Choose a Pool Tournament Format: Single Elimination, Double Elimination, Round Robin or Chip
Compare guaranteed matches and total matches for each pool tournament format, with a worked time estimate.
The names and results shown are made up (the Maple Street Pool League is a demo organization).
The right format depends on how many players you have, how many tables, and how long you can stay open.
How the formats compare
Figures are for 16 players.
- Single elimination: one loss and you're out. Every player gets at least 1 match, and the event has 15.
- Double elimination: two losses and you're out. Every player gets at least 2 matches, and the event has 30 or 31, depending on whether a reset final is played.
- Round robin: everyone plays everyone. Every player gets 15 matches, and the event has 120. It suits small fields, or groups before a playoff.
- Chip tournament: each loss costs a chip, so a player gets at least as many matches as starting chips. The total depends on the chips you set. See the chip tournament guide.
Estimate the time
Multiply the matches by your typical match time, then divide by your tables. For 16 players in double elimination, with 31 matches of about 30 minutes on 4 tables, that's about 31 × 30 ÷ 4 = 233 minutes, or just under 4 hours.
This is an estimate only. Players waiting on each other, long matches and late rounds with fewer matches than tables all add time.
Next steps
Once you've chosen, create the tournament and run it.