guides
tournament formats
explained.
knockout, round robin, swiss, group stage. which one's right for your event?
knockout
single elimination. lose once, you're out. the most popular format for pub tournaments.
fast — done in one session
dramatic — every match matters
round robin
everyone plays everyone. the fairest format — no one goes home after one loss.
everyone gets lots of games
fairest format — no luck of the draw
swiss system
smart pairing. you play opponents with similar records. more games than knockout, less time than round robin.
everyone plays every round — no elimination
smart matchmaking keeps games competitive
group stage + knockout
the best of both worlds. groups first to seed players, then a knockout bracket to crown the champion.
everyone gets at least 2-3 games
groups seed the knockout fairly
double elimination
lose twice and you're out. a safety net for knockout — one bad game doesn't end your tournament.
second chance after a loss
more games than single knockout
mass elimination
everyone plays at once. the weakest are eliminated each round. perfect for killer pool, around the world darts, and party formats.
everyone plays together — very social
fast rounds