How it all works

Brief explanation:
Before the tournament, I select a wide variety of piano pieces that are known for being extremely difficult. Examples include Liszt's La Campanella, Ravel's Scarbo (from Gaspard de la Nuit), and Schumann's Toccata. The pieces are arranged in a randomly generated tournament bracket. Then, people vote on which piece is harder in each of the matchups. The piece with the most votes moves on to the next round, and the piece with the least votes is eliminated. Eventually, only 2 pieces remain. The winner of this vote wins the tournament!

Full explanation (important events are bolded):

• A few months before the tournament begins (November-December), I select 64 pieces that are known for being incredibly difficult.

• Due to the fact that my knowledge is limited, I prepare a draft round about two weeks before the tournament begins. The original 64 pieces are revealed and people make suggestions for replacements.

  • The bracket is not revealed.

  • Due to the nature of the competition, some suggested pieces will be rejected if they are above/below certain points in difficulty, length, or obscurity. See restrictions (below) for details.

    • This will be made clear to the participants.

  • Suggestions should also contain a piece that will be replaced by the suggested piece.

  • Restrictions:

    • Submitted performance must be under 15 minutes in length.

    • Pieces must have been published before 1925.

      • Exceptions will occasionally be made.

    • Pieces must have at least 100 results if you search them on pianostreet. ("Common Repertoire")

      • I will be very lenient regarding search parameters (e.g. "OC" for Opus Clavicembalisticum).

    • Pieces must be entirely played by the piano. Orchestral works (e.g. Liszt Concerto no. 1, etc.) are not allowed.

• Roughly one week before the tournament begins, the bracket is revealed and predictions are opened.

  • The bracket has been predetermined randomly, and any used piece suggestions will have replaced the suggested cut.

• The tournament will usually begin sometime in the last week of February. Predictions will be closed at this time.

  • NEW FOR 2026: predictions will run until the end of the first set of matches.

• Matches will be posted four at a time on pianostreet. The posts will (almost) always happen at 5 pm US Eastern Time.

• After 2 days of voting, the form will close (shortly before 5 pm) and the next vote will open.

  • In the case of a tie, whichever piece got the most votes from users with a pianostreet account is the winner.

• As soon as the form is closed, I will update the Challonge bracket with the results.

• This process will repeat until the quarterfinals. Starting then, the winners will not be revealed until the start of the next round.

  • This was not the case for 2025 because I wasn't up to it. This will be the case for all future tournaments.

• The quarterfinals will be divided into two forms, each with two matches instead of four.

• Each semifinal will be a separate vote.

• The finals vote will last for one week.

• The final reveal will be made in a separate post! I will not update the Challonge bracket for an additional day after the form is closed.