hyperblitz Auto Choose format. This tournament is your chance to showcase your skills in Timeout Auto Choose Gen 9 Hyperblitz in a single elimination best-of-5 series.
What is Hyperblitz Auto Choose?
The bug that afflicted the timer in Blitz in the last month is now gone, but playing an even faster variant of this format would be quite exhilarating, wouldn't it? In Hyperblitz, you'll have only 10 seconds to pick a move, but fear not! Losing due to inactivity is made impossible by the "Timeout Auto Choose" rule, which makes the game automatically select the first move in your moveset once the timer hits 0. So yes, there is a scenario where you can actually win games by doing... absolutely nothing
Prizes
The winner of the Spotlight Tournament will receive the Room Prize Winner rank in the Random Battles room for a month and the possibility to pick a format for the next Randbats Spotlight poll!*
*Important: It's likely the next Spotlight poll will start before the end of this tournament, so the winner's pick is probably going to be delayed for a future cycle
NEW! THIS WILL BE A SWISS TOURNAMENT! For the first time ever and to celebrate the milestone of the 20th cycle, the Spotlight Tournament will be run in swiss! We are going to "borrow" a lot from the Gen 9 Swiss Open Dark Pulse and co. hosted earlier this year but with some minor tweaks to hopefully improve its formula and adapt it to a smaller tournament like the Spotlight. We strongly advise you to read all the paragraphs down below to understand the classic structure of a swiss tournament and the more specific aspects of this tournament.
If you haven't already, we highly recommend to click on the spoilers down below in order to have a good understanding on how this tournament works:
1) Structure of swiss and this specific tournament
What is a Swiss?
A Swiss-System Tournament is a tournament style where if you lose, you keep playing! Swiss is commonly used in Chess, VGC, and various card games. Every round, players are paired against an opponent with a similar score to them in the tournament. For you as a player, that means that whether you win or lose, you still get a new opponent next week, and as the rounds go on, your opponents get closer and closer to being the same skill level as you.
A Swiss-System Tournament is a tournament style where if you lose, you keep playing! Swiss is commonly used in Chess, VGC, and various card games. Every round, players are paired against an opponent with a similar score to them in the tournament. For you as a player, that means that whether you win or lose, you still get a new opponent next week, and as the rounds go on, your opponents get closer and closer to being the same skill level as you.
How will this tournament be formatted?
The tournament will go for a certain number of rounds of Swiss depending on the number of players who sign up to this tournament.
Afterwards, we will move to a top cut that, unlike the Gen 9 Swiss Open, will be asymmetrical.
To borrow an explanation from The Official Pokemon Website, "after all Swiss rounds are completed, the Top 8 competitors, plus all competitors with the same number of match points as 8th place (to a maximum of 32), will advance into an asymmetrical top cut single-elimination bracket to determine the winner of the event.
You can look down below for a simple summary of the structure of a swiss tournament depending on the number of participants:
If you want to see a visual representation of an asymmetrical top cut, I advise to look at the Top 24 (into 16) of VGC Worlds 2024.
The seeds directly qualified to top 16 were:
- #1 to #5 had a 11-1 record
- #6 to #8 had a 10-2 and the best resistance among the players who had the same record
The players who had to play the additional round had a 10-2 record too and they were seeded from #9 to #24 because they had a worse resistance, so they had to play one additional round for the last 8 spots to complete the top 16.
The tournament will go for a certain number of rounds of Swiss depending on the number of players who sign up to this tournament.
Afterwards, we will move to a top cut that, unlike the Gen 9 Swiss Open, will be asymmetrical.
To borrow an explanation from The Official Pokemon Website, "after all Swiss rounds are completed, the Top 8 competitors, plus all competitors with the same number of match points as 8th place (to a maximum of 32), will advance into an asymmetrical top cut single-elimination bracket to determine the winner of the event.
You can look down below for a simple summary of the structure of a swiss tournament depending on the number of participants:
If you want to see a visual representation of an asymmetrical top cut, I advise to look at the Top 24 (into 16) of VGC Worlds 2024.
The seeds directly qualified to top 16 were:
- #1 to #5 had a 11-1 record
- #6 to #8 had a 10-2 and the best resistance among the players who had the same record
The players who had to play the additional round had a 10-2 record too and they were seeded from #9 to #24 because they had a worse resistance, so they had to play one additional round for the last 8 spots to complete the top 16.
How does the tour work?
It’s simple:
1. Contact your opponent on their Smogon wall and decide on a time to battle.
2. Battle each other in the format “Random Battle (Hyperblitz, Auto Choose)”. This format can be found under 'Randomized Format Spotlight', at the top of the third column. Alternatively, use /challenge Random Battle (Hyperblitz, Auto Choose).
3. The first player to 3 wins advances to the next round.
4. You MUST post replays of your wins.
It’s simple:
1. Contact your opponent on their Smogon wall and decide on a time to battle.
2. Battle each other in the format “Random Battle (Hyperblitz, Auto Choose)”. This format can be found under 'Randomized Format Spotlight', at the top of the third column. Alternatively, use /challenge Random Battle (Hyperblitz, Auto Choose).
3. The first player to 3 wins advances to the next round.
4. You MUST post replays of your wins.
2) Activity Requirements, dropouts and extensions
Activity Requirements
Hosts will be particularly stringent on activity and will proactively checking whether players are still participating in the tournament, and will remove players who make no attempt to schedule their games.
PLEASE FAMILIARISE YOURSELF WITH THE RULES BELOW, AS THEY ARE UNIQUE TO THIS TOURNAMENT:
- As mentioned above, all scheduling attempts MUST be done publicly on Smogon Walls. No other proof of communication will count for act calls regarding scheduling attempts. Scheduling on Smogon Walls is especially important in a tournament like this because it means you won't have to be pinged by the hosts for detected lack of activity in your attempt to schedule (see below)
- Every Thursday, hosts will be posting an Inactive Player List of people who hosts could not find any evidence of scheduling (no matter how small) and all players on the list will be tagged. This tag serves as a final reminder to schedule and play your game.
Hosts will be particularly stringent on activity and will proactively checking whether players are still participating in the tournament, and will remove players who make no attempt to schedule their games.
PLEASE FAMILIARISE YOURSELF WITH THE RULES BELOW, AS THEY ARE UNIQUE TO THIS TOURNAMENT:
- As mentioned above, all scheduling attempts MUST be done publicly on Smogon Walls. No other proof of communication will count for act calls regarding scheduling attempts. Scheduling on Smogon Walls is especially important in a tournament like this because it means you won't have to be pinged by the hosts for detected lack of activity in your attempt to schedule (see below)
- Every Thursday, hosts will be posting an Inactive Player List of people who hosts could not find any evidence of scheduling (no matter how small) and all players on the list will be tagged. This tag serves as a final reminder to schedule and play your game.
Dropping Out
There are two main ways that lead to players getting automatically dropped out of the tournament:
1) At the end of the week, any player on the Inactive Player List who did not play their game will be removed from the tournament
2) If a player receives 2 activity losses in a row, they will also be automatically dropped from the tournament.
- In addition to the automatic drops as seen above, players may choose to voluntarily drop out at any time. If you don’t want to be in the tournament, simply post in this thread asking to be dropped and we will remove you from all future rounds. We kindy ask you to post your intention BEFORE the next round goes up in order to guarantee a smooth and fair prosecution for the tournament. If you want to drop but end up changing your mind, post again asking to be reinstated – don’t just delete your drop post.
- If you are going to get dropped out for any reason, but still want to be in the tournament (and therefore want an opponent next round) you must post in the thread saying you wish to be reinstated in the tournament. There are no penalties for being inactive, and you do not need to provide a reason to stay in the tournament. All we need to know is that you still want to play.
There are two main ways that lead to players getting automatically dropped out of the tournament:
1) At the end of the week, any player on the Inactive Player List who did not play their game will be removed from the tournament
2) If a player receives 2 activity losses in a row, they will also be automatically dropped from the tournament.
- In addition to the automatic drops as seen above, players may choose to voluntarily drop out at any time. If you don’t want to be in the tournament, simply post in this thread asking to be dropped and we will remove you from all future rounds. We kindy ask you to post your intention BEFORE the next round goes up in order to guarantee a smooth and fair prosecution for the tournament. If you want to drop but end up changing your mind, post again asking to be reinstated – don’t just delete your drop post.
- If you are going to get dropped out for any reason, but still want to be in the tournament (and therefore want an opponent next round) you must post in the thread saying you wish to be reinstated in the tournament. There are no penalties for being inactive, and you do not need to provide a reason to stay in the tournament. All we need to know is that you still want to play.
Extensions and coinflips
- Extensions will only be granted under the most extreme circumstances. Even a single extension requires significant admin overhead, and the amount of extra work for each extra extension is exponentially higher. For this reason, assume that you will not be able to get an extension, and make every effort to play your game.
We have decided to adhere to Pulse's guidelines to determine when an extension can be granted:
- We will not be coinflipping games for any reason. If a game wasn’t played; hosts will either award the win to the better scheduler (an activity win) or to nobody at all. Because of this & the lack of extensions, we strongly recommend you make every effort to play your games.
- Extensions will only be granted under the most extreme circumstances. Even a single extension requires significant admin overhead, and the amount of extra work for each extra extension is exponentially higher. For this reason, assume that you will not be able to get an extension, and make every effort to play your game.
We have decided to adhere to Pulse's guidelines to determine when an extension can be granted:
- Both players request the extension (either by both posting in the thread, or by one saying "please get an extension" and the other posting a screenshot of it
- The time the game will be played is cited in the request
- The time is less than 48 hours from the deadline
- The host believes that both players were scheduling in good faith, and that the game will be played
- We will not be coinflipping games for any reason. If a game wasn’t played; hosts will either award the win to the better scheduler (an activity win) or to nobody at all. Because of this & the lack of extensions, we strongly recommend you make every effort to play your games.
3) Other things to know
Late joiners
If you want to join in on the fun, but didn’t sign up in time, that’s okay! Post in this thread asking to be signed up and we will put you in the next round! Unfortunately we can’t give you an opponent this week, and you will be starting at 0 wins. This means that joining late could definitely have an impact on your chances to reach the top cut but you can still have fun playing the matches you have left in swiss!
If you want to join in on the fun, but didn’t sign up in time, that’s okay! Post in this thread asking to be signed up and we will put you in the next round! Unfortunately we can’t give you an opponent this week, and you will be starting at 0 wins. This means that joining late could definitely have an impact on your chances to reach the top cut but you can still have fun playing the matches you have left in swiss!
Throwing/Match-fixing
Throwing/match-fixing because you wish to drop out will be seen as unsportsmanlike conduct, and may come with penalties such as a tournament infraction or denying you of all points from this tournament. Moderators and tournament hosts have full discretion for what counts as unsportsmanlike conduct.
Throwing/match-fixing because you wish to drop out will be seen as unsportsmanlike conduct, and may come with penalties such as a tournament infraction or denying you of all points from this tournament. Moderators and tournament hosts have full discretion for what counts as unsportsmanlike conduct.
Last but not least, in addition to all we have written about the structure of swiss, we strongly recommend familiarizing yourself with the Smogon Tournament Rules and General Guidelines, if you haven’t already. If you have further questions, don’t hesitate to contact the tour hosts, adorluigi, Ghostilex, AhmedxWaleed, Celever, Flights of Fantsy, meamPearl and 35Q71N here on Smogon.
Round 2
35Q71N (1-0) vs billy zubat (1-0)
AquaGuy2.0 (1-0) vs FreyaknightVGC (1-0)
Best Gal (1-0) vs BuiBui (1-0)
bodi (1-0) vs dinispereira (1-0)
Dragonillis (1-0) vs Ykima (1-0)
drowsy69 (1-0) vs ionnss (1-0)
Fad IV (1-0) vs Plebster (1-0)
Flinchhaxisgreat (1-0) vs nemoauditur (1-0)
HaunterBoy28 (1-0) vs Luchik (1-0)
Michielleus (1-0) vs R1C3M4N (1-0)
Nuage (1-0) vs TheHorrorHare (1-0)
O1V7O2X9O (1-0) vs someone random (1-0)
Shynii21 (1-0) vs drifttrick (1-0)
Vioz (1-0) vs sheepie_sheep1 (1-0)
A Welcome Guest (0-1) vs Cilantro38 (0-1)
bnm (0-1) vs rammus20xx (0-1)
Booth4837 (0-1) vs Rowlet69420 (0-1)
Celever (0-1) vs meamPearl (0-1)
Click>Think (0-1) vs HarryOtter69 (0-1)
Comett7778 (0-1) vs jyusaan (0-1)
Dark Pulse (0-1) vs des121 (0-0)
Diodia (0-1) vs Irpachuza (0-1)
Ducky1231 (0-1) vs Hairoll (0-0)
El químico del pueblucho (0-1) vs Mirbro (0-1)
Flights of Fantsy (0-1) vs RedShiftS (0-0)
Gyarikkuho (0-1) vs Sylveesnom (0-1)
NDD To The Top (0-1) vs Squidslayer69 (0-1)
Panty&Stockings (0-1) vs mdill97 (0-1)
Perry (0-1) vs betathunder (0-1)
When is the deadline?
The deadline is set on Sunday 20th at 11:59 GMT 0
35Q71N (1-0) vs billy zubat (1-0)
AquaGuy2.0 (1-0) vs FreyaknightVGC (1-0)
Best Gal (1-0) vs BuiBui (1-0)
bodi (1-0) vs dinispereira (1-0)
Dragonillis (1-0) vs Ykima (1-0)
drowsy69 (1-0) vs ionnss (1-0)
Fad IV (1-0) vs Plebster (1-0)
Flinchhaxisgreat (1-0) vs nemoauditur (1-0)
HaunterBoy28 (1-0) vs Luchik (1-0)
Michielleus (1-0) vs R1C3M4N (1-0)
Nuage (1-0) vs TheHorrorHare (1-0)
O1V7O2X9O (1-0) vs someone random (1-0)
Shynii21 (1-0) vs drifttrick (1-0)
Vioz (1-0) vs sheepie_sheep1 (1-0)
A Welcome Guest (0-1) vs Cilantro38 (0-1)
bnm (0-1) vs rammus20xx (0-1)
Booth4837 (0-1) vs Rowlet69420 (0-1)
Celever (0-1) vs meamPearl (0-1)
Click>Think (0-1) vs HarryOtter69 (0-1)
Comett7778 (0-1) vs jyusaan (0-1)
Dark Pulse (0-1) vs des121 (0-0)
Diodia (0-1) vs Irpachuza (0-1)
Ducky1231 (0-1) vs Hairoll (0-0)
El químico del pueblucho (0-1) vs Mirbro (0-1)
Flights of Fantsy (0-1) vs RedShiftS (0-0)
Gyarikkuho (0-1) vs Sylveesnom (0-1)
NDD To The Top (0-1) vs Squidslayer69 (0-1)
Panty&Stockings (0-1) vs mdill97 (0-1)
Perry (0-1) vs betathunder (0-1)
When is the deadline?
The deadline is set on Sunday 20th at 11:59 GMT 0
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