knockoutformaatit

Knockoutformat, or knockout format in English, refers to a competition structure in which competitors are eliminated after a single loss. It is a form of elimination tournament that contrasts with round-robin or league formats, where participants play multiple matches and accumulate results. The term knockoutformaatit is used in some languages, including Finnish, to describe variants of this structure.

The most common variant is single-elimination. In a single-elimination bracket, a loser is immediately removed from the competition and the winner advances to the next round until a champion is determined. Variants include double-elimination, which adds a losers' bracket so a participant can lose once and still reach the final, and formats with byes to adjust non-power-of-two participant counts. Seeding aims to place strong contenders in later rounds, and brackets are often named by rounds such as round of 16, quarterfinals, and semifinals. Some systems use reseeding after rounds to disrupt fixed paths.

Advantages of knockout formats include simplicity, short duration, clear progression, and high-stakes matches that can boost spectator interest. Drawbacks include dependence on luck in early matchups, potential unfairness if byes or seeding are misapplied, and a measure of randomness that may not reflect broad consistency across many games.

Knockout formats are widely used in sports (for example, major tournaments in football and tennis), e-sports, debate or trivia contests, and reality or talent shows. They are often used after a qualifying or group stage, to determine a final winner within a defined timeframe.

Implementation considerations include the total number of participants, choice between single- and double-elimination, seeding rules, handling of byes, and tiebreakers for tied matches.