KO system: variants and typical use

The KO system is best when you want a clear final bracket and a predictable tournament length. ShuttleFlow supports a classic elimination bracket, a consolation bracket, and an optional third-place match.

How the variants differ

  • Classic KO: the loser is eliminated immediately.
  • KO with consolation bracket: losing teams continue in a second bracket.
  • Third-place match: the two semi-final losers play for bronze instead of sharing third place.

Variant A: classic KO

Use this when time is tight and you want the shortest possible path to a winner. It is simple and efficient, but each participant gets only a small number of matches.

  • Good for finals with a hard time cap.
  • Best when the main goal is a single champion.
  • Two-round, three-round, or four-round brackets typically map to 8, 16, or 32 teams.

Variant B: KO with consolation bracket

The consolation bracket gives eliminated teams a second path through the event. This is useful when you want more playtime or a more complete placement picture.

  • More court time and more matches per participant.
  • Better fit for club events where you want to reward attendance with more games.
  • Requires more fields and a little more operational attention.

Third-place match

The third-place match is used when you want an explicit bronze medal position. Without it, the two semi-final losers share third place. With it, the bracket produces a unique 3rd place.

  • With third-place match: clear ranking from 1 to 3.
  • Without third-place match: both semi-final losers share third place.

When KO is a good choice

  • When you need a compact final phase after a group stage or Swiss stage.
  • When you have many participants but only a few courts and limited time.
  • When the event should end with a straightforward final bracket that is easy to explain.

Practical example

A typical event can start with a preliminary stage and then use KO for the finals: the top players from each group qualify, then the bracket decides the champion. If desired, a consolation bracket or a bronze match keeps the lower places meaningful too.

See also: Quickstart | Swiss System | Documentation