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