How the ladder works

Two ways to challenge

Ranking challenge — pick someone above you in the standings. How far up you can reach grows the deeper your target sits: #1–9 can be challenged by players up to 3 spots below them, #10–19 by 4, #20–29 by 5, #30–39 by 6, and so on — one extra spot for every ten ranks. In the rulebook's words: anyone can be challenged by people up to 3 spots below them, plus 1 extra spot below if they are ranked 10–19, plus 2 extra spots (5 total) if they are ranked 20–29, etc. Win and you take their spot; everyone in between shifts down one. A ranking challenge never points down the ladder — you cannot challenge someone ranked below you. If the person you challenge never responds, you move above them anyway.

Activity challenge — pick someone 4 to 6 spots below you. It earns points but never changes ladder positions. There are no activity challenges above you, and none more than 6 spots down. An activity challenge is how you arrange a match with someone below you, and it is the only way to do so.

The clock

• 72 hours to accept or decline a challenge. Leaving a ranking challenge unanswered moves the challenger above you.
• 10 days to play the match after you accept.
• A reminder is sent ~24 hours before your deadline.

Limits & cooldowns

• Up to 3 outstanding challenges at once (as the challenger).
• Can't re-challenge the same player for 14 days after you've played them.
• Can't play the same opponent more than 2 times in a row.

Points & rewards

• Every match earns activity points: Win 3 · Tie 2 · Loss 1.
• Play 3 matches and earn a glow wristband.
• The season's top point-earner takes the Top Player trophy.

Declining a challenge

• You get 2 free declines per season.
• A justified decline (medical, or a conflict you told us about in advance) is exempt and doesn't use one of your free declines.
• An unjustified decline uses a free decline and drops you below the challenger.
• Every decline is reviewed by our team, who can override the result when there's a valid reason.

If you can't play

• No response — the challenge expires after 72 hours (and is not counted as a decline). On a ranking challenge the challenger moves above you — you drop one spot, the same as if they had won. Declining instead only uses a free decline, so it is the cheaper exit. Activity challenges never move positions, so ignoring one just expires it.
• Miss the 10-day window — it's a forfeit: the challenger is owed a win by default, pending review.
• Withdraw — you can cancel a challenge you sent, any time before the match.

Inactivity: there isn't one right now. Your position only changes when you play, so taking a few weeks off won't cost you spots, and we won't send you inactivity warnings. This page updates itself if that ever changes.