12 team double elimination bracket
For 12 teams or players, and every one has to lose twice to go out. 22 matches across a winners bracket and a losers bracket, plus one more if the losers-bracket champion wins the first final. Type team names into the sheet, then print it or download the PDF.
Match order and drop map
where every winner and loser goes next| Match | Round | Who plays | Winner to | Loser to |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Winners R1 | #8 seed v #9 seed | Match 5 | Match 11 |
| 2 | Winners R1 | #5 seed v #12 seed | Match 6 | Match 12 |
| 3 | Winners R1 | #6 seed v #11 seed | Match 7 | Match 13 |
| 4 | Winners R1 | #7 seed v #10 seed | Match 8 | Match 14 |
| 5 | Winners R2 | #1 seed v Winner of match 1 | Match 9 | Match 14 |
| 6 | Winners R2 | Winner of match 2 v #4 seed | Match 9 | Match 13 |
| 7 | Winners R2 | #3 seed v Winner of match 3 | Match 10 | Match 12 |
| 8 | Winners R2 | Winner of match 4 v #2 seed | Match 10 | Match 11 |
| 9 | Winners R3 | Winner of match 5 v Winner of match 6 | Match 15 | Match 18 |
| 10 | Winners R3 | Winner of match 7 v Winner of match 8 | Match 15 | Match 19 |
| 11 | Losers R1 | Loser of match 1 v Loser of match 8 | Match 16 | Out |
| 12 | Losers R1 | Loser of match 2 v Loser of match 7 | Match 16 | Out |
| 13 | Losers R1 | Loser of match 3 v Loser of match 6 | Match 17 | Out |
| 14 | Losers R1 | Loser of match 4 v Loser of match 5 | Match 17 | Out |
| 15 | Winners final | Winner of match 9 v Winner of match 10 | Match 22 | Match 21 |
| 16 | Losers R2 | Winner of match 11 v Winner of match 12 | Match 18 | Out |
| 17 | Losers R2 | Winner of match 13 v Winner of match 14 | Match 19 | Out |
| 18 | Losers R3 | Winner of match 16 v Loser of match 9 | Match 20 | Out |
| 19 | Losers R3 | Winner of match 17 v Loser of match 10 | Match 20 | Out |
| 20 | Losers R4 | Winner of match 18 v Winner of match 19 | Match 21 | Out |
| 21 | Losers final | Winner of match 20 v Loser of match 15 | Match 22 | Out |
| 22 | Grand final | Winner of match 15 v Winner of match 21 | Champion, or match 23 | Match 23 if it is their first loss |
| 23 | If necessary | Same two teams as match 22 | Champion | Runner-up |
Other sizes and formats
Double elimination: other sizes
12 teams: other formats
Questions
How many games are in a 12 team double elimination bracket?
22 or 23. Each team except the champion has to lose twice, which is 22 losses, and each match hands out one. Match 23 is only played if the champion also loses once.
What is the "if necessary" game?
Match 22 is the grand final between the winners-bracket champion, who has not lost, and the losers-bracket champion, who has lost once. If the losers-bracket team wins, both teams have one loss, so they play match 23 to decide it.
Where do teams go after their first loss?
Into the losers bracket, at the spot marked with their match number. For example the loser of match 1 goes to match 11, shown on the sheet as L1. Losers from later winners-bracket rounds are crossed over to the other side of the losers bracket so that two teams who have already played meet again as late as possible. The full list is in the table above.
How do byes work with 12 teams?
The winners bracket is drawn on 16 lines, so the top 4 seeds skip its first round. The empty spots carry into the losers bracket too: some first-round losers wait a round there before they play.
How many games does the champion play, and how long does it take?
Between 4 and 9: 4 for a team that never loses and starts with a bye, 9 for one that drops into the losers bracket and comes all the way back. The whole bracket takes about 6h 30m on two courts with 30-minute games, plus one more game if match 23 is needed.