doubleelimination

Double elimination is a competition format in which a participant is not eliminated after a single loss. Instead, competitors are given a second chance, and a second loss eliminates them from the event. This structure aims to reduce the impact of a single poor performance and to provide a clearer assessment of skill over multiple matches.

In typical double-elimination tournaments, the field is divided into two brackets: a winners' bracket and a losers' bracket. Teams or players with zero losses compete in the winners' bracket, while those who lose a match drop into the losers' bracket. A loss in the losers' bracket eliminates a participant, whereas a loss in the winners' bracket sends them to the losers' bracket. Participants continue to accrue losses until only one competitor remains with fewer than two losses. The final usually pairs the last undefeated team from the winners' bracket with the last survivor from the losers' bracket; final rules vary, and some formats require the winners' bracket champion to be defeated twice or to undergo a bracket reset to claim the title.

Variants and variations: The exact implementation can differ by game or event. Some tournaments require the final to be a multi-match series, while others allow a single decisive match with potential rematches in a bracket reset. The primary goal is to balance fairness and practicality by ensuring that a single upset is less likely to determine the entire outcome.

Applications and notes: Double elimination is commonly used in esports, card and fighting game tournaments, and other events where longer formats are feasible. It trades additional playtime for increased resilience against upsets and a more accurate ranking of participants.