How it works
A 20 team bracket goes on a 32-line sheet with twelve lines empty. Seeds 13 to 20 play four opening games, and the winners meet Seeds 1 to 4 in the round of 16. Nineteen games, five rounds.
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Twelve byes, four opening games
Seeds 1 to 12 start in the round of 16 and need four wins for the title; Seeds 13 to 20 need five. Seeds 5 to 12 play each other there: 8 v 9, 5 v 12, 6 v 11 and 7 v 10, all fresh. Only Seeds 1 to 4 meet a team that has already won.
Courts and slots
One court needs 19 slots, two courts 10, three courts 8, four courts 6. Six courts finish in 5, the fewest five rounds allow. Games 6, 7, 10 and 11 are between bye seeds, so they can run beside the opening games.
Tips
- At least eight teams play just once: four opening-round losers and four of Seeds 5 to 12.
Questions and answers
How many games does a bracket for 20 teams take?
Nineteen in single elimination: four opening games, eight in the round of 16, four quarterfinals, two semifinals and the final. Switch to Double and the count is 38 or 39.
Who gets a bye in a 20 team bracket?
Seeds 1 to 12, the first twelve lines of Your teams. Seeds 13 to 20 play round one: 16 v 17, 13 v 20, 14 v 19 and 15 v 18.
Can singles use it as a 20 man bracket?
Yes. One player per line makes it a 20 person bracket, or a 20 player tournament bracket, for darts, cornhole or table tennis: nineteen matches. Type names in ranking order, or press Random draw once they are in.
Is there a blank 20 team printable bracket?
Yes: the page opens blank. Press Print bracket and the sheet prints with Seed 1 to Seed 20 on the lines and a number on every game. To keep a file, save as PDF from your browser's print window.
What if one team drops out, or a 21st enters?
Set the Teams box to 19 or 21; for a dropout, delete its line in Your teams first. With 19, Seed 13 has a bye and meets Seed 4 in the round of 16. With 21, Seed 12 plays Seed 21 to meet Seed 5.