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Sample templateSingle Elimination

Cobalt Cup

An 8-team club volleyball cup played as classic single elimination — quarterfinals to final in one gym afternoon.

Teams
8
Matches
7
Format
Single Elimination

A one-afternoon knockout cup

Cobalt Cup is what a small club championship looks like when the clock matters more than guaranteed playtime: eight teams, seven matches, one trophy. The quarterfinals run in parallel on two courts, the winners come back for the semifinals, and the final closes the afternoon.

Browse the completed bracket below to see how the draw flows from seeds to champion — then start your own event from this structure with the field size and format already set.

Results at a glance

🏆 Champion

Cobalt Cats

🥈 Runner-up

Iron Spruces

Schedule in action

Sat, Sep 26

R108:01 PMCobalt CatsvsEmber Wolves
R108:46 PMVelvet OrcasvsSummit Herons
R109:31 PMIron SprucesvsNorthgate Falcons
R110:16 PMHarbor FoxesvsRiverside Lynxes
R211:01 PMCobalt CatsvsVelvet Orcas
R211:46 PMIron SprucesvsHarbor Foxes

Sun, Sep 27

R312:31 AMCobalt CatsvsIron Spruces

How single elimination works

Single elimination is the oldest and simplest tournament structure: after every match the winner advances and the loser is out. With N teams the bracket needs exactly N−1 matches arranged in ceil(log2 N) rounds, and standard seeding (1 vs the lowest seed, 2 vs the second-lowest, and so on) keeps the strongest teams apart until the late rounds.

When the team count is not a power of two, the top seeds receive byes in the first round — a 12-team bracket is built on a 16 slot with the top 4 seeds resting. The template above shows the finished bracket: follow any seed from round one to see the exact path a champion has to survive.

  • Half of the field plays exactly one match — communicate that expectation before registration.
  • One extra slot turns the bracket into a power of two and removes byes entirely.
  • A third-place match can be added so the semifinal losers play for bronze.

How to use this template

  1. 1Browse the full bracket and results of the sample event below.
  2. 2Hit “Start from this template” — the create page comes pre-filled.
  3. 3Rename it, import your teams or switch on self-service registration.
  4. 4Schedule matches, record scores and export the bracket from your workspace.

FAQ

How many matches does an 8-team single elimination have?

Exactly 7: four quarterfinals, two semifinals and the final. As a rule, N teams produce N−1 matches no matter how the draw is arranged.

How are byes assigned?

Byes go to the top seeds in the first round. In a 12-team bracket, seeds 1–4 rest while seeds 5–12 play the opening round; from round two the bracket behaves like a clean 16.

When is single elimination the wrong choice?

When most of the field expects more than one game, when entry fees make a first-round exit feel unfair, or when the venue hours allow a richer format. Run the format finder with your numbers to check the alternatives in seconds.