turnir

A turnir is a formal competition or contest in which individuals or teams compete to determine a winner. The term is used in many languages to refer to tournaments in sports, games, and other competitive activities. Turnirs can be organized as knockout events, round-robin events, or hybrid formats that combine elements of several systems.

The term occurs in several languages, especially in Slavic languages such as Croatian, Serbian, Bosnian, and Romanian, often borrowed from German "Turnier" or French "tournoi."

Historically, turnire originated as medieval knightly tournaments in Europe, evolving from martial contests into civilian sport and ceremonial events. Modern turnirs emphasize sport, skill, and fair play rather than combat training.

Common competition formats include single-elimination, double-elimination, round-robin group stages, or Swiss-system pairings. Seeding, tie-break rules, and time controls shape brackets and scheduling. In team tournaments, matches may consist of several games or rounds.

Turnirs are typically governed by formal rules and overseen by organizing bodies such as sports federations, game associations, or event organizers. Depending on the sport or game, referees, judges, or arbiters enforce rules, record results, and resolve disputes.

Examples of modern turnirs include chess tournaments, tennis cups, and widely broadcast e-sports events where players compete online or on-site to win prize money and recognition.