Format - Single Elimination

Single Elimination (SE)

A single elimination bracket is a tournament format where competitors face off in one-on-one matches, and the loser of each match is immediately eliminated from the competition. The winners move on to the next round, and this continues until only one competitor remains as the champion. 

This is the easiest format available. The participants are drawn into the bracket and from there, if you lose a match you are out of the tournament. If you win, you go on to the next round until there's only one left. Single elimination brackets naturally grow by the power of 2. So you have bracket sizes from 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, etc. Empty spots will be filled by byes in the first round. They will automatically take the lowest seed in the bracket.

There is also a setting available to redraw after every round is finished, to make the Single elimination unpredictable.

Single Elimination is a very effective bracket to use, especially if you have little time, a lot of players or a limited number of tables available. On the negative side, the players get only one chance. Lose one match and you are out.

Advanced Variations

Single Elimination Brackets with Late-Entry Players (eg. 16 + 8 + 4)

The system also has some Single Elimination Brackets with extended notation in the name. Those would be Single Elimination Brackets with Late-Entry Players, a tournament format where certain competitors are added in later rounds instead of starting from the beginning. This can happen for various reasons, such as seeding advantages, play-in rounds, or byes.

How It Works:

1. Early Rounds – Lower-seeded or unranked participants compete in the initial matches. Some players may receive byes (automatic advancement) if there aren't enough participants.
2. Late Entrants – Higher-seeded players, past champions, or invited competitors join in later rounds. They skip the early stages and face winners from previous rounds.
3. Standard Progression – Once all players are in, the tournament follows a normal single elimination format until a champion is determined.

This structure helps balance competition by rewarding higher-ranked players while still allowing lower-ranked ones a chance to compete.

Single Elimination Qualifier Bracket (eg. 16 Q4)

A single elimination qualifier bracket is a tournament format used to determine which players or teams advance to a larger competition, such as a main event or a higher-tier tournament.

How It Works:

1. Initial Matches – Competitors face off in single elimination matches, where the loser is immediately eliminated.
2. Advancement – Winners move on to the next round, continuing until only a set number of teams or players remain.
3. Qualification Spots – Instead of a single champion, multiple players or teams may qualify. For example, in a 16 Q4 Bracket, the tournament stops once those four remain.