[ARMSTRONG]
Free tool

Free single elimination bracket generator

Make a seeded knockout bracket for 2 to 128 players. Add names, click the winners and the next match glows. Lose once and you are out. Print it or send the link, no sign up.

  1. Add your namesType or paste one name per line. The first name is seed 1.
  2. Pick a formatDouble or single elimination, one hand or both. The bracket builds as you type.
  3. Click the winnersThe match glowing red is up next. Click the winner and it moves on.
1 Add your names

One name per line. Paste a list from a spreadsheet and it just works. The first name is seed 1: top seeds get the byes and are kept apart for as long as possible.

2 Choose a format
Hands

Arm wrestling classes are usually pulled once with each hand. Both gives you two brackets with separate results.

3 Click the winners

The bracket builds as you type. The match glowing red is the one to pull next. Click the winner and the bracket moves on to the next match.

Add a title for the printout
Add names and press Build bracket.

What is single elimination?

In single elimination, one loss ends your tournament. The winner of each match goes through to the next round until two players are left for the final. It is the quickest format: a field of N players needs exactly N minus 1 matches, so 8 players take 7 matches and 64 players take 63.

Seeds, byes and the third place match

The first name you enter is seed 1. Seed 1 plays the lowest seed in round one, and the top seeds sit on opposite sides so they can only meet in the final. If the field is not 4, 8, 16, 32 or 64 players, the top seeds get byes into round two.

Because the two losing semifinalists would otherwise share third place, you can switch on a third place match above to settle it.

Single or double elimination?

Choose single elimination when time is short or the field is large, because it takes about half the matches. Choose double elimination when you want every player to get at least two matches, or when one unlucky match should not decide a result. Arm wrestling tournaments usually use double elimination. You can switch format above at any time before you enter results.

Running the bracket

Matches are numbered so they can always be played in order. The next match glows red with an "Up next" tag, and moves on as you click each winner. With several tables, choose how many and that many matches glow at once. Undo and redo are there for a wrong click.

How many matches?

Single elimination needs one fewer match than there are players. Double elimination needs two fewer than twice the players, plus one if the grand final is reset.

PlayersSingle eliminationDouble elimination
436 (7 with a reset)
8714 (15)
161530 (31)
323162 (63)
6463126 (127)

Questions

Is this single elimination bracket generator free?

Yes. It is free, needs no account and nothing you type is sent to a server. Your bracket is saved in the link.

How many matches are in a single elimination bracket?

One fewer than the number of players. 8 players need 7 matches and 16 players need 15, plus a third place match if you add one.

What happens when the number of players is not a power of two?

The top seeds get byes, free passes into round two, so everyone else plays an extra round. With 12 players, seeds 1 to 4 have byes.

Can I add a third place match?

Yes. Switch on the third place match and it is played between the two players who lose the semifinals.

How do I know who plays next?

The next match glows red and is tagged Up next. Click a winner and the glow moves to the following match.

Can I print it?

Yes. Press Print or PDF for a clean black on white bracket that fits a landscape page.