Swiss system
A tournament format that pairs players on equal scores each round without anyone being eliminated.
Everyone plays every round; after each round you are paired against someone on the same or a nearby score, so leaders meet leaders and the field sorts itself by results without a knockout.
It lets a large field — hundreds of players — be run in a handful of rounds, which is why most open tournaments use it. Ties are broken by systems like Buchholz or Sonneborn-Berger.
It is the format most club and open events use, so understanding pairings and tie-breaks tells you what you actually need to score to place.
Assuming a single loss ends your tournament — in a Swiss you keep playing, and a good finish can still win a rating prize.
Related terms
See Swiss system in your own games
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