8 Team Single Elimination Bracket

Jan 23, 2025

This post discusses how to use an 8 team single elimination bracket to hold a tournament. Begin by right-clicking on the image below and selecting “Save Image As” or simply download the PDF version for easy printing. Keep reading to learn how it works.

What is an 8 Team Single Elimination Bracket?

An 8-team single elimination bracket is a scoresheet used to keep track of a mid-sized tournament involving eight teams. In single elimination matches, teams compete in a series of games where the loser of each match is immediately eliminated. The winners of each game progress to the next round, and the tournament continues until a single champion emerges. Let’s dive into how it works.

Using the Downloadable Bracket

Thanks to the even number of teams, an 8-team single elimination bracket is easy to mark on a scoresheet. Here’s how to record information on the downloadable bracket linked above:

Quarterfinals (Games 1-4): Write the names of the eight competing teams in the designated slots for the first round. It’s usually a good idea to record the match score next to the winner’s name as well.
Semifinals (Games 5 & 6): Write the names of the quarterfinal winners in their respective semifinal slots. Once these matches are complete, mark the winners advancing to the finals by drawing lines or arrows and recording their names. Again, players often choose to list final scores.
Finals (Game 7): Write the names of the semifinal winners in the championship match slot. After the final match concludes, prominently highlight the champion, perhaps by circling their name or writing it in large letters at the top of the sheet.

Scheduling Matches

To schedule an 8-team tournament effectively:

Quarterfinals (Games 1-4): These can be played simultaneously across multiple tables or sequentially to allow for spectators.
Semifinals (Games 5 & 6): Give your teams a short break after the quarterfinals to ensure players are ready to compete. Sometimes it’s a good idea to schedule these matches sequentially because it builds excitement around the finals.
Finals (Game 7): The championship match should be the highlight of the event, so ensure adequate recovery time for the finalists and make sure everyone can spectate.

Single elimination brackets are designed to yield one winner from among all the teams. Therefore, you might consider holding consolation matches for the eliminated teams to compete for third place or additional rankings.

What Happens in the First Round?

In the first round (quarterfinals) of an 8-team single elimination bracket, all eight teams are paired into four matches. Winners of these matches advance to the semifinals, while the losing teams are eliminated from the tournament. Because of the even number of teams, you do not need to hold preliminary rounds or select a bye team.

What Happens in Subsequent Rounds?

In the semifinals, the four quarterfinal winners compete in two matches. Winners of these matches advance to the finals, while the losers are eliminated. Record the semifinal match results on the bracket sheet by marking the winners’ names in the championship slots.

The two semifinal winners face off in the final match to determine the tournament winner. Once the match concludes, prominently highlight the championship team at the top of the bracket sheet and, consider distinguishing the runner-up to promote goodwill and participation.

Different Ways to Draw

A "draw" refers to the method used to determine how teams or participants are placed into the tournament bracket.

Blind or Random Draw

Blind (aka Random) Draws involve assigning teams to their bracket positions randomly. This method is simple and adds an element of unpredictability to the tournament, but it does not take into account skill level, which can sometimes impact the fairness of the outcome.

Seeded Draw

In a seeded draw, teams are ranked based on skill, age, or past performance, and placements are designed to prevent the strongest teams from meeting in early rounds. Teams are assigned a “seed” (a number that designates their strength), and then paired so that the top two teams are not assigned together. This can be ideal in, for instance, a family setting where adults might have an advantage over younger children.

Randomized but Balanced

Teams are drawn randomly, but adjustments are made to avoid early matchups between the strongest participants. This method balances fairness with excitement.

How to Handle Tiebreakers

Tiebreakers can occur in tightly contested matches, and it’s essential to establish clear rules beforehand. Having a plan in place ensures fairness and helps avoid disputes later on. To resolve a tie, you can try one of the following methods:

Extra Time: Adding additional playtime to break the tie.
Sudden Death: The tied teams face off, and the first team to score or achieve a point wins.
Skill Challenge: Similar to sudden death, this type of tiebreaker involves setting up a specific skill-based competition, such as a penalty shootout or face-off.

Dealing with Eliminations Gracefully

Losing is an inherent part of single elimination tournaments. It’s important to handle eliminations in a way that maintains a sense of good will. Make sure to celebrate participation by appreciating and acknowledging the efforts of eliminated teams. You may also choose to offer consolation matches, which means allowing eliminated teams to play additional matches for placement. Finally, sharing performance highlights can keep morale high and encourage future participation.

Using Single Elimination Bracket for Nok Hockey Tournaments

Single elimination brackets are a great fit for Nok Hockey tournaments, especially within families and friend groups. Tournaments can be the perfect way to encourage longer play that’s both intense and engaging. It also allows you to involve a larger number of people even when you only have a single Nok Hockey table.

Nok Hockey tournaments in the single elimination format are especially good for engaging competition within larger group settings, such as birthdays, family gatherings, and holidays. It allows you to compensate for different skill levels as well, making competitive play possible amongst mixed-age groups.

Learn how to play Nok Hockey, Skittles, or Carrom by clicking one of the links!

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