There's another interesting option: you can divide the players into two groups without any preliminary ranking based on rating, etc., and in each round, players from different groups will face each other, i.e., strength against magic. In the first round, the pairings are random. Based on the results of the round, the participants are distributed within each group according to the points they have earned. Then, a standard Swiss system is used, meaning players with the same number of points will face each other, but repeated matches between the same two players will not be allowed. After 3-4 rounds, the strongest players in each group will be identified, and a playoff will be held between them. P.S. Although, I think that playing strength against strength, as well as magic against magic, is also interesting in the first stage.