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Tournament format explorer

See how a tournament unfolds.

Follow the same eight contestants through illustrative, deterministic examples. Start in the middle, then step backward to setup or forward to the final outcome.

Choose a format

Five ways to run a tournament

Knockout · play-offs

Availability: Supported

Single elimination

One loss ends a run; each winner advances into a smaller field.

Semifinals

Step 3 of 4

Two finalists emerge from the four survivors.

A beat D and B beat C in the semifinal round.

  • SemifinalA vs DA advances
  • SemifinalB vs CB advances
  • FinalA vs BScheduled

What this means: D and C are eliminated. A and B advance to the one-match final.

8 entrants → 7 matches · roughly 3 round windows.

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Winners + lower bracket

Availability: On roadmap

Double elimination

A contestant exits only after a second loss, giving an early loss a recovery path.

Bracket crossing

Step 3 of 4

The winners and lower brackets meet at the final gates.

A beat B in the winners final. D survived G then C; B beat D in the lower final.

  • Winners finalA vs BA advances
  • Lower finalB vs DB advances
  • Grand finalA vs BScheduled

What this means: D receives a second loss and is eliminated. B earns the right to challenge unbeaten A.

8 entrants → 14 matches (or 15 with reset) · several overlapping paths.

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Everyone plays everyone

Availability: Supported

Round robin

Every contestant meets every other contestant; standings decide the winner.

Late rounds

Step 3 of 4

A remains first with two rounds left.

Rounds 5 and 6 keep the circle schedule intact without a repeat pairing.

  • Round 6A–C · D–B · E–H · F–GResults recorded

What this means: Everyone continues; B can still challenge first place in the final standings.

8 entrants → 28 matches · 7 rounds.

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Pair by current score

Availability: On roadmap

Swiss system

A fixed number of rounds pairs contestants with similar records, without eliminating them.

After round 2

Step 3 of 4

The last score groups create the final pairings.

A beat D, B beat C, E beat H and F beat G; round 3 pairs A–B, C–E, D–F and G–H.

  • Round 2A–D · B–C · E–H · F–GResults recorded
  • Round 3A–B · C–E · D–F · G–HScheduled without rematches

What this means: All eight contestants play the announced third round. No-one is eliminated.

8 entrants → 12 matches across 3 announced rounds.

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Qualify, then knockout

Availability: On roadmap

Group stage + playoffs

Group standings earn playoff places; the qualified field then moves into knockout matches.

Playoff semifinals

Step 3 of 4

Group qualification now becomes knockout.

First-place finishers play the other group’s runner-up: A–C and B–D.

  • SemifinalA vs CA advances
  • SemifinalB vs DB advances
  • FinalA vs BScheduled

What this means: C and D are eliminated by their semifinal losses; A and B advance to the final.

8 entrants → 15 matches · group phase plus 2 semifinals and final.

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Competios availability

  • Supported: Creatable and runnable in Competios now.
  • Coming soon: Actively scheduled or under implementation.
  • On roadmap: Intended, without a delivery promise.
  • Unsupported: Educational only; explained here with no product commitment.