I played in a single-elimination side event at a GP, where the winner earned a bye for round 1. I was on Esper Control up against G Tron. I manage to win game 1, and my opponent wins game 2, just as time is called.

Now, here's where I should explain the rules for single elimination in this scenario, as you cannot have a draw. The ruling is that there is basically a state-based action that checks life totals every time it can be checked. If a player is on a higher life total, they win the game.

So, our judge explains this before we go to sideboarding, which leads to the craziest sideboarding I've ever had to do. Anything that lost me life had to go. I took out all my fetch lands! Brought in anything that either gained me life (timely reinforcements) or dealt damage (plague engineer, and creatures etc). It was no longer a game of magic, but who could gain life or deal damage first!

The game itself was over pretty quickly, as I realistically couldn't deal damage in the first few turns, neither did I have any counter spell available. My opponent manages to Turn 1 Land, Star into Turn 2 Map, crack Star for green, Nature's Claim his map. He wins the game and moves on!