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Beginner Guide

Getting Started

Everything you need to go from zero to competing in your first MATCHPOINT match. Takes about 10 minutes to set up.

🚀 Beginner friendly 🕐 Last updated May 2026 📖 5 min read

What is MATCHPOINT?

MATCHPOINT is a grassroots Minecraft PvP championship open to any 4-player squad. Every season runs across 5 consecutive Saturdays, with teams competing in rotating minigames across a single-elimination bracket. There's no entry fee — the $47,500 prize pool is funded by sponsors and merch sales.

The full journey looks like this:

1
Register your account on the app
Create an account at app.matchpointchamp.com and verify your Minecraft username.
2
Form or join a team
Invite three friends or use Solo Queue to get matched with compatible teammates.
3
Enter the championship
Your team captain submits the roster before the registration deadline. Free.
4
Play on Saturdays
Show up to the server at your scheduled time. Matches are best-of-3 or best-of-5 depending on stage.
5
Win. Or lose. Then come back next season.
All participants earn season cosmetics. Top placers take home prize money.

Eligibility Requirements

Before registering, confirm your team meets all of the following:

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Age: 16+
Players under 18 must submit a guardian consent form during registration. Players under 16 are not eligible.
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Region: Open
Any region may participate. Server location is EU (Vilnius). Teams outside EU may experience higher latency.
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Java Edition
Only Minecraft Java Edition v1.20.4 is supported. Bedrock Edition is not compatible with the championship server.
✅
Verified account
All players must connect a legitimate (paid) Minecraft account. Cracked/offline accounts are not permitted.
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4-player roster
Teams must have exactly 4 players. A 5th substitute may be listed but cannot play if the 4 starters are available.
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Rules agreement
Every player must individually accept the rulebook during account creation. Team captains sign an additional conduct agreement.
Important: Players may only be on one team per season. Switching teams after the group stage closes is not permitted.

Registering a Team

Team registration is handled through the app. Only the team captain needs to complete registration — teammates are invited by username.

Step-by-step

1
Go to app.matchpointchamp.com
Sign in or create your account. Verify your Minecraft username via the in-game verification code.
2
Click "Create Team"
Choose a team name (3–24 characters, no profanity). Team names are public and permanent for the season.
3
Invite your teammates
Search by Minecraft username. Each invited player must accept the invite from their own account within 48 hours.
4
Submit your roster
Once all 4 players have accepted, click "Submit Team" before the registration deadline. A confirmation email is sent.
5
Wait for seeding
After the deadline, teams are seeded into groups. You'll receive your first match details via app notification and email.
All set! Once submitted, your team dashboard goes live — you can track your group seed, upcoming matches, and opponent stats.

Solo Queue

No crew? No problem. Solo Queue pairs unattached players into auto-formed teams based on timezone, rank, and playstyle.

How it works

  1. On the app, select "Solo Queue" instead of "Create Team."
  2. Fill in your timezone, preferred game modes, and estimated skill level.
  3. The matchmaker pairs you with three compatible players. You'll be notified within 24 hours (usually much faster).
  4. Your auto-formed team then goes through the standard registration flow. The matchmaker assigns a temporary team name — you can change it before the deadline.
Tip: Solo Queue teams are matched to minimize the 5-ping latency gap between members. Fill out the timezone field accurately for best results.

Solo Queue closes 72 hours before registration deadline to allow time for team confirmation.

Account Setup

Connecting your Minecraft account

After signing up at the app, you must link your Minecraft username. The system will give you a short verification code (e.g. MP-9X4Z) to type into the championship server once. This proves account ownership.

App notifications

Enable push notifications — match alerts, opponent announcements, and schedule reminders are sent exclusively through the app and email. Discord is supplementary, not the primary notification channel.

Two-factor authentication

2FA is strongly recommended on your app account. If your account is compromised and used to forfeit a match, the admin panel can only reverse the decision if 2FA was not enabled (indicating genuine account takeover).

Your First Match

48 hours before kickoff

  • The active minigame for your match is announced. Check the Minigames wiki to brush up on the rules.
  • Your opponent team's roster becomes visible on the app. Scout their stats if available.
  • Confirm all four players will be present. If a player is unavailable, you have 24 hours to field a substitute (if one was pre-registered).

Match day

  • Join the championship server at play.matchpointchamp.com with Minecraft v1.20.4.
  • Use /matchpoint join in chat to enter the match lobby. All four players must be in the lobby before the match starts.
  • Be in the lobby 10 minutes before scheduled kickoff. Teams that are not ready at kickoff may forfeit the round.

Disconnects

If a player disconnects mid-match, they have 3 minutes to reconnect before the team plays short. See the Disconnect Rules for full details.

Ready to compete?

Registration is free. 256 team slots available each season.

Open the app ↗

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I play on Bedrock Edition?

No. The championship server runs Java Edition only. Bedrock Edition is not compatible.

Is there a ranked system before the championship?

Not currently. Seeding in the group stage is based on historical participation (returning teams) and self-reported skill level (new teams). A ranked pre-season ladder is planned for Season 2.

What if my team needs to forfeit a match?

Contact an admin through Discord or the in-app support channel at least 2 hours before the scheduled match. Emergency forfeits within 2 hours result in a round loss but not disqualification. No-shows count as a full-match forfeit.

Can I spectate matches?

Yes. Every match streams live on the official YouTube channel. You can also spectate in-server by joining as a spectator via the app dashboard.

When does registration open for the next season?

Registration for each season opens 3 weeks before the first Saturday. Follow the Discord or enable app notifications to get alerted the moment it opens.