12-team double elimination bracket
22 games, plus a grand-final reset if needed. Every team plays at least twice. The full upper and lower brackets, timings, and a generator set up for 12 teams.
The 12-team bracket
Losers of upper-bracket games drop into the lower bracket (“Loser of M3”). Drop-ins are crossed so teams don’t usually meet the same opponent twice in a row. Match numbers follow playing order.
Upper bracket
Upper round 1
Upper round 2
Upper round 3
Upper final
Lower bracket
Lower round 1
Lower round 2
Lower round 3
Lower round 4
Lower final
Grand final
Grand final
Grand final reset
Byes
The draw rounds up to 16 slots, so Seed 1, Seed 2, Seed 3, Seed 4 skip the first upper-bracket round. Byes go to the top seeds; a team with a bye still has two lives.
How long it takes
Playing time with no breaks, including the possible reset:
| 20-min games | 30-min games | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 court | 7 h 40 min | 11 h 30 min |
| 2 courts | 4 h 40 min | 7 h |
| 4 courts | 3 h | 4 h 30 min |
FAQ
How many games are in a 12-team double elimination bracket?
22 or 23. Every team except the champion loses exactly twice, which takes 22 games; one more is needed if the lower-bracket team wins the first grand final.
Does every team play at least twice?
Yes. Losing once sends you to the lower bracket; a second loss ends your event. A first-round bye counts as advancing, not as a game.
How long does a 12-team double elimination take?
About 7 h 40 min of play on one court with 20-minute games, or 4 h 40 min on two courts, including a possible reset. The lower bracket has more rounds than the upper, so it sets the pace.
What is the grand final reset?
The upper-bracket winner reaches the grand final unbeaten. If the lower-bracket winner beats them, both have one loss, so a deciding game is played. You can switch the reset off in the generator.