13 team double elimination bracket
For 13 teams or players, and every one has to lose twice to go out. 24 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 6 | Match 13 |
| 2 | Winners R1 | #5 seed v #12 seed | Match 7 | Match 10 |
| 3 | Winners R1 | #4 seed v #13 seed | Match 7 | Match 10 |
| 4 | Winners R1 | #6 seed v #11 seed | Match 8 | Match 15 |
| 5 | Winners R1 | #7 seed v #10 seed | Match 9 | Match 16 |
| 6 | Winners R2 | #1 seed v Winner of match 1 | Match 11 | Match 16 |
| 7 | Winners R2 | Winner of match 2 v Winner of match 3 | Match 11 | Match 15 |
| 8 | Winners R2 | #3 seed v Winner of match 4 | Match 12 | Match 14 |
| 9 | Winners R2 | Winner of match 5 v #2 seed | Match 12 | Match 13 |
| 10 | Losers R1 | Loser of match 2 v Loser of match 3 | Match 14 | Out |
| 11 | Winners R3 | Winner of match 6 v Winner of match 7 | Match 17 | Match 20 |
| 12 | Winners R3 | Winner of match 8 v Winner of match 9 | Match 17 | Match 21 |
| 13 | Losers R2 | Loser of match 1 v Loser of match 9 | Match 18 | Out |
| 14 | Losers R2 | Winner of match 10 v Loser of match 8 | Match 18 | Out |
| 15 | Losers R2 | Loser of match 4 v Loser of match 7 | Match 19 | Out |
| 16 | Losers R2 | Loser of match 5 v Loser of match 6 | Match 19 | Out |
| 17 | Winners final | Winner of match 11 v Winner of match 12 | Match 24 | Match 23 |
| 18 | Losers R3 | Winner of match 13 v Winner of match 14 | Match 20 | Out |
| 19 | Losers R3 | Winner of match 15 v Winner of match 16 | Match 21 | Out |
| 20 | Losers R4 | Winner of match 18 v Loser of match 11 | Match 22 | Out |
| 21 | Losers R4 | Winner of match 19 v Loser of match 12 | Match 22 | Out |
| 22 | Losers R5 | Winner of match 20 v Winner of match 21 | Match 23 | Out |
| 23 | Losers final | Winner of match 22 v Loser of match 17 | Match 24 | Out |
| 24 | Grand final | Winner of match 17 v Winner of match 23 | Champion, or match 25 | Match 25 if it is their first loss |
| 25 | If necessary | Same two teams as match 24 | Champion | Runner-up |
Other sizes and formats
Double elimination: other sizes
13 teams: other formats
Questions
How many games are in a 13 team double elimination bracket?
24 or 25. Each team except the champion has to lose twice, which is 24 losses, and each match hands out one. Match 25 is only played if the champion also loses once.
What is the "if necessary" game?
Match 24 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 25 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 13, 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 13 teams?
The winners bracket is drawn on 16 lines, so the top 3 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 7h 30m on two courts with 30-minute games, plus one more game if match 25 is needed.