Introducing the Custom Brackets
Introduction
The custom bracket structure lets you create any bracket you want, if the standard formats do not fit your rules or competition.
A custom bracket structure is defined by a "schema" that you have to write, to create all of the matches and relations between them. Each match will be given a name, and then its two opponents will be identified, with three possibilities:
- The opponent is placed in this match, and they are identified by the seed number
- The opponent won a previous match, and they are identified by a "W", the identifier of the match they won (i.e "W:A") and in the case of an FFA bracket, the position they had in the match (i.e "W:A:1").
- The opponent lost a previous match, and they are identified by a "L", the identifier of the match they lost (i.e "L:B") and in the case of an FFA bracket, the position they had in the match (i.e "L:A:3").
Duel match schema:
A = match identifier
[1,4] = participant seeds
full match syntax: A=[1,4]
FFA match schema:
A = match identifier
[1,2,3,4] = participant seeds
full match syntax: A=[1,2,3,4]
The following syntax will generate a very simple Single-Elimination Bracket with 4 participants, with matches between seeds #1 and #4, and seeds #2 and #3, then a final between them and a 3rd place decider.
A=[1,4]
B=[2,3]
C=[W:A,W:B]
D=[L:A,L:B]
Note that each match must be placed on a separate line.
And here is the result of this series of 4 matches:
The following syntax will generate a simple FFA Single-Elimination Bracket with 16 participants seeded, then a semi-final and a final.
#round 1
A=[1,2,3,4]
B=[5,6,7,8]
C=[9,10,11,12]
D=[13,14,15,16]
#round 2
E=[W:A:1,W:A:2,W:B:1,W:B:2]
F=[W:C:1,W:C:2,W:D:1,W:D:2]
#round 3
G=[W:E:1,W:E:2,W:F:1,W:F:2]
Duel example
In this next example, we have reproduced the structure of the French League of Legends tournament playoffs. It involves 6 of the 10 teams from the championship regular season, in a Double-Elimination Bracket in which seeds #1 and #2 from the regular season start in the Winner Bracket, whereas seeds #3 to #6 start in the Loser Bracket. Here is what the schema for such a bracket could look like:
Details
C=[4,5]
D=[W:B,W:C]
A=[1,2]
E=[W:D,L:A]
F=[W:A,W:E]
As you can see, you can name and organize the matches as you prefer, to make the schema easier to ready and/or understand.
And here is the visual rendition of the 2023 LFL Summer Split Playoffs, with its results:
FFA Example
Finally, here is another more complex example, a Trackmania tournament with 48 players in a double elimination bracket and matches of 4 participants:
Details
#Round 1
A=[19,29,37,43]
B=[22,28,36,46]
C=[18,32,40,42]
D=[23,25,33,47]
E=[30,20,38,44]
F=[21,27,35,45]
G=[17,31,39,41]
H=[24,26,34,48]
#Round 2
I=[1,15,W:A:1,W:H:2]
J=[8,10,W:B:1,W:G:2]
K=[4,14,W:C:1,W:F:2]
L=[5,11,W:D:1,W:E:2]
M=[2,16,W:E:1,W:D:2]
N=[7,9,W:F:1,W:C:2]
O=[3,13,W:G:1,W:B:2]
P=[6,12,W:H:1,W:A:2]
#Round 3
Q=[W:I:1,W:J:1,W:L:2,W:M:2]
R=[W:K:1,W:L:1,W:J:2,W:O:2]
S=[W:M:1,W:N:1,W:I:2,W:P:2]
T=[W:O:1,W:P:1,W:K:2,W:N:2]
#Round 4
U=[W:Q:1,W:R:1,W:S:2,W:T:2]
V=[W:S:1,W:T:1,W:Q:2,W:R:2]
#Round 5
W=[W:U:1,W:V:1,W:U:2,W:V:2]
[LB]
#Round 1
X=[L:A:3,L:E:4,L:M:3,L:K:4]
Y=[L:B:3,L:C:4,L:I:3,L:O:4]
Z=[L:N:3,L:J:4,L:E:3,L:G:4]
AA=[L:O:3,L:M:4,L:F:3,L:A:4]
AB=[L:P:3,L:N:4,L:D:3,L:B:4]
AC=[L:L:3,L:I:4,L:H:3,L:F:4]
AD=[L:J:3,L:P:4,L:C:3,L:H:4]
AE=[L:K:3,L:L:4,L:G:3,L:D:4]
#Round 2
AF=[W:X:1,W:Y:1,W:Z:2,W:AB:2]
AG=[W:AC:1,W:AB:1,W:AD:2,W:X:2]
AH=[W:AA:1,W:AE:1,W:Y:2,W:AC:2]
AI=[W:Z:1,W:AD:1,W:AA:2,W:AE:2]
#Round 3
AJ=[W:AF:1,W:AG:2,L:R:3,L:T:4]
AK=[W:AG:1,W:AH:2,L:T:3,L:S:4]
AL=[W:AH:1,W:AI:2,L:Q:3,L:R:4]
AM=[W:AI:1,W:AF:2,L:S:3,L:Q:4]
#Round 4
AN=[W:AJ:1,W:AM:1,W:AL:2,W:AK:2]
AO=[W:AK:1,W:AL:1,W:AJ:2,W:AM:2]
#Round 5
AP=[W:AN:1,W:AO:2,L:U:3,L:V:4]
AQ=[W:AO:1,W:AN:2,L:V:3,L:U:4]
#Round 6
AR=[W:AP:1,W:AP:2,W:AQ:1,W:AQ:2]
#Round 7
AS=[W:AR:1,W:AR:2,L:W:3,L:W:4]
[GF]
AT=[W:W:1,W:W:2,W:AS:1,W:AS:2]
Note that you can precede the list of matches in a bracket with the name of the branch in square brackets. For example, by entering [WB] before your list of winner bracket matches, the words "WB" will appear in front of the number of each round of the latter.
Do not hesitate to try this structure, and use the support tool if you have questions about a schema or particular bracket format!
