n=4 players, N=9 games:
A plays B (assume A wins), C plays D (assume C wins), and A plays C (assume A wins)
A plays C again
   IF A WINS, B plays D
      IF B WINS, A plays B
         IF A WINS, A plays D 3 times, and needs to win all 3
         IF B WINS, A plays B best-of-3
      IF D WINS, A plays D
         IF A WINS, A plays D 3 times, and needs to win all 3
         IF D WINS, A plays D best-of-3
   IF C WINS, A plays C twice more
      IF SOMEONE (say A) WINS TWICE, B plays D, and the winner plays A twice (A wins ties)
      IF THEY SPLIT, A plays C best-of-3