Format
Swiss system
Big fields, few rounds, no eliminations.
A fixed number of rounds where each round pairs participants with similar records. Nobody is eliminated, nobody plays the same opponent twice, and a clear winner emerges in about log₂(n) rounds.
Match count
⌈log₂ n⌉ rounds × ⌊n / 2⌋ matches
Each round has n/2 matches. Running log₂(n) rounds guarantees at most one undefeated participant.
Example: 32 participants → 5 rounds of 16 matches = 80 matches (vs 496 for round robin).
Live demo
An 8-team swiss system bracket
Generated in your browser by the same engine that powers every tournament on Bracket.
Live demo · 8 sample teams · 4 matches
Swiss · round 1 pairings (later rounds pair by record)
Round 1
- Northside FCvsSummit Rovers
- Riverbank UnitedvsGolden Foxes
- Iron WolvesvsDelta Storm
- Harbor KingsvsCrescent Eagles
How it works
- 1
Round one pairs by seed (top half vs bottom half). After each round, participants are grouped by score and paired within their group, avoiding rematches.
- 2
FIDE Dutch mode also balances home/away or colour assignments.
- 3
Final standings use points, then Buchholz, Median Buchholz or Sonneborn-Berger tiebreakers.
When to use it
- Chess, card games, tabletop and esports opens with 16–500 players.
- When everyone should play every round.
- Qualifiers that cut to a top-8 knockout.
FAQ
Swiss system questions
Other formats
Single elimination
Lose once and you are out.
Double elimination
Everyone gets a second chance.
Round robin
Everyone plays everyone.
Groups + knockout
World-Cup style two-stage tournament.
Free for all
Placement-based events for many players at once.
Leaderboard
Several scoring events, one cumulative table.
Racing formats
Time trials, single races and Grand Prix series.
Gauntlet
Winner stays. The next seed challenges.
Custom bracket
Your list order is the bracket.