How are the positions of the players after the game determined? Does it depend on the initial positions or the positions just before the game ends? Does it make a difference who challenged who?
For instance, player A (#30) challenges player B (#25), and loses, but just before the game ends player A is at #20 and player B #22. What would their positions be after the game ends?
I looked at the help pages but could not find any explanation of how it works.
What matters is the loser’s position at the end of the game. After a game ends, if the loser is in higher position than the winner, the winner takes the spot right above the loser.
It’s even possible to level up from beating a challenger, if that challenger wins another game to jump ahead of you before finishing the game with you.