3-team double elimination bracket
4 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 3 teams.
The 3-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 final
Lower bracket
Lower final
Grand final
Grand final
Grand final reset
Byes
The draw rounds up to 4 slots, so Seed 1 skips 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 | 1 h 40 min | 2 h 30 min |
| 2 courts | 1 h 40 min | 2 h 30 min |
| 4 courts | 1 h 40 min | 2 h 30 min |
FAQ
How many games are in a 3-team double elimination bracket?
4 or 5. Every team except the champion loses exactly twice, which takes 4 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 3-team double elimination take?
About 1 h 40 min of play on one court with 20-minute games, or 1 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.