is it like a league format where each team plays each other once or something? i still don't really understand it
First round is normal matches
Second round is the two winners (top) and the two losers (bottom). The winner of the top matches moves on to playoffs and the loser of the top goes to round 3. Conversely, the loser of the bottom matches is out and the winner moves to round 3.
The four remaining teams will play in round 3 to lock up the last two playoffs spots.
https://liquipedia.net/counterstrike/PGL/2024/Copenhagen/Europe_A#Overview
example from CS RMR
CS uses Buchholz system to select next matches but they can choose another way to do it like round diff
1st seed vs 2nd seed
1-0 teams face each other -> winner of this matches are qualified with 2-0 record.
0-1 teams face each other -> whoever loses in this match up are eliminated with 0-2 record
1-1 teams face each other -> 2 teams that win will be qualified with 2-1 record while losers are out with 1-2 record
2 wins and you qual to playoffs, 2 losses and you bomb out.
the format that allow teams to play each other once is called single round robin format