Face Score gets you matched. The audience wins or loses you the round. Here are the five things that move audience votes more than anything else.
1. Frame yourself like a passport photo
Eye-line at the top third, both shoulders visible, plenty of space above your head. Off-center, too-close-up, or "only forehead" framings cost real votes in the first three seconds — before viewers consciously decide.
2. Lighting beats genetics
A bright, even, slightly-from-above light source flatters everyone. Match against someone in a dim, harsh-lit room with the same Face Score and you’ll win on light alone.
3. Eye contact wins ties
Look at the lens, not at your own preview. Eye contact dramatically increases the chance an audience member votes for you. They’re not consciously choosing — it’s instinctive.
4. Smile in the first three seconds
The first impression sets the vote anchor. A small, genuine smile in the first three seconds will keep most audience votes locked to you for the whole 15. A stone-face or anxious half-smile pushes votes to your opponent immediately.
5. Don’t fidget
Small head jitter and adjusting your hair, glasses or webcam mid-match reads as nervousness. Confidence reads as winning. Sit still, breathe slowly, count to 15.
Bonus: warm up with Practice vs Bot
Before your first ranked match, hit Practice vs Bot twice to get used to the camera framing and the 15-second clock. No ELO at stake. By the third practice round you’ll have your camera position dialled in.