3 team single elimination bracket
A seeded bracket for 3 teams or players: 2 rounds, 1 first-round bye for the top seed, one loss and you're out. Type team names into the sheet, then print it or download the PDF.
First-round seeding
standard seeded draw| Match | Higher seed | Lower seed | Winner plays |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | #2 | #3 | #1 seed (match 2) |
| Bye | #1 | — | Winner of match 1 (match 2) |
Other sizes and formats
Single elimination: other sizes
3 teams: other formats
Questions
How many games are in a 3 team single elimination bracket?
2. Every game knocks out one team, and 2 teams have to be knocked out to leave one champion. The games are spread over 2 rounds: 1, 1.
How do byes work in a 3 team bracket?
3 is not a power of two, so the bracket is drawn on 4 lines and the top seed skips round 1. Seeds 2–3 play the 1 first-round game, and the winners meet the rested seeds in round 2.
How many games does the champion play?
1 or 2. A seed with a bye wins it in 1 games; a team that starts in round 1 needs 2.
How long does a 3 team tournament take?
About 1h on two courts or fields with 30-minute games, because a round cannot start until the one before it is finished. Change the numbers in the calculator on this page for your own setup.