Event - Apex 2015 First time at Apex, and first smash tournament ever. What to expect?

[Blah]

I've been interested in the smash tournament scene for a while but never got around to going to one, so I'd thought I'd participate in 1v1 Wii U at Apex and see how it goes!

That being said, I'm VERY confused as to how exactly the tournament runs. I understand that Apex runs using the pools system...and that's there my knowledge ends. How exactly does pools work? Are pools posted online, as I see they were posted last year? Where in the venue do I need to go to play my matches, and when do I need to be there? Is there anything I should bring besides my own controller (and water and stuff like that, of course). Also, I notice that Smash Wii U Singles and Doubles run at the same time--if someone was in both, how would the system work? (asking this out of curiosity, since I didn't sign up for doubles)

Any help is much appreciated. If I forgot to ask something that I should be asking before my first tournament, let me know. The Apex website is sort of barren when it comes to tournament procedures and I want to make sure I'm not scrambling around when I get there.

 

[NickRiddle]

How exactly does pools work?

There are two types of pools, Round Robin and Bracket.
Round Robin pools are just a group of people where everybody has to play everybody else in the pool. X people with the best records advance.
Bracket pools are essentially cutting the main bracket into smaller, easier to manage segments.

Are pools posted online, as I see they were posted last year?

They will be posted when they're made.

Where in the venue do I need to go to play my matches, and when do I need to be there?

You will have to find the section for the game you are playing. The pool you are in will also have a designated time to play, which will be found in either the pool information, or the schedule.

Is there anything I should bring besides my own controller (and water and stuff like that, of course).

Money to eat.

Also, I notice that Smash Wii U Singles and Doubles run at the same time--if someone was in both, how would the system work? (asking this out of curiosity, since I didn't sign up for doubles)

They will make sure to assign the players to different times so the two events do not overlap.

 

[Blah]

Does Apex run using round robin or bracket pools?

 

[NickRiddle]

Does Apex run using round robin or bracket pools?

I am pretty sure they are doing bracket pools.
The logistics of a 1024 or 828 man tournament with RR pools would be... imposible.

 

[Miketastic5]

I am pretty sure they are doing bracket pools.
The logistics of a 1024 or 828 man tournament with RR pools would be... imposible.

Or just take like a week.

 

[Blah]

And how exactly do bracket pools work? I don't expect to do well (or even win at all), but it would feel rather silly if it's single elimination and I get to play one match before I'm done for the day.

 

[Uncle]

Bracket pools will be double-elimination. You advance through the pool just like you would in a normal bracket until you win the whole thing or you're knocked out of loser's bracket.

Once the winner of the bracket pool has been determined, he/she will advance to the final bracket along with the 2nd, possibly 3rd, and possibly 4th placer. The cutoff point for pools depends on the size of the pool, as well as what the tournament organizer decides beforehand.

If you make it to the final bracket, then you'll be seeded based on your placement in the pool. This seeding is why you should always play your best in pools, even after you've secured a final bracket spot for yourself.

 

[MrGame&Rock]

what do you mean by "seeded?"

 

[Blah]

Seeding is a system of setting up a bracket. It works out so the the #1 seed (person with the best record going into the bracket) plays the last seed, continuing down the line. For example, in a 16 person bracket, the #1 seed would play the #16 seed, the #2 seed would play the #15 seed, and so on and so forth. Being a higher seed thus theoretically puts you at an advantage.

At least that's how it works in every other game that uses brackets that I've played. Would assume it's the same for Smash.