16 Team Double Elimination Bracket

No byes: eight opening games and 30 numbered games, with a 31st drawn in case the final is replayed.

16 Team Double Elimination Bracket

No teams yet. The bracket prints blank, to fill in by hand.

16 teams, double elimination: 30 or 31 games. No byes.

Loser to Game 13
Loser to Game 13
Winner of Game 1Winner of Game 2Loser to Game 20
Loser to Game 14
Loser to Game 14
Winner of Game 3Winner of Game 4Loser to Game 19
Winner of Game 9Winner of Game 10Loser to Game 25
Loser to Game 15
Loser to Game 15
Winner of Game 5Winner of Game 6Loser to Game 18
Loser to Game 16
Loser to Game 16
Winner of Game 7Winner of Game 8Loser to Game 17
Winner of Game 11Winner of Game 12Loser to Game 26
Winner of Game 21Winner of Game 22Loser to Game 29
Loser of Game 1Loser of Game 2Loser out: 13th to 16th
Winner of Game 13Loser of Game 12Loser out: 9th to 12th
Loser of Game 3Loser of Game 4Loser out: 13th to 16th
Winner of Game 14Loser of Game 11Loser out: 9th to 12th
Winner of Game 17Winner of Game 18Loser out: 7th to 8th
Winner of Game 23Loser of Game 21Loser out: 5th to 6th
Loser of Game 5Loser of Game 6Loser out: 13th to 16th
Winner of Game 15Loser of Game 10Loser out: 9th to 12th
Loser of Game 7Loser of Game 8Loser out: 13th to 16th
Winner of Game 16Loser of Game 9Loser out: 9th to 12th
Winner of Game 19Winner of Game 20Loser out: 7th to 8th
Winner of Game 24Loser of Game 22Loser out: 5th to 6th
Winner of Game 25Winner of Game 26Loser out: 4th
Winner of Game 28Loser of Game 27Loser out: 3rd
Winner of Game 27Winner of Game 29
Winner of Game 30Loser of Game 30If the losers bracket team wins Game 30
Champion

Tap a team to send it through; tap it again to take the result back. The bracket scrolls sideways.

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How it works

A 16 team double elimination bracket has no byes: all sixteen play in the Round of 16, Seed 1 against Seed 16 in Game 1 and Seed 2 against Seed 15 in Game 8. Game 30 is the final and Game 31 the if game.

Read the full guide

Eight opening games, eight drops

On a 16 team double elimination tournament bracket the first eight losers stay in their own quarter: the losers of Games 1 and 2 meet in Game 13, 3 and 4 in Game 14, 5 and 6 in Game 15, 7 and 8 in Game 16. Those four games send home the teams tied for thirteenth.

Quarterfinal losers change halves

The losers of Games 9, 10, 11 and 12 drop to Games 20, 19, 18 and 17, on the far half of the losers bracket. That keeps every pairing new until Game 25. Semifinal losers enter at Games 25 and 26.

Tips
  • Two courts take 16 slots, three take 12 and four take 10; Game 31 adds one.
  • With sixteen there is no shorter road: every seed needs five wins for an unbeaten title, and none can play more than nine games.
  • Fifteen teams? Set the Teams box to 15 and Seed 1 gets a bye. The game notes here still describe 16.

Questions and answers

How many games are in a 16 team double elimination bracket?

30, or 31 with a replayed final: fifteen winners bracket games, fourteen losers bracket games and the championship. A single 16 team bracket has 15 and a 16 team round robin 120.

Can I use it as a 16 person double elimination bracket?

Yes: for singles play it is the same sheet, a 16 man double elimination bracket. Type one player per line, best first, and line one becomes Seed 1, drawn against line sixteen.

Can two teams meet twice?

Yes, from Game 25 on. Game 25 can repeat any of Games 1 to 4 and Game 26 any of Games 5 to 8. The ten losers bracket games before them, 13 to 20, 23 and 24, never can.

Where does each team finish?

Four tie for thirteenth, four for ninth, two for seventh and two for fifth. The Game 28 loser is fourth and the Game 29 loser third. The runner-up is the loser of the last game played.

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Every game in the 16-team double-elimination bracket

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16 teams, double elimination: 30 or 31 games. No byes.

Games of the 16-team double-elimination bracket, in playing order
GameRoundTeamsWinner goes toLoser goes toNotes
1Winners round of 16Seed 1 vs Seed 16Game 9Game 13With a full field of 16 even Seed 1 plays in the opening round. The winner meets the Game 2 winner in Game 9. The loser drops to Game 13 for an elimination game against the Game 2 loser.
2Winners round of 16Seed 8 vs Seed 9Game 9Game 13Seed 8 against Seed 9, the closest opener on seeding. It shares both exits with Game 1: the winners meet in Game 9, the losers in Game 13.
3Winners round of 16Seed 5 vs Seed 12Game 10Game 14Seed 5 against Seed 12. The winner plays Game 10 against whoever wins Game 4. The loser plays Game 14 against whoever loses Game 4, and one of those two goes home 0 and 2.
4Winners round of 16Seed 4 vs Seed 13Game 10Game 14Completes the top half of the sheet. Seed 4 or Seed 13 moves up to Game 10; the other moves down to Game 14. Games 1 to 4 decide which eight teams fill Games 9, 10, 13 and 14.
5Winners round of 16Seed 3 vs Seed 14Game 11Game 15Opens the bottom half: Seed 3 against Seed 14. The winner's quarterfinal is Game 11, against the Game 6 winner. The loser's next game is Game 15, against the Game 6 loser.
6Winners round of 16Seed 6 vs Seed 11Game 11Game 15Seed 6 against Seed 11. Its winner and the Game 5 winner meet in Game 11; its loser and the Game 5 loser meet in Game 15, in losers round 1.
7Winners round of 16Seed 7 vs Seed 10Game 12Game 16Seed 7 against Seed 10, with a place in Game 12 for the winner. The loser drops to Game 16. Both of those games take their other team from Game 8, where Seed 2 plays.
8Winners round of 16Seed 2 vs Seed 15Game 12Game 16Seed 2 against Seed 15, the last line of the sheet. The winner goes to Game 12 to face the Game 7 winner. The loser goes to Game 16 to face the Game 7 loser.
9Winners quarterfinalWinner of Game 1 vs Winner of Game 2Game 21Game 20Quarterfinal. Both teams are 1 and 0. The winner goes to the semifinal, Game 21. The loser crosses to the far side of the losers bracket, Game 20, to meet the Game 16 winner from the bottom half.
10Winners quarterfinalWinner of Game 3 vs Winner of Game 4Game 21Game 19Quarterfinal for the winners of Games 3 and 4, Seed 5 against Seed 4 if seeds hold. Winner to Game 21. The loser drops to Game 19 and meets the Game 15 winner, a team from Games 5 and 6.
11Winners quarterfinalWinner of Game 5 vs Winner of Game 6Game 22Game 18Bottom-half quarterfinal. The winner plays Game 22. The loser is sent up the sheet to Game 18, where the Game 14 winner comes from Games 3 and 4, so the two cannot have met.
12Winners quarterfinalWinner of Game 7 vs Winner of Game 8Game 22Game 17The last of the four quarterfinals, and on seeding the one Seed 2 plays in. Winner to Game 22 against the Game 11 winner. Loser to Game 17 against the Game 13 winner, a team from the top half.
13Losers round 1Loser of Game 1 vs Loser of Game 2Game 17Out (13th to 16th)Losers round 1. If Seed 1 lost its opener, it is here against Seed 8 or Seed 9. The loser is out after two games, one of four teams tied for 13th. The winner goes to Game 17.
14Losers round 1Loser of Game 3 vs Loser of Game 4Game 18Out (13th to 16th)The losers of Games 3 and 4 meet. One is out, tied for 13th; the other moves to Game 18, where the loser of the Game 11 quarterfinal drops in from the bottom half.
15Losers round 1Loser of Game 5 vs Loser of Game 6Game 19Out (13th to 16th)The losers of Games 5 and 6. The loser shares 13th place with the losers of Games 13, 14 and 16. The winner goes to Game 19 to play the team that loses Game 10.
16Losers round 1Loser of Game 7 vs Loser of Game 8Game 20Out (13th to 16th)Last game of losers round 1, between the losers of Games 7 and 8. After it, four teams are out with two defeats each, all tied for 13th. The winner plays the Game 9 loser in Game 20.
17Losers round 2Winner of Game 13 vs Loser of Game 12Game 23Out (9th to 12th)Both teams are 1 and 1: the Game 13 winner lost in round 1, the Game 12 loser lost a quarterfinal. They come from opposite halves. The loser ties for ninth; the winner plays Game 23.
18Losers round 2Winner of Game 14 vs Loser of Game 11Game 23Out (9th to 12th)The Game 14 winner against the Game 11 loser, a first meeting. The loser is out and shares ninth place with three other teams. The winner goes to Game 23 against the Game 17 winner.
19Losers round 2Winner of Game 15 vs Loser of Game 10Game 24Out (9th to 12th)The Game 15 winner, from the bottom half, against the Game 10 loser, from the top. The loser is one of four teams tied for ninth. The winner moves to Game 24.
20Losers round 2Winner of Game 16 vs Loser of Game 9Game 24Out (9th to 12th)The Game 16 winner against the Game 9 loser. Seed 1 lands here if it wins its opener and loses its quarterfinal. The loser ties for ninth; the winner meets the Game 19 winner in Game 24.
21Winners semifinalWinner of Game 9 vs Winner of Game 10Game 27Game 25Top-half semifinal, Seed 1 against Seed 4 if seeds hold. Both teams are 2 and 0. The winner goes to Game 27. The loser drops to Game 25, the first game in which two teams can meet again.
22Winners semifinalWinner of Game 11 vs Winner of Game 12Game 27Game 26Semifinal for the eight teams of Games 5 to 8, Seed 3 against Seed 2 if seeds hold. The winner plays the winners final, Game 27. The loser drops to Game 26 against the Game 24 winner.
23Losers round 3Winner of Game 17 vs Winner of Game 18Game 25Out (7th to 8th)Losers round 3. Each team has two wins and one loss. One comes from Games 1, 2, 7 and 8, the other from Games 3 to 6, so it cannot be a rematch. The loser ties for seventh.
24Losers round 3Winner of Game 19 vs Winner of Game 20Game 26Out (7th to 8th)The other game for seventh place, between the winners of Games 19 and 20. Like Game 23 it can never be a rematch. The winner goes to Game 26 and meets the loser of the Game 22 semifinal.
25Losers round 4Winner of Game 23 vs Loser of Game 21Game 28Out (5th to 6th)Can repeat Game 1, 2, 3 or 4. The Game 21 loser is 2 and 1; the Game 23 winner is 3 and 1. The loser ties for fifth; the winner plays Game 28.
26Losers round 4Winner of Game 24 vs Loser of Game 22Game 28Out (5th to 6th)Can repeat Game 5, 6, 7 or 8: the Game 22 loser may meet the team it beat in the round of 16, which has won three in a row since. The loser shares fifth place with the Game 25 loser. The winner plays Game 28.
27Winners finalWinner of Game 21 vs Winner of Game 22Game 30Game 29Winners final. Both teams are 3 and 0, and the winner is the only unbeaten team left. It goes to Game 30. The loser drops to Game 29, the losers final, still one win from the championship.
28Losers round 5Winner of Game 25 vs Winner of Game 26Game 29Out (4th)Any of Games 1 to 12 can come round again here. The loser finishes fourth. The winner has now played five or six games and meets a team that has played four.
29Losers finalWinner of Game 28 vs Loser of Game 27Game 30Out (3rd)Losers final. The Game 27 loser is 3 and 1. The Game 28 winner has played five or six games and lost one. The loser finishes third; the winner goes to Game 30.
30ChampionshipWinner of Game 27 vs Winner of Game 29Champion, or Game 31 if the losers bracket team winsRunner-upChampionship. The Game 27 winner is 4 and 0. The Game 29 winner must beat it here and again in Game 31; one win for the unbeaten team ends the tournament at 30 games.
31If necessaryWinner of Game 30 vs Loser of Game 30ChampionRunner-upThe if game, or bracket reset: played only when the unbeaten team lost Game 30. Both have one defeat, and this game decides the title. A team that lost before the semifinals is playing its ninth game.

Each seed's unbeaten path, and where a first loss drops it 16

  • Seed 1: Game 1, Game 9, Game 21, Game 27 and Game 30 Meets Seed 16 in Game 1, in the top half. Its drop after a first loss depends on the round: from Game 1 to Game 13, from Game 9 to Game 20, from Game 21 to Game 25, from Game 27 to Game 29. Win Game 1 and the quarterfinal is Game 9, against Seed 8 or Seed 9.
  • Seed 2: Game 8, Game 12, Game 22, Game 27 and Game 30 Meets Seed 15 in Game 8, in the bottom half. Its drop after a first loss depends on the round: from Game 8 to Game 16, from Game 12 to Game 17, from Game 22 to Game 26, from Game 27 to Game 29. Win Game 8 and the quarterfinal is Game 12, against Seed 7 or Seed 10.
  • Seed 3: Game 5, Game 11, Game 22, Game 27 and Game 30 Meets Seed 14 in Game 5, in the bottom half. Its drop after a first loss depends on the round: from Game 5 to Game 15, from Game 11 to Game 18, from Game 22 to Game 26, from Game 27 to Game 29. Win Game 5 and the quarterfinal is Game 11, against Seed 6 or Seed 11.
  • Seed 4: Game 4, Game 10, Game 21, Game 27 and Game 30 Meets Seed 13 in Game 4, in the top half. Its drop after a first loss depends on the round: from Game 4 to Game 14, from Game 10 to Game 19, from Game 21 to Game 25, from Game 27 to Game 29. Win Game 4 and the quarterfinal is Game 10, against Seed 5 or Seed 12.
  • Seed 5: Game 3, Game 10, Game 21, Game 27 and Game 30 Meets Seed 12 in Game 3, in the top half. Its drop after a first loss depends on the round: from Game 3 to Game 14, from Game 10 to Game 19, from Game 21 to Game 25, from Game 27 to Game 29. Win Game 3 and the quarterfinal is Game 10, against Seed 4 or Seed 13.
  • Seed 6: Game 6, Game 11, Game 22, Game 27 and Game 30 Meets Seed 11 in Game 6, in the bottom half. Its drop after a first loss depends on the round: from Game 6 to Game 15, from Game 11 to Game 18, from Game 22 to Game 26, from Game 27 to Game 29. Win Game 6 and the quarterfinal is Game 11, against Seed 3 or Seed 14.
  • Seed 7: Game 7, Game 12, Game 22, Game 27 and Game 30 Meets Seed 10 in Game 7, in the bottom half. Its drop after a first loss depends on the round: from Game 7 to Game 16, from Game 12 to Game 17, from Game 22 to Game 26, from Game 27 to Game 29. Win Game 7 and the quarterfinal is Game 12, against Seed 2 or Seed 15.
  • Seed 8: Game 2, Game 9, Game 21, Game 27 and Game 30 Meets Seed 9 in Game 2, in the top half. Its drop after a first loss depends on the round: from Game 2 to Game 13, from Game 9 to Game 20, from Game 21 to Game 25, from Game 27 to Game 29. Win Game 2 and the quarterfinal is Game 9, against Seed 1 or Seed 16.
  • Seed 9: Game 2, Game 9, Game 21, Game 27 and Game 30 Meets Seed 8 in Game 2, in the top half. Its drop after a first loss depends on the round: from Game 2 to Game 13, from Game 9 to Game 20, from Game 21 to Game 25, from Game 27 to Game 29. Win Game 2 and the quarterfinal is Game 9, against Seed 1 or Seed 16.
  • Seed 10: Game 7, Game 12, Game 22, Game 27 and Game 30 Meets Seed 7 in Game 7, in the bottom half. Its drop after a first loss depends on the round: from Game 7 to Game 16, from Game 12 to Game 17, from Game 22 to Game 26, from Game 27 to Game 29. Win Game 7 and the quarterfinal is Game 12, against Seed 2 or Seed 15.
  • Seed 11: Game 6, Game 11, Game 22, Game 27 and Game 30 Meets Seed 6 in Game 6, in the bottom half. Its drop after a first loss depends on the round: from Game 6 to Game 15, from Game 11 to Game 18, from Game 22 to Game 26, from Game 27 to Game 29. Win Game 6 and the quarterfinal is Game 11, against Seed 3 or Seed 14.
  • Seed 12: Game 3, Game 10, Game 21, Game 27 and Game 30 Meets Seed 5 in Game 3, in the top half. Its drop after a first loss depends on the round: from Game 3 to Game 14, from Game 10 to Game 19, from Game 21 to Game 25, from Game 27 to Game 29. Win Game 3 and the quarterfinal is Game 10, against Seed 4 or Seed 13.
  • Seed 13: Game 4, Game 10, Game 21, Game 27 and Game 30 Meets Seed 4 in Game 4, in the top half. Its drop after a first loss depends on the round: from Game 4 to Game 14, from Game 10 to Game 19, from Game 21 to Game 25, from Game 27 to Game 29. Win Game 4 and the quarterfinal is Game 10, against Seed 5 or Seed 12.
  • Seed 14: Game 5, Game 11, Game 22, Game 27 and Game 30 Meets Seed 3 in Game 5, in the bottom half. Its drop after a first loss depends on the round: from Game 5 to Game 15, from Game 11 to Game 18, from Game 22 to Game 26, from Game 27 to Game 29. Win Game 5 and the quarterfinal is Game 11, against Seed 6 or Seed 11.
  • Seed 15: Game 8, Game 12, Game 22, Game 27 and Game 30 Meets Seed 2 in Game 8, in the bottom half. Its drop after a first loss depends on the round: from Game 8 to Game 16, from Game 12 to Game 17, from Game 22 to Game 26, from Game 27 to Game 29. Win Game 8 and the quarterfinal is Game 12, against Seed 7 or Seed 10.
  • Seed 16: Game 1, Game 9, Game 21, Game 27 and Game 30 Meets Seed 1 in Game 1, in the top half. Its drop after a first loss depends on the round: from Game 1 to Game 13, from Game 9 to Game 20, from Game 21 to Game 25, from Game 27 to Game 29. Win Game 1 and the quarterfinal is Game 9, against Seed 8 or Seed 9.

How this list was compiled: Bracket layout worked out by Wheel of Teams; it is the layout the bracket maker on this page draws, compared game for game. Sixteen teams fill the 16-slot double elimination bracket exactly, with standard seeding (1 v 16, 8 v 9, 5 v 12, 4 v 13, 3 v 14, 6 v 11, 7 v 10, 2 v 15 down the sheet), so nobody has a bye. Every road a seed can take through the 30 games was followed, 480 in all (a team's road depends only on its own results): each one ends as champion with at most one loss, or out with exactly two. Then all 1,073,741,824 possible sets of results were played through. The checks agree: the total is always 30 or 31 games, no two teams can meet twice before Game 25, a champion plays between 5 and 9 games, and the fewest time slots are 30, 16, 12 and 10 on one, two, three and four courts, plus one if Game 31 is played. The seed paths list the games a seed plays while it keeps winning. The game count (2n - 2, or 2n - 1 when the winner is not undefeated), the two-game final and the names 'if game' and 'bracket reset' were checked on 2026-10-04 against https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double-elimination_tournament. Licence: own work