Three Stages, One Goal
After 38 matchdays the league splits: the top 8 play in the main playoff for the title. Places 9–16 play their own placement round. And places 17–20 fight in the bottom playoff against relegation. Each track runs in parallel — everywhere, something is at stake.
Best-of-3 — Drama Guaranteed
Every playoff matchup is a best-of-3 series. Two games are scheduled. Whoever wins twice first advances. If it's 1:1, there's a decisive game — and anything can happen there. Quarterfinals, semifinals, finals: three rounds to the title. The champion has to fight their way through.
Promotion and Relegation
The bottom four of the league are directly relegated to Tier II. The four Tier II champions are directly promoted. Places 13–16 play a cross-relegation against the four Tier II runners-up — best-of-3, winner stays/gets promoted to Tier I, loser goes down. Pure tension until the final face-off.
Between the last regular-season game and the playoff start you have 5 days. Use them to optimize your lineup, recharge energy, and tailor your tactics to the opponent!
The playoff bracket
The top 8 of the table reach the main playoff. It is played in knockout mode: quarterfinal, semifinal and final. Every series is best-of-3 – two wins are enough to advance. Between the series there is a short break in which you can re-line-up and study the next opponent. In the end the final crowns the league champion.
The placement round
Not only the top 8 keep playing. The teams behind them also play a placement round for places 3 to 8 and 9 to 16. There is no longer a title at stake, but honour, prize money and a better starting position for the next season. Every placement counts for your team history.
Relegation in detail
At the bottom it gets serious: places 17 to 20 are relegated directly to Liga II. Places 13 to 16 must go into relegation – there they meet the Liga II runners-up in cross series. Whoever wins stays in Liga I or gets promoted; whoever loses drops a tier. These series are often the most emotional of the whole season.
In a best-of-3 series every single game counts. Keep your energy high for the series and watch your opponent's tactical counters – an adjustment between games can tip the series.
Home advantage & series
In playoff series home advantage can play a role. The home team statistically has slightly better cards because the home fans provide a boost. Use your home games to control the series early and try to steal at least one game away. Whoever has two wins first advances to the next round.
The championship title
At the end of the knockout rounds stands the final, in which the league champion is crowned. The title is not only prestige, but also brings financial bonuses and a better starting position for the next season. The road is long, but every round you survive pays off – sportingly and financially.
Between the series you have time to refill energy and adjust tactics. Use it – whoever enters the next round better prepared has a clear advantage.