Main Event tournaments will consist of 3 4-hand rounds. At the end of the 3rd round, the top 8 advancing teams will be determined according to qualifying criteria.
The first round of play-off play is buy-back double elimination. A first round play-off losing team may buy back in once to advance to the Buy-Back Semi - Finals. Winners of Round 1 play-off play will automatically advance to the Main Event Semi-Finals.
During first round tournament play, teams advance by becoming the first team to 7 in Kitty Main Event Tournaments; In No-Kitty Main Event Tournaments, the first team to 5 advances.
Each losing team after first round play-off play has the option to buy back into the Buy Back Semi -Finals playoff for a fee of $50 per team.
After the second loss in the Buy Back Play-Off round, a team is automatically disqualified from play in the next playoff round.
In the event one team chooses to opt out of buy-back play, the buy back teams will play two single elimination rounds to accommodate uneven Buy Back Semi-Finals matchups. If two teams opt out of buy-back play, the remaining buy back teams will compete to determine which team will advance to the Buy Back final round play.
Once Round 1 of Play-Off tournament play is complete, Buy Back Semi-Finals will begin.
The matchups for Buy Back Semi - Finals will be as follows:
Loser of Game 1 will play the Loser of Game 2 - this will constitute Game 5.
The loser of Game 3 will play the loser of Game 4 - this will constitute Game 6.
Buy Back Final Matchup
The Buy-Back Finals will constitute Game 7. The matchup of the BBF will be:
The winner of Game 5 v The winner of Game 6.
Once the Buy Back Final game is complete, the winner of the final will have to play the winner of Game 4 (from first round playoff play) to advance to the Playoff Semi-Finals. This will constitute Game 8.
Play-off Semi - Finals (after Buy Back playoff play has been completed) Matchups:
The winner of Game 1 vs. the winner of Game 2 (Game 9)
The winner of Game 3 vs. the winner of Game 8 (Game 10)
Play-Off Finals - The Play off Final Game (Game 11) will host the winners of Games 8 and 9, and will consist of a full round of 4 hands. The winner of Game 10 will be the Main Event Champion.