> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.upscale.trade/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.upscale.trade/how-upscale-works/tournaments.md).
# Tournaments
**Upscale Tournaments** are competitions where traders compete for a spot on the leaderboard and a share of the prize pool. All events live in the **Tournaments** section: here you can see active and finished tournaments, their dates, and prize pools.
> โน๏ธ **Note:** a tournament and its leaderboard are visible **only to participants** โ those who have an account linked to that tournament. Other users don't see it.
### ๐ Two types of tournaments
Upscale runs tournaments in two formats, and you join them differently:
**1. Challenge tournaments.** Open to everyone who buys a challenge during the tournament period. Your regular account competes, and the tournament acts as a ranking layer on top of it.
**2. Promo code tournaments.** Open to those who receive a promo code. The code activates a separate **tournament account**.
Each type is covered in detail below.
### ๐ฏ Challenge tournaments
Everyone who buys a challenge during the tournament period takes part โ **no extra steps required**. The tournament works as a ranking layer over your regular account: it looks like a normal challenge, but additionally shows your **current place in the tournament**. These tournaments can run on both real and demo accounts.
#### Phase tabs
The tournament table can be split into tabs by phase โ **Phase 1**, **Phase 2**, **Funded**, and a combined **All**. The set of tabs depends on the tournament; **Funded** is open by default. Ranks are counted **independently** in each tab โ you can be first in Phase 1 and twentieth in Funded.
* With **$ ranking**: a phase tab sums the PnL across all your challenges on that phase, while the **All** tab sums across all phases.
* With **% ranking**: you're represented by the challenge with the highest percentage, and the **All** tab takes your best percentage across all phases.
### ๐๏ธ Promo code tournaments
These tournaments are for users who received a promo code โ usually at an offline event. The code activates a **tournament account**: a separate account type tied to a specific tournament.
**How to join:**
1. On the **Tournaments** page or the home page, click **Enter promo code**.
2. Enter the promo code โ the system recognizes it as a tournament code.
3. Set a **username** if you haven't already (the account won't be created without one).
4. The tournament account appears in the **Accounts** section, and you'll see a notification confirming you've joined, along with the start date and time.
> โน๏ธ The **Enter promo code** banner is shown as long as there's an active tournament you haven't joined yet. Once you're in all active tournaments, the banner is hidden.
**Tournament account specifics:**
* **Starts on the funded phase right away** โ no challenge stages.
* **No drawdown rules** (neither daily nor total) and **no minimum profitable days**.
* At a zero balance the account **doesn't close** โ it stays open until the tournament ends.
* **Profit withdrawal is disabled** โ the account is for competing; prizes are determined by the tournament results.
* The tournament account **doesn't count toward your challenge limit**, and you can hold it alongside demo/real accounts.
The account parameters (balance size and market type) are set by the organizer โ all accounts in a tournament are created with the same parameters. Available balances: 1K, 5K, 10K, 25K, 50K, 100K, 200K; markets โ Crypto, RWA, or ALL.
> โน๏ธ One tournament account per tournament: you can't activate a second promo code for the same tournament.
### ๐ค Username โ your name on the leaderboard
In every tournament, participants appear under a nickname (**username**). The username is set **once** and then used across all tournaments.
Username rules:
* **3 to 16 characters**;
* **Latin letters, digits, and underscore** (`_`) only, no spaces;
* **globally unique** โ if the name is taken, you'll see a "Username already taken" error;
* **can't be changed after confirmation** โ choose carefully.
> โน๏ธ If a participant is hidden, they appear as **"Anonymous"** in the tournament table.
### ๐ Tournament table and ranking
Places are determined by **PnL** โ your trading result over the tournament. Depending on the tournament's settings, ranking is calculated **in dollars ($)** or **as a percentage (%)**; this is shown on the tournament page.
* **PnL ($)** = current balance โ starting balance.
* **PnL (%)** = (current balance โ starting balance) รท starting balance ร 100. The percentage format **levels the playing field for accounts of different sizes**.
* Both closed trades and the floating profit/loss on open positions are counted.
* The table is **sorted by PnL in descending order** and **updates once a minute** while the tournament is live. On equal PnL, whoever joined the tournament earlier ranks higher.
> โน๏ธ Full details of a specific tournament โ dates, ranking type, prize pool โ are shown on the tournament's leaderboard page. Rules and conditions may differ for individual tournaments. Always check the specific tournament's terms on its leaderboard page.
### โฑ๏ธ Tournament stages
| Stage | What happens |
| ----------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Before the start** | The account is already shown, but trading isn't available yet. A countdown to the start is displayed (in your local time zone). |
| **Tournament live** | Trading is available. You can see your current place, username, and PnL, plus the countdown to the end. |
| **Tallying results** | A short pause after the end: trading is locked and results are being finalized. |
| **Tournament finished** | The final leaderboard with final results is shown โ they're no longer recalculated. Trade history remains available. |
### ๐
Results and certificates
After a tournament ends, participants receive a **personalized certificate** with their result, which can be shared on social media.
* **Top 20** participants: the certificate is generated automatically โ the certificate block shows an **Open** button.
* **Other** participants: the certificate is generated on request โ a **Get** button.
The certificate shows: your username, the tournament name, your final place, the end date, and a promo code with a referral link and QR code.
The certificate block is available on the tournament account dashboard and on the finished tournament page. All earned certificates are collected on the **My Certificates** page, under the **Tournaments** tab.
***
๐ Climb the leaderboard, claim prizes and certificates โ and turn your tournament results into real capital!
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