The ecosystem
Competitions
Rival Court runs two kinds of thing. Entry events are open to anybody and last a day or a weekend. Ascend is a league with persistent clubs, and you qualify for it by playing the entry events.
The league
Ascend
Two divisions, persistent clubs, drafts and trades. Clubs move between them on what their team did — never on any individual's rating.
Open to anybody
Entry events
Enter as yourself. Nobody has to pick you and there is no qualification to clear. Playing these is how you qualify for Ascend.