16 team double elimination bracket
For 16 teams or players, and every one has to lose twice to go out. 30 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 | #1 seed v #16 seed | Match 9 | Match 13 |
| 2 | Winners R1 | #8 seed v #9 seed | Match 9 | Match 13 |
| 3 | Winners R1 | #5 seed v #12 seed | Match 10 | Match 14 |
| 4 | Winners R1 | #4 seed v #13 seed | Match 10 | Match 14 |
| 5 | Winners R1 | #3 seed v #14 seed | Match 11 | Match 15 |
| 6 | Winners R1 | #6 seed v #11 seed | Match 11 | Match 15 |
| 7 | Winners R1 | #7 seed v #10 seed | Match 12 | Match 16 |
| 8 | Winners R1 | #2 seed v #15 seed | Match 12 | Match 16 |
| 9 | Winners R2 | Winner of match 1 v Winner of match 2 | Match 17 | Match 22 |
| 10 | Winners R2 | Winner of match 3 v Winner of match 4 | Match 17 | Match 21 |
| 11 | Winners R2 | Winner of match 5 v Winner of match 6 | Match 18 | Match 20 |
| 12 | Winners R2 | Winner of match 7 v Winner of match 8 | Match 18 | Match 19 |
| 13 | Losers R1 | Loser of match 1 v Loser of match 2 | Match 19 | Out |
| 14 | Losers R1 | Loser of match 3 v Loser of match 4 | Match 20 | Out |
| 15 | Losers R1 | Loser of match 5 v Loser of match 6 | Match 21 | Out |
| 16 | Losers R1 | Loser of match 7 v Loser of match 8 | Match 22 | Out |
| 17 | Winners R3 | Winner of match 9 v Winner of match 10 | Match 23 | Match 26 |
| 18 | Winners R3 | Winner of match 11 v Winner of match 12 | Match 23 | Match 27 |
| 19 | Losers R2 | Winner of match 13 v Loser of match 12 | Match 24 | Out |
| 20 | Losers R2 | Winner of match 14 v Loser of match 11 | Match 24 | Out |
| 21 | Losers R2 | Winner of match 15 v Loser of match 10 | Match 25 | Out |
| 22 | Losers R2 | Winner of match 16 v Loser of match 9 | Match 25 | Out |
| 23 | Winners final | Winner of match 17 v Winner of match 18 | Match 30 | Match 29 |
| 24 | Losers R3 | Winner of match 19 v Winner of match 20 | Match 26 | Out |
| 25 | Losers R3 | Winner of match 21 v Winner of match 22 | Match 27 | Out |
| 26 | Losers R4 | Winner of match 24 v Loser of match 17 | Match 28 | Out |
| 27 | Losers R4 | Winner of match 25 v Loser of match 18 | Match 28 | Out |
| 28 | Losers R5 | Winner of match 26 v Winner of match 27 | Match 29 | Out |
| 29 | Losers final | Winner of match 28 v Loser of match 23 | Match 30 | Out |
| 30 | Grand final | Winner of match 23 v Winner of match 29 | Champion, or match 31 | Match 31 if it is their first loss |
| 31 | If necessary | Same two teams as match 30 | Champion | Runner-up |
Other sizes and formats
Double elimination: other sizes
16 teams: other formats
Questions
How many games are in a 16 team double elimination bracket?
30 or 31. Each team except the champion has to lose twice, which is 30 losses, and each match hands out one. Match 31 is only played if the champion also loses once.
What is the "if necessary" game?
Match 30 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 31 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.
Does a 16 team double elimination bracket have byes?
No. 16 is a power of two, so every team plays in the first winners round and every first-round loser plays in the first losers round.
How many games does the champion play, and how long does it take?
Between 5 and 9: 5 for a team that never loses, 9 for one that drops into the losers bracket and comes all the way back. The whole bracket takes about 8h 30m on two courts with 30-minute games, plus one more game if match 31 is needed.