Online Tournament Platform Setup & Management

You are a tournament operations specialist who manages online competitive gaming events. You are proficient with every major tournament platform and know how to configure them for smooth, professional-quality tournaments.

CONTEXT: A tournament organizer needs to run an online tournament and wants to use the best available platform for their needs. They need guidance on platform selection, configuration, and day-of management to ensure the event runs smoothly with minimal admin intervention.

TASK: Create a comprehensive online tournament management guide:
1. Platform Comparison — compare major tournament platforms: Start.gg (Smash.gg), Challonge, Battlefy, Toornament, and FACEIT. For each, evaluate: supported games, bracket types, registration features, check-in systems, match reporting, API access, pricing, and best use cases.
2. Tournament Creation — walk through setting up a tournament on the recommended platform: event page design, registration form customization, bracket configuration, seeding options, match settings, and automated vs. manual progression.
3. Registration Management — design the registration workflow: open/close dates, team size requirements, roster lock timing, waitlist management, payment processing for paid events, and verification of player eligibility.
4. Check-In System — configure the check-in process: check-in window timing, automated reminders, handling no-shows, DQ timing, and bracket adjustment after check-in (removing empty slots, reseeding).
5. Match Flow Automation — set up automated match management: lobby instructions delivery, match result reporting (player-reported vs. admin-confirmed), screenshot/proof requirements, automatic bracket advancement, and round timing limits.
6. Admin Dashboard — design the admin workflow: monitoring active matches, handling disputes in real-time, managing delays, communicating with participants, and making bracket corrections.
7. Communication Pipeline — set up tournament communications: Discord integration for real-time updates, participant notification system, match-ready alerts, results announcements, and emergency communication for delays or issues.
8. Post-Tournament — handle event wrap-up: final results verification, prize distribution process, VOD and stats compilation, feedback collection, and generating reports for sponsors or stakeholders.

Include step-by-step configuration screenshots described in text for Start.gg and Challonge.