diff --git a/gemp-lotr/gemp-lotr-server/src/main/java/com/gempukku/lotro/tournament/DefaultTournament.java b/gemp-lotr/gemp-lotr-server/src/main/java/com/gempukku/lotro/tournament/DefaultTournament.java
index 2c1f92bed..505aa1299 100644
--- a/gemp-lotr/gemp-lotr-server/src/main/java/com/gempukku/lotro/tournament/DefaultTournament.java
+++ b/gemp-lotr/gemp-lotr-server/src/main/java/com/gempukku/lotro/tournament/DefaultTournament.java
@@ -307,7 +307,11 @@ public class DefaultTournament implements Tournament {
                 if (_tournamentStage == Stage.AWAITING_KICKOFF) {
 
                 }
-                if (_tournamentStage == Stage.PLAYING_GAMES) {
+                else if (_tournamentStage == Stage.PREPARING) {
+                    _tournamentStage = Stage.PLAYING_GAMES;
+                    _tournamentService.updateTournamentStage(_tournamentId, _tournamentStage);
+                }
+                else if (_tournamentStage == Stage.PLAYING_GAMES) {
                     if (_currentlyPlayingPlayers.size() == 0) {
                         if (_pairingMechanism.isFinished(_tournamentRound, _players, _droppedPlayers)) {
                             finishTournament(tournamentCallback, collectionsManager);
diff --git a/gemp-lotr/gemp-lotr-server/src/main/java/com/gempukku/lotro/tournament/ScheduledTournamentQueue.java b/gemp-lotr/gemp-lotr-server/src/main/java/com/gempukku/lotro/tournament/ScheduledTournamentQueue.java
index 8bf68e9a6..2b7ed2445 100644
--- a/gemp-lotr/gemp-lotr-server/src/main/java/com/gempukku/lotro/tournament/ScheduledTournamentQueue.java
+++ b/gemp-lotr/gemp-lotr-server/src/main/java/com/gempukku/lotro/tournament/ScheduledTournamentQueue.java
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ import java.util.Date;
 
 public class ScheduledTournamentQueue extends AbstractTournamentQueue implements TournamentQueue {
     private static final Duration _signupTimeBeforeStart = Duration.ofMinutes(60);
-    private static final Duration _wcSignupTimeBeforeStart = Duration.ofHours(24);
+    private static final Duration _wcSignupTimeBeforeStart = Duration.ofHours(30);
     private final ZonedDateTime _startTime;
     private final int _minimumPlayers;
     private final String _startCondition;
diff --git a/gemp-lotr/gemp-lotr-server/src/main/java/com/gempukku/lotro/tournament/Tournament.java b/gemp-lotr/gemp-lotr-server/src/main/java/com/gempukku/lotro/tournament/Tournament.java
index f97a6e881..27d9cf952 100644
--- a/gemp-lotr/gemp-lotr-server/src/main/java/com/gempukku/lotro/tournament/Tournament.java
+++ b/gemp-lotr/gemp-lotr-server/src/main/java/com/gempukku/lotro/tournament/Tournament.java
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ public interface Tournament {
         DRAFT("Drafting"),
         DECK_BUILDING("Deck building"),
         AWAITING_KICKOFF("Awaiting kickoff"),
+        PREPARING("Preparing"),
         PLAYING_GAMES("Playing games"),
         FINISHED("Finished");