6 Team Single Elimination Bracket
Create a 6-team bracket with two first-round BYEs and five games. Enter teams in seed order, choose winners, or download blank and seeded printable templates.
6 teams · 5 games · 2 BYEs
Download blank / seeded templatesBracket
Champion
Ready for the desk or the wall
Printable 6-team bracket templates
Choose a blank sheet for handwritten names or a numbered seeding sheet. Both follow the editor’s default bracket paths.
Blank bracket
Write one entrant in each empty first-round box. Keep the marked BYEs empty and advance their opponents.
Seeded bracket
Numbers show seed positions, not match results. Put your ranked teams in those positions and follow the fixed paths.
Print opens a separate sheet. Choose A4 or US Letter, landscape, and fit to page. Select Save as PDF in your browser to make a PDF. These downloads are static sheets; use the editor’s PNG export for your entered names and results.
Six entrants, five games, two first-round BYEs
A six-team knockout uses an eight-slot draw. Two teams advance without playing in the opening round; the other four play two matches. The semifinals and final complete the event: 2 + 2 + 1 = 5 games. A third-place game would be extra.
This page starts with six editable teams and a seeded draw. The blank and numbered templates above use the same paths, so you can keep a paper copy beside the live editor.
Who receives the two BYEs?
For a ranked event, this template gives seeds 1 and 2 one BYE each, on opposite halves of the draw. They can meet only in the final. Seeds 3–6 must win three matches to become champion; seeds 1 and 2 need two.
| Opening position | Pairing | Semifinal path |
|---|---|---|
| A | Seed 1 vs BYE | Seed 1 faces the winner of B |
| B | Seed 4 vs Seed 5 | Winner faces Seed 1 |
| C | Seed 2 vs BYE | Seed 2 faces the winner of D |
| D | Seed 3 vs Seed 6 | Winner faces Seed 2 |
A BYE is not a win against an invented opponent. Leave the marked BYE boxes alone when filling in the printable sheet.
Enter names in ranked order
- Open the team list and paste six names, one per line: seed 1 first, seed 6 last.
- The editor places those names into the draw above. Do not paste the visual bracket order instead.
- Check both BYEs before the first match. Use the random draw for a casual event without rankings; this also randomizes who receives a BYE and clears previous picks.
- Choose winners as matches finish, then export PNG for the current names and results.
Typing a different name does not calculate a new ranking. Decide the ranking before entering the roster.
Run a short event on one or two courts
On one court, schedule five match windows and allow recovery time between rounds. On two courts, the two opening matches can run together, followed by two semifinals and the final: three waves when match lengths are equal.
Do not call the BYE teams for a nonexistent opening game. Tell them when to return for the semifinals, and announce where the two opening winners should report.
Printing and PDF
Use the blank sheet for handwritten names or the numbered sheet to explain seeding. PNG and SVG downloads are ready-made templates, not a copy of your current edits. The Print / PDF link opens a clean sheet; choose landscape, fit to page, and A4 or US Letter. Your browser's Save as PDF option makes the PDF.
FAQ
Can six teams play without any BYEs?
Not in a standard single-elimination bracket with this balanced three-round structure. If everyone must play multiple games, choose a different competition format.
Do I need to enter two extra teams?
No. Enter exactly six real teams. The editor reserves the two remaining slots automatically.
Can I give the BYEs to random teams?
Yes. Use the random draw before play begins, then publish the result. Do not redraw after recording matches.
Does clearing winners remove my team names?
No. Reset winners clears the selected results. The automatic BYE advances remain part of the draw.
What if the field grows?
Use the 7-team bracket for one BYE or the 8-team bracket for no BYEs. Change the field before play starts.