Tournament bracket formats
Three ways to decide a winner — and when each one is the right call.
The format you pick decides how long your event runs, how many courts or tables you need, and how fair the result feels. Single elimination is the fastest. Round robin is the fairest. Double elimination sits between the two.
Below is what each format costs you in matches and time, so you can pick before you start filling in names.
Single elimination
Lose once and you are out. The shortest possible route to a winner: 15 matches for 16 players.
How it worksDouble elimination
A second chance through the losers bracket. Roughly twice the matches, far less luck.
How it worksRound robin
Everyone plays everyone and the table decides. The fairest format, and the longest.
How it works