![Razz :P](./images/smilies/icon_razz.gif)
(a) Get really lucky and stay under the radar
(b) Don't sleep
Odds are everyone has tried everyone at least once prior to that. I was lucky to catch all the massings on me while I was awake (save for when the gf dragged me out of the apartment and my multi died). But when I went to bed, no dice and I was out...even though I had one of the higher planet counts and the rank one tourny def when I slept. Same could be said for lots of people getting kicked out. Online battles don't make sense in the tourny because turns are so precious. It more often than not is a waiting game to use your turns to their best advantage on a target you know won't repair.
P.S. Back in the OE vs TAF war, I'd do 20-22 hour shifts of log watching taking quick naps/"sleep". Not that bad for a few days. Eventually have to sleep though...good thing the tournaments don't take weeks then eh?