Cup Tournament (Single Elimination)

What Is a Cup Tournament?

A cup (or knockout) tournament is the simplest elimination format. Players are placed in a bracket, and each round eliminates the losers until one champion remains. This is the format used in the BDO World Championship and many pub tournaments.

How It Works

Players are drawn into a bracket. In each round, players play a match (typically best of 3, 5, or 7 legs). The winner advances to the next round; the loser is eliminated.

• •Best with powers of 2 (4, 8, 16 players) — byes are given for uneven numbers
• •Each player is guaranteed at least one match
• •The total number of matches is always players - 1 (e.g., 8 players = 7 matches)
• •Can be completed in a single evening with 8 or fewer players
• •Seeding can be based on ELO rating for fairer brackets

Setting Up in TallyPally

In TallyPally, select 'Cup' as the tournament format. Add players, optionally seed by ELO, and the bracket is generated automatically. Score each match live and the bracket updates in real time.

Pros and Cons

Cup tournaments are exciting because every match matters — lose and you're out. However, one bad game can end your tournament.

• •Pro: Fast — fewest total matches of any format
• •Pro: High stakes create exciting matches
• •Pro: Clear, visual bracket progression
• •Con: A single bad game can eliminate a top player
• •Con: Players eliminated early may have nothing to do

Tips for Organizers

To make a cup tournament run smoothly, keep these tips in mind:

• •Use ELO-based seeding to avoid top players meeting in the first round
• •Consider best-of-5 legs for later rounds to reduce luck factor
• •Have a consolation bracket (losers' bracket) so eliminated players keep playing
• •Announce the bracket clearly before starting
• •Allow 10–15 minutes per match when planning time