The rules

One fight, 60 seconds, both knights at 10 health. A count of 1 — 2 — 3 and it starts. The server owns the clock and the ground: where each knight stands, when a blow lands, and whether it connected are all decided there.

Arrows move (← →, 240px/s) and jump (↑). A blow only lands on contact — inside its range, level within 50px — so health only moves when a blow actually connects. Out of range it whiffs, and a whiff still costs the full swing. A well-timed jump clears a blow entirely.

Hold A to raise your guard (grounded only). A raised guard negates any blow that reaches it, but it cannot attack or move, and it holds for at most 1.5s — held longer, it breaks and staggers you for 0.6s, unable to block or attack. Turtling out the clock is not a strategy.

Reduce the other knight to zero and the fight ends on the spot — a knockout. If the clock runs out, the knight with more health wins. Dead level, and the champion keeps the slot. There is no sudden death and no coin flip — a challenger has to actually win.

A daily knockout: 8 slots, seven fights — quarterfinals, semifinals, the final — at fixed times 15 minutes apart, starting 18:00 UTC. Entry costs $10 and buys the slot and a listing in the bracket for the whole day. The whole week's slots drop together on Monday at 09:00 UTC, first come first seated; each day's entries close 30 minutes before its first fight. Slots seed the bracket in order: 1v2, 3v4, 5v6, 7v8. Start times can be rescheduled before a bracket begins — entrants are emailed any change.

Fight times are published when you enter and never move. Both knights have 10 minutes from the scheduled time to be in the arena; a knight who does not appear forfeits the match. An entrant with no opponent advances on a walkover. If neither knight appears — or the result is dead level in any way — the higher seed advances. The winner of the final holds first position on the front page until the next final.