Varying format depending on number of players, but in general; All players divided into two, three or for groups. In this qualification round, each player faces each other at least two times (between 12 - 20 matches). In case of groups of nine players, each match consist of three players.
Depending on number of players per group, best 2-4 from each group advances to playoff, which is either played as single elimination bracket (total of 8, 12 or 16 to playoffs) or as four rounds of three-player-games (if the number of qualification groups is three.)

Number of meaningful games played is the average as projected by total number of players ranging from 20 to 36.