Swiss top cut calculator
Which records make the top cut, who’s on the bubble, and how many rounds to run. Enter your player count and cut size.
How the numbers work
In a Swiss event, players on the same record are paired together, so each round splits every score group roughly in half. After r rounds, the number of players on w wins is about players × C(r, w) ÷ 2r. With 64 players and 6 rounds that’s 1 player on 6–0, 6 on 5–1 and 15 on 4–2.
Going down the table, a record is safe if everyone on it and above still fits inside the cut, on the bubble if only some of them fit, and out below that. For a top 8 from 64 players: 6–0 and 5–1 make 7 players, so the 8th spot goes to the best of the fifteen 4–2s on tie-breakers.
Running the event
Use the Swiss generator to pair each round from live standings, then cut to a top 8 bracket. See how many Swiss rounds to play and which tie-breakers to use.
FAQ
What is a top cut?
The playoff after the Swiss rounds. The best records (top 8, top 16…) advance to a single elimination bracket that decides the winner.
What does “bubble” mean?
Players on the bubble record have enough wins to make the cut only if their tie-breakers (usually opponents’ win percentage or Buchholz) are good enough. Some on that record get in, some don’t.
How many Swiss rounds for a top 8?
Usually log₂ of the field, rounded up: 32 players → 5 rounds, 64 → 6, 128 → 7. More rounds make the cut cleaner. The calculator shows the effect of adding one.
Should players intentionally draw in the last round?
Where your rules allow it, players who are already safe often draw to lock in their spot. Turn on intentional draws to see how that changes the bubble.
Is this exact?
It shows expected numbers, assuming every game is a coin flip and players on the same record are paired together. Drops, byes and upsets move real events by a player or two.