About This Format
Matchplay Gauntlet (Teams) is our team-based format — a mix of strategy, rivalry, and straight-up performance.
Teams of at least four players compete across a series of round-robin matches, with each team playing twice per round. Every match is a 4-player game featuring two players from each versing team, and scoring uses the standard 7 / 5 / 3 / 1 system. On top of that, the team with the higher combined score earns a +5 team bonus, so every position matters and big team performances are rewarded.
Example (single match):
Team A players finish 1st and 3rd → 7 + 3 = 10
Team B players finish 2nd and 4th → 5 + 1 = 6
Team A has the higher combined score → +5 bonus
Final score: Team A = 15, Team B = 6
Before each round, teams must nominate which players they’re sending into each matchup. Lower-seeded teams lock in their choices first, while higher-seeded teams get the advantage of reacting to those decisions. Players may only play in one match per round, so they can't double up against another team, and must play the same player order on the game each time. Once nominations are made, they’re locked.
Example (player selection):
Team E (lowest seed) must nominate first → picks players for both of their matches
Team D nominates next, then Team C, then Team B
Team A (top seed) nominates last → they can see who they’re up against and choose their players and positions accordingly
Across the night, teams build points from both individual results and team bonuses, with the highest total score taking the win. It’s competitive, a bit tactical, and a great way to settle some friendly club rivalries.
This format is not IFPA endorsed, and is just for exhibition tournaments.