A 3 team bracket is drawn on 4 lines, the next power of two, so it has 4 − 3 = 1 bye. The bye goes to the top seed: seed 1 skips round 1. The bracket takes 2 rounds and 2 games, because every game knocks out one team until only the champion is left.
Printable 3 team bracket
Write your top team on the line marked 1, the next on 2 and so on (or draw names from a hat for a random bracket). A line marked Bye stays empty: the seed next to it moves straight on. Games are numbered in playing order, so you can call "game 3, court 2" on the day.
3 team bracketTournamentDate
Numbers on the left are seeds (1 = best team). Write each score in the small box next to the name.
Semifinals
1
Bye
Game 1
2
3
Final
Game 2
1
Champion
Every game in order
The same bracket as a list, with the round names Bracket Maker uses.
Game
Round
Matchup
1
Semifinals
Seed 2 vs Seed 3
2
Final
Seed 1 vs Winner of game 1
Who plays in round 1
Only seeds 2 and 3 play in round 1: 2 teams in 1 game (2 vs 3). In the final, seed 1 joins: seed 1 vs the winner of game 1.
Games in each round
Semifinals: 1 game; final: 1 game. With 1 court or field every round is played at once and the bracket takes 2 time slots; each round has to wait for the one before it.
How the seeds are placed
Bracket Maker uses the standard seeding order, so seeds 1 and 2 can only meet in the final. On the 4-line bracket the two seeds on each first-round line add up to 5; where the partner seed would be above 3, the line is a bye. Seed 1's first game is against the winner of game 1.
Third place and double elimination
There is no third-place game with 3 teams: seed 1 has a bye in the semifinals, so only one team loses a semifinal. To give every team a second chance, double elimination with 3 teams plays 4 games, or 5 if the grand final is reset.
Open Bracket Maker, pick Single elimination and paste your 3 team names in seed order (or pick a random draw). It places the byes, moves the winners on as you enter scores and names the champion. Free, right here in your browser or offline in the Android app.
Frequently asked questions
How many games are in a 3 team bracket?
2 games over 2 rounds (1 + 1).
How many byes does a 3 team bracket have?
1. The next bracket size is 4, so 4 − 3 = 1, and the bye goes to seed 1.
How many teams play in the first round?
2: seeds 2 and 3, in 1 game. The winner joins seed 1 in the final.