18 Team Double Elimination Bracket Jun 2026

Note: While some formats use a "Play-in Round" (4 teams play to join a 16-team bracket), that is Single Elimination logic. In Double Elimination, you want to integrate teams immediately so they have two lives.

8 teams play 4 matches. 10 teams receive byes and advance directly to the second round.

An 18-team double elimination bracket has (depending on whether the grand finals go to a second match). Here’s the high-level flow: 18 team double elimination bracket

A double-elimination tournament is divided into two halves: the and the Losers Bracket .

The 4 winners from R1 join the 10 teams with byes → 14 teams → 7 matches. Note: While some formats use a "Play-in Round"

Here’s the typical distribution:

Double elimination gives every team a second chance. Lose once, and you drop to the losers’ bracket. Lose twice, and you’re out. 10 teams receive byes and advance directly to

: The number of matches in a double elimination tournament is generally calculated as

There are two scenarios for the finals: