How double elimination works
In double elimination nobody is out until they have lost twice. Everyone starts in the winners bracket. Lose once and you drop into the losers bracket, where you keep pulling. Lose again and you are out. The winner of the winners bracket meets the winner of the losers bracket in the grand final.
The winners bracket finalist has not lost yet, so many organisers let the losers bracket finalist force a rematch if they win the first grand final. That is the grand final reset, and you can switch it on or off above to match your rules.
Why arm wrestling uses it
One slipped grip, a bad start or a nervous first pull can end a day that someone travelled hours for. Double elimination gives every puller a second chance, so the champion has to be good through a whole day, not just one match. It is the format most arm wrestling tournaments use.
Running it on the day
Matches are numbered in an order that can always be pulled one after another, so the bracket never asks for a match whose players are not decided yet. The match to pull next glows red with an "Up next" tag. Click the winner and the glow moves to the following match, and the bracket scrolls to it.
Running two, three or four tables? Pick how many above the bracket and that many matches glow at once, each marked with its table number. The Matches view lists the same thing as big buttons, which is easier on a phone at the table.
Seeds and byes
Brackets come in sizes of 4, 8, 16, 32 and 64. When your field is a different size, the empty places are byes, and the top seeds get them. With 12 players the bracket has 16 places, so seeds 1 to 4 skip round one.
The first name you enter is seed 1. Seed 1 is placed to meet the lowest seed first, and the top seeds sit on opposite sides so they cannot meet until late. Seed by ranking, or press Shuffle for a random draw.
Left hand and right hand
Arm wrestling classes are usually pulled twice, once with each hand, as two separate brackets. Choose Both hands and the generator keeps a bracket and a set of results for each, with a tab to switch between them.
Super matches
A super match is one challenge between two named pullers, often the headline bout that closes the day. Choose Super match under Format, put the two names first, and pick best of 3, 5 or 7 legs. Click the winner of each leg and the score builds up. It ends the moment someone has a majority, and the legs that would no longer matter are marked not needed. There is a page just for super matches too.
How many matches will it be?
Double elimination takes two fewer matches than twice the number of players, plus one more if the grand final needs a reset. Single elimination takes one fewer match than players.
| Players | Single elimination | Double elimination |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | 3 | 6 (7 with a reset) |
| 8 | 7 | 14 (15) |
| 16 | 15 | 30 (31) |
| 32 | 31 | 62 (63) |
| 64 | 63 | 126 (127) |
At about two to three minutes a match, plan roughly an hour for every 20 matches on one table, and more tables to finish sooner.
Saving, sharing and printing
Nothing you type is sent anywhere. Your names, settings and results are packed into the link, so copying the address saves the bracket, and sending it to a referee on WhatsApp shows them the same bracket with the same results. Press Print for a clean black on white version that fits a landscape page, and choose Save as PDF for a file. You can also download the match list as a CSV or copy it as text.
Questions
Is the arm wrestling bracket generator free?
Yes. It is free, needs no account, and nothing you type is sent to a server. Your bracket lives in the link, so you can save or share it by copying the address.
How many players can it handle?
From 2 to 128 players, in double elimination or single elimination. When the number is not a power of two, the top seeds get byes in the first round.
How do I know which match is next?
The next match to pull glows red and is tagged Up next. When you click a winner, the glow moves to the following match. With several tables, set the number of tables and that many matches glow at once, each tagged with its table.
What is a bye?
A bye is a free pass into the next round. A bracket needs 4, 8, 16, 32 or 64 places, so with 12 players there are 4 empty places, and the 4 top seeds skip round one. They are marked bye on their card.
How does the losers bracket work?
Lose once and you drop into the losers bracket, where you keep pulling. Lose a second time and you are out. Each round of the winners bracket sends its losers down to meet the survivors of the losers bracket, and the winners of both sides meet in the grand final.
What is the grand final reset?
The winners bracket finalist has not lost yet, so if the losers bracket finalist wins the grand final, many organisers have them pull again for the title. Switch the reset on or off to match your rules.
Can I make brackets for left and right hand?
Yes. Arm wrestling classes are usually pulled once with each hand, so choose Both hands and the tool keeps a separate bracket and set of results for each hand.
Can it score a super match?
Yes. Choose Super match under Format, put the two pullers first in the list and pick best of 3, 5 or 7. Click each leg's winner and the score builds up until someone has a majority.
Can I print the bracket or save it as a PDF?
Yes. Press Print and the page switches to a clean black on white bracket that fits a landscape page. Choose Save as PDF in the print window to get a file.