Tournament Manager vs Spreadsheets: Why Organizers Are Switching
Still using Google Sheets or Excel to manage your esports tournaments? You're not alone. But there's a reason why professional organizers have moved to dedicated tournament manager software.
TL;DR: Spreadsheets work for small events, but dedicated tournament managers save hours of work, eliminate calculation errors, and provide professional features like live overlays that spreadsheets simply can't match.
The Spreadsheet Era of Tournament Management
Every tournament organizer starts with spreadsheets. It makes sense - they're free, familiar, and flexible. You create a sheet for teams, another for matches, add some formulas for point calculation, and you're running a tournament.
The problems start when your tournaments grow. More teams mean more data entry. Multiple matches per day mean constant updates. And when something goes wrong with a formula at 2 AM during finals, you're in trouble.
Common Spreadsheet Problems
Formula Errors
One wrong cell reference and your entire standings are incorrect. With 16 teams over 6 matches, finding the error is a nightmare.
Manual Data Entry
After every match, someone has to manually enter placements and kills for every team. That's 16+ rows of data, multiple times per day.
No Real-time Updates
Teams and viewers can't see live standings. They have to wait for you to update and share the sheet.
No Broadcast Integration
Want to show standings on your stream? You'll need separate overlay software and manual synchronization.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Feature | Spreadsheet | Tournament Manager |
|---|---|---|
| Score Entry | Manual input after each match | Real-time automated tracking |
| Point Calculation | Formula errors common | Automatic, error-free |
| Live Standings | Delayed, requires refresh | Instant updates |
| Team Registration | Google Forms + manual copy | Built-in registration system |
| Broadcast Overlays | Not possible | OBS-ready overlays included |
| Multi-stage Tournaments | Multiple sheets, complex links | Automatic advancement |
| Cost | Free | Free tier available |
| Learning Curve | Familiar interface | Purpose-built, intuitive |
When Spreadsheets Still Make Sense
To be fair, spreadsheets aren't always the wrong choice:
- Very small events - 4-8 teams, single match
- One-time tournaments - Not worth learning new software
- Custom formats - Unusual rules that software doesn't support
- Offline events - No internet access for cloud tools
But if you're running regular tournaments with 10+ teams, the time saved by automation pays for itself immediately.
The Real Cost of Spreadsheets
Let's calculate the hidden cost of managing a typical 16-team, 6-match PUBG tournament with spreadsheets:
- Data entry per match (16 teams x 2 fields):~5 minutes
- Verifying calculations:~3 minutes
- Updating shared link/announcing results:~2 minutes
- Per match total:10 minutes
- 6 matches tournament:60+ minutes
With a tournament manager, this drops to near-zero as scores update automatically.
What Tournament Managers Do Better
Automated Point Calculation
PMGC, BMPS, or custom point systems calculated instantly without formulas.
Live Leaderboards
Teams see their standings in real-time. No waiting for updates.
OBS Overlays
Professional broadcast graphics that update automatically during matches.
Team Registration
Built-in forms with verification. No more copying from Google Forms.
Multi-Stage Support
Qualifiers to finals with automatic advancement. No manual transfers.
Error Prevention
Validation rules prevent impossible scores or duplicate entries.
Making the Switch
Switching from spreadsheets to a tournament manager is easier than you think:
- Start with a free tier - Most tournament managers, including PROPUBG, offer free plans
- Run a test tournament - Try it with a small scrim before your main event
- Import existing data - Most tools can import team lists from CSV
- Keep your spreadsheet as backup - Use it for the first few events until you're confident
Ready to Ditch the Spreadsheets?
PROPUBG is free to start. Run your next tournament without the manual work.