Pinball tournament formats explained
A pinball tournament format sets how players meet, how results count and when players advance or leave the event. RoundsUp supports different formats so a director can choose the structure that fits the field and the time available.
How do the formats compare?
| Format | How play works | How it ends |
|---|---|---|
| Group knockout | Players are redrawn into small groups each round. Lower finishes earn strikes. | The default elimination threshold is three strikes. |
| Single elimination | Players meet head to head in a seeded bracket. | One loss eliminates a player. |
| Double elimination | Players meet head to head in a seeded bracket with a losers bracket. | Two losses eliminate a player. |
| Round robin | Each player plays every other player once. | The scheduled rounds finish and total points determine the standings. |
How do strikes work in group knockout?
With the default strike table, third and fourth place receive one strike in a four-player game. In a three-player game, only last place receives a strike. Tied positions pool and split their strikes.
What happens in a double-elimination final?
A player drops to the losers bracket after a first loss and is eliminated after a second. If the losers-bracket winner gives the undefeated finalist a first loss, the bracket resets for a deciding final.
How does round-robin scoring work?
RoundsUp awards points for the head-to-head games and ranks the field by total points. Finishes and then total raw score are used next in the format's tiebreak order.
Which format should a director choose?
Single elimination provides a direct route to a winner. Double elimination gives each player a second chance. Group knockout keeps several players together at a machine, while round robin gives a small field a complete schedule of opponents.
These four formats are a starting point, not the full RoundsUp format list. Check the available formats when creating a tournament.