The number of people who failed increased by 2.

If 2×6= 12 people pass the exam.

Are those six passes or failures?

Actually,

The number of people who failed decreased by 2.

The difference is 12+2= 14 people.

The number of people who passed the exam has changed from six times to more than two times and four times.

So those who lost in the first game

(14+2)÷(6-4)=8 people

There are 8×4+2+8=42 people participating in the competition.