How to Run a 21 Team Single Elimination Tournament
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How Does a 21 Team Single Elimination Tournament Work?
A single elimination (knockout) tournament with 21 teams consists of 5 rounds and a total of 20 games.
Bracket Size
The bracket size is set by rounding the number of teams up to the next power of two. With 21 participants, the bracket expands to 32 slots.
Byes
To determine the number of byes, subtract the number of teams from the total bracket size. With 21 teams in a 32-slot bracket, there will be 11 byes in the opening round.
Rounds & Games
A 21 team single elimination tournament includes 5 rounds and 20 actual games:
- Round of 32: 11 real games and 11 byes
- Round of 16: 8 games, 16 teams
- Quarterfinals (Round of 8): 4 games, 8 teams
- Semi-Finals: 2 games between 4 teams
- Final: 1 game to determine the winner
Seeding
Choose one of the following options:
- Seeded (most common): The best-ranked players face each other in the later stages.
- Random (or blind draw): There is no seeding, and players are placed randomly in the first round.
- Manual seeding: Set up the matchups in any custom order you prefer.
Compared to other Tournament Formats
A 21 team single elimination format offers a streamlined tournament structure, requiring fewer games and less time to complete than many other formats with the same number of participants.
| Format | Total games | Games per team | Rounds | Fairness | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Round Robin | 210 | 20 | 21 | Everyone plays everyone | Best for leagues |
| Single Elimination | 20 | 1–4 | 4 | Harsh cutoff | Best for quick events |
| Double Elimination | 41 | 2–8 | ~8 | More forgiving | Popular in esports |
| Double Elimination with Consolation | ~30 | min 2 | ~7 (4+3) | Fairer, every team plays twice | Youth sports |
| Swiss System | 40 | 4 | 4 | Balanced, flexible | Chess, card games |
Printable 21 Team Single Elimination Bracket
Want a printed version of your bracket or tournament schedule? You can print them both quickly and effortlessly!
