1. Create or accept a challenge
Players choose an exact game, mode, region, platform, team size, season, and rules version. Acceptance locks those competitive dimensions so a result cannot silently move to a different ladder.
2. Lock the match room
The accepted roster and rules snapshot are preserved with the match. Participants use the private room for scheduling, check-in, evidence, and result confirmation.
3. Report and confirm
A participant reports the complete result. Other participants may confirm it or open a dispute. Unconfirmed and disputed submissions do not update public ratings.
4. Finalize exactly once
Finalization is atomic and idempotent: the match state, participant placements, rating ledger, Mastery ledger, records, and audit trail commit together or not at all.