Knockout
Lose once. Now you're a spectator.
A knockout tournament is the format everyone knows: a bracket, sudden death every round, and the fewest matches of any format. Here's how it works, when to run one, and how many rounds you need.
What is a knockout tournament?
The most straightforward format in competition. You play, you win, you go through. You lose, you're out. It's the format everyone grew up watching — the FA Cup, March Madness, Wimbledon. On Leagology, the draw is made for you, the bracket goes up on the big screen, and scores update live.
Players are drawn into a bracket. Win and you advance. Lose and you're done. Last player standing wins. On Leagology, the draw happens live — throw it on the big screen and watch people find their name. Scores go in as they happen, the bracket updates, and the whole room can follow along.
How many rounds do you need?
Total matches 15
How it runs with us.
You bring the players. Here's what we do with them, from the first match to the morning after.
- 1 The draw goes up on the screen, and the room watches for their name.
- 2 Every result goes in at the table, and the bracket moves while they watch.
- 3 Twelve turn up? Thirteen? Seventeen? We've got you.
- 4 Every match counts towards Leagology Rankings, so today still means something next month.
- 5 Afterwards every player has a profile: their results, their rivals, their number.
The last one we ran — The Weston Arms, 13 September 2026.
- players
- 16
- players
- matches
- 15
- matches
- rounds
- 4
- rounds
- byes
- 0
- byes
Clive Peachey won it. See the series
That's why it's Leagology.
Any format gets you a winner. We give the room something to talk about on the way home.
It's on the telly.
The draw, the scores and the bracket on the screen, live, while the room watches.
It gets talked about.
Commentary written from what actually happened. The upset, the comeback, the one who bottled it.
The numbers are real.
Stats from every match, scored as it's played. Nobody's guessing who's best any more.
Everyone you've played.
Your rivals, your record against each of them, and who you still owe one.
And one number that follows every player from series to series: Leagology Rankings. How it works
When to use it.
Any number of players, maximum drama. 16 players? Four rounds. 32? Five. Got 12 or 13? Doesn't matter — the draw adapts each round so everyone plays. Everyone knows how a bracket works. No explaining needed.
Why people pick it
- + Dramatic — every match is sudden death
- + Any number of players — the draw adapts, no padding needed
- + Everyone knows how a bracket works — no explaining needed
- + The big screen bracket is the centrepiece of the room
- + Fewer total matches than any other format
Worth knowing
- − One bad game and you're out
- − Half the players go home early
- − Fewer games per player than other formats
How it compares.
Knockout vs round robin
Round robin gives everyone more games and a fairer result — nobody goes home after one loss. But it takes much longer. 16 players in a round robin need 120 matches. A 16-player knockout needs 15 and finishes in four rounds. On Leagology, both formats feed into the same player rankings — pick whichever fits your tournament.
Knockout vs swiss
Swiss keeps everyone playing every round — nobody goes home. But there's no bracket, no sudden death, no crowd around the final. Knockout gives you the theatre — the bracket on the wall, the upsets, the path to the final that everyone can follow. Swiss is not on Leagology yet.
Common questions.
What is a knockout tournament?
Single elimination — win and advance, lose and you're out. On Leagology, the draw goes up on the big screen, scores update as they happen, and every match counts towards Leagology Rankings.
How many rounds does a knockout need?
8 players need 3 rounds. 16 need 4. 32 need 5. Leagology calculates it automatically — you just add players and press start. The bracket builds itself.
What if I don't have exactly 8 or 16 players?
Doesn't matter. 12, 13, 17, 23 — we've got you. No padding, no wasted spots, and nobody spends the day sat watching.
Is knockout fair?
It's dramatic, not always fair. One bad game and you're done. That's the trade-off — the tension is real because the stakes are real. On Leagology, your ranking adjusts for opponent strength, so a tough early exit doesn't wreck your rating. Want more games? Try Swiss or round robin instead.
How does seeding work?
Most tournaments on Leagology use a fresh random draw every round — nobody knows who they will get, which is half the fun. Every player's rating carries from one series to the next, so the board shows who is really good even when the draw does not.
Can I run knockout for any sport?
Any sport with a one-on-one result. We are starting with cue sports, then darts, then racket sports, and each one comes with its own scoring and rules. Play something else? Tell us — the next sport we build is the one a room asks for.
What does it look like on the big screen?
The bracket updates live on any TV in the venue: the draw, who is on next, live scores and the path to the final. The screen is the centrepiece of the room.
Knockout vs round robin — which should I pick?
Knockout for one day of drama. Round robin for a league that runs over weeks. Or run a knockout every week and let Leagology Rankings be the league — it carries from one week to the next.
Run a knockout at your venue.
We run the draw, the scores, the screen and the rankings. You run the room. One plan per venue. We ask for a card when you set up your first event, and nothing is charged until the trial ends.
Just want players to find you? List your venue free — players see what they can play there.
The other formats.
Round Robin
A round robin is the fairest format there is: nobody goes out after one bad game, and t...
Swiss System · not on Leagology yet
The Swiss system keeps everyone playing every round and pairs people on the same record...
Group Stages and Knockout
Groups first, then a knockout — the World Cup format. Everyone gets several games befor...
Double Elimination · not on Leagology yet
Double elimination is a knockout with a safety net: lose once and you drop into the los...
Mass Elimination · not on Leagology yet
Mass elimination is the party format — killer pool, around the world darts, last player...