• Log InLog In
  • Register
Liquid`
Team Liquid Liquipedia
EST 03:49
CET 09:49
KST 17:49
  • Home
  • Forum
  • Calendar
  • Streams
  • Liquipedia
  • Features
  • Store
  • EPT
  • TL+
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Smash
  • Heroes
  • Counter-Strike
  • Overwatch
  • Liquibet
  • Fantasy StarCraft
  • TLPD
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Blogs
Forum Sidebar
Events/Features
News
Featured News
Behind the Blue - Team Liquid History Book15Clem wins HomeStory Cup 289HomeStory Cup 28 - Info & Preview13Rongyi Cup S3 - Preview & Info8herO wins SC2 All-Star Invitational14
Community News
LiuLi Cup: 2025 Grand Finals (Feb 10-16)5Weekly Cups (Feb 2-8): Classic, Solar, MaxPax win2Nexon's StarCraft game could be FPS, led by UMS maker7PIG STY FESTIVAL 7.0! (19 Feb - 1 Mar)11Weekly Cups (Jan 26-Feb 1): herO, Clem, ByuN, Classic win2
StarCraft 2
General
How do you think the 5.0.15 balance patch (Oct 2025) for StarCraft II has affected the game? Behind the Blue - Team Liquid History Book Weekly Cups (Jan 12-18): herO, MaxPax, Solar win Rongyi Cup S3 - Preview & Info Nexon's StarCraft game could be FPS, led by UMS maker
Tourneys
LiuLi Cup: 2025 Grand Finals (Feb 10-16) Sparkling Tuna Cup - Weekly Open Tournament PIG STY FESTIVAL 7.0! (19 Feb - 1 Mar) RSL Season 4 announced for March-April WardiTV Mondays
Strategy
Custom Maps
Modalert 200 for Focus and Alertness Map Editor closed ? [A] Starcraft Sound Mod
External Content
Mutation # 512 Overclocked The PondCast: SC2 News & Results Mutation # 511 Temple of Rebirth Mutation # 510 Safety Violation
Brood War
General
ACS replaced by "ASL Season Open" - Starts 21/02 Recent recommended BW games [ASL21] Potential Map Candidates BGH Auto Balance -> http://bghmmr.eu/ BW General Discussion
Tourneys
Escore Tournament StarCraft Season 1 [Megathread] Daily Proleagues Small VOD Thread 2.0 KCM Race Survival 2026 Season 1
Strategy
Fighting Spirit mining rates Zealot bombing is no longer popular? Simple Questions, Simple Answers Current Meta
Other Games
General Games
Diablo 2 thread Nintendo Switch Thread Battle Aces/David Kim RTS Megathread ZeroSpace Megathread EVE Corporation
Dota 2
Official 'what is Dota anymore' discussion
League of Legends
Heroes of the Storm
Simple Questions, Simple Answers Heroes of the Storm 2.0
Hearthstone
Deck construction bug Heroes of StarCraft mini-set
TL Mafia
Mafia Game Mode Feedback/Ideas Vanilla Mini Mafia TL Mafia Community Thread
Community
General
US Politics Mega-thread Sex and weight loss Russo-Ukrainian War Thread Ask and answer stupid questions here! YouTube Thread
Fan Clubs
The herO Fan Club! The IdrA Fan Club
Media & Entertainment
Anime Discussion Thread [Manga] One Piece
Sports
2024 - 2026 Football Thread
World Cup 2022
Tech Support
TL Community
The Automated Ban List
Blogs
Play, Watch, Drink: Esports …
TrAiDoS
My 2025 Magic: The Gathering…
DARKING
Life Update and thoughts.
FuDDx
How do archons sleep?
8882
StarCraft improvement
iopq
Customize Sidebar...

Website Feedback

Closed Threads



Active: 2766 users

Double elimination finals as good? - Page 2

Forum Index > SC2 General
Post a Reply
Prev 1 2 3 4 5 8 9 10 Next All
phrenzy
Profile Joined October 2010
United Kingdom478 Posts
August 15 2011 14:56 GMT
#21
I agree with the feeling there is no jeopardy when it comes to the finals of a tourney since the person in the losers brackets has to win two sets. The thing is, its fair but not exciting.

I think the whole format needs to change IMO.

I know people like the whole losers/winners bracket, it creates great stories of comebacks etc but as stated the finals can be a bit lack luster since its fair from easy to comeback.

Instead why not have all games played in a best of 7 once you get past the top 32 and the finals a best of 9? You cant deny that a BO 7 or 9 is a good enough setting to determine who is the better player (at that event).

And if there is still need for a player comeback storyline then why not have a just the open or lower levels have a winner/losers bracket where its all BO3's to get you into the top 32. You can keep the whole "the winner of the losers bracket" has to win 2 sets of BO7 etc but this is all just to get into the top 32/16 whatever. From there on in its all Single elimination BO7/9 etc.

Im not 100% on how mlg setup their tournaments but it might sound similar, but IPL (Season 1 at least) etc is kinda weird to have the finals of a tournament come down to the winner of winners bracket against the winner of the losers.Kinda anticlimactic unless they make a massive comeback which is rare.
Herculix
Profile Joined May 2010
United States946 Posts
August 15 2011 14:58 GMT
#22
the double BoX makes sense, but i think single BoX that's longer is both better for the fans and still not entirely unfair
Chill
Profile Blog Joined January 2005
Calgary25993 Posts
August 15 2011 15:05 GMT
#23
The people voting "Make it a bo7-9 with the player from winners bracket up one game" are bending the rules of double elim to try to create excitement at the cost of fairness. I can't back that. You can't have your cake and eat it too.

I prefer single elimination tournaments past Ro16 anyways.
Moderator
Mordiford
Profile Joined April 2011
4448 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-08-15 15:09:33
August 15 2011 15:08 GMT
#24
For the spectators, the up by 1 game rule is better because it keeps suspense and keeps the score pretty close to start of with.

For actual competitive fairness, the player who has yet to drop a set should be allowed to drop a full set because his opponent was allowed to drop a full set. If the WB finalist loses, he only lost 1 extra game, while if the LB finalist loses, he lost two full sets.

I prefer maintaining competitive fairness.
Ashworth
Profile Joined August 2010
United Kingdom185 Posts
August 15 2011 15:10 GMT
#25
Group Stage or extended group stage into single eliminations. The biggest sporting competition in the world does this, there is nothing wrong with it.

NASL Finals and TSL Finals overshadowed every other competitions simply because they had a good BO7, every other way is terrible and ruins the whole experience.
Lowell
Profile Joined October 2010
Germany346 Posts
August 15 2011 15:11 GMT
#26
On August 16 2011 00:05 Chill wrote:
The people voting "Make it a bo7-9 with the player from winners bracket up one game" are bending the rules of double elim to try to create excitement at the cost of fairness. I can't back that. You can't have your cake and eat it too.

I prefer single elimination tournaments past Ro16 anyways.


How is that? I think it is too great of an advantage for the guy from the winners bracket if its 2 Bo3's. There needs to be some sort of advantage for the winners bracket player, but it needs to be small, because going through the losers bracket playing more games to get to the finals is a punishment in of itself.
As a nice side effect, it most likely creates longer finals.
The possibility of big finals ending with 2 really short games is just really uncool. I think 2 Bo5's would be better, though this could end up being too long overall.
flanksteak
Profile Joined September 2010
Canada246 Posts
August 15 2011 15:12 GMT
#27
It'd be more fun to watch, but it just isn't fair for the top player from the winners bracket. Everyone else needed to lose twice, but since you played so well and got to the grand final without losing, you're now going to be eliminated if you lose just one round?
VikingKong
Profile Blog Joined May 2010
China509 Posts
August 15 2011 15:14 GMT
#28
On August 16 2011 00:05 Chill wrote:
The people voting "Make it a bo7-9 with the player from winners bracket up one game" are bending the rules of double elim to try to create excitement at the cost of fairness. I can't back that. You can't have your cake and eat it too.

I prefer single elimination tournaments past Ro16 anyways.

I agree on all points. It doesn't adequately reward the winner bracket winner, since he's only up a game as opposed to the loser bracket winner being allowed to lose a full match. Sure, it's possible to argue that the winner's reward is not going to losers, but that's blatantly unfair. Just because they never lost, they have to have less of a safety net? That's absurd, and borderline punishing the winner for not taking advantage of his first elimination earlier.

At the same time, watching a 2x Bo5 finals is way too long, and too demanding of the player coming from losers, yet having 2x Bo3 is boring for spectators if the winner bracket winner wins 2 sets. Having a double into single is much more fair and better for spectators.
Najda
Profile Joined June 2010
United States3765 Posts
August 15 2011 15:14 GMT
#29
I think for the finals (note: ONLY THE FINALS), the extended series rule if they've met before or two BoX's would be best.
Chill
Profile Blog Joined January 2005
Calgary25993 Posts
August 15 2011 15:17 GMT
#30
On August 16 2011 00:11 Lowell wrote:
Show nested quote +
On August 16 2011 00:05 Chill wrote:
The people voting "Make it a bo7-9 with the player from winners bracket up one game" are bending the rules of double elim to try to create excitement at the cost of fairness. I can't back that. You can't have your cake and eat it too.

I prefer single elimination tournaments past Ro16 anyways.


How is that?

A double elimination bracket means you have to lose two "series" (however that is defined in each game) to be eliminated. Giving the winner a one game advantage isn't the same as losing a series. You're actually penalizing him relative to literally every other player for never losing.
Moderator
Ghad
Profile Blog Joined April 2010
Norway2551 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-08-15 15:20:52
August 15 2011 15:19 GMT
#31
On August 15 2011 23:06 hysterial wrote:
I would say the up 1-0 in a Bo7 would be the best compromise between fairness and viewer excitement.


Agree with this dude. The huge advantage the upper bracket guy has in some of these finals makes me feel that the grand finals win is not as legitimate.

But of course Chill is right, it is bending the double elim rule. I still think it is justified though. The UB guy is still advantaged from less fatigue, and he does still get a head start in the grand finals.
forgottendreams: One underage girl, two drunk guys, one gogo dancer and starcraft 2. Apparently just another day in Europe.
Bobster
Profile Joined January 2011
Germany3075 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-08-15 15:22:35
August 15 2011 15:21 GMT
#32
It's as Chill says.

The player from the loser's bracket has to win two BoX because the first one knocks the winner down into the loser's bracket (figuratively) and enables them to play the second BoX on equal standing, thus deciding the ultimate winner.


Having it be just one BoX with a small advantage for the player coming from the WB essentially means that every other player can lose a series and still be in the tournament, except for the guy who won everything so far. He loses one series and doesn't get any second chances. Pretty ridiculous to punish a player for winning in the name of "viewer excitement".

The thing is called Double Elimination because you have to lose twice to be eliminated. Simple.
red4ce
Profile Blog Joined January 2011
United States7313 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-08-15 15:22:58
August 15 2011 15:22 GMT
#33
On August 15 2011 23:27 dani` wrote:
Show nested quote +
On August 15 2011 23:09 red4ce wrote:
I say just a regular BoX with no advantage going to the player from the winner's bracket. Simply not having to go through the loser's bracket is enough of an advantage already.

What? Do you realize that if the person from the upper bracket loses that BoX, he loses the tournament whereas the person from the lower bracket lost a game as well, but got a second chance in the lower bracket?

This is why it makes a LOT of sense to have the current format, the person from the upper bracket is simply allowed to lose 1 BoX as well, just like the person from the lower bracket already did before (which threw him into LB in the first place).


Yes I know exactly how double elimination works. What I am suggesting is that the winner's bracket finalist already has an advantage due to not having to go through the grind of the lower bracket. Take the IPL for example. + Show Spoiler +
White-ra made it to the grand finals having only to play 5 BoX sets, while Nerchio had to play 8 BoX
. Think of it as a sort of roundabout way of giving players byes into the next round.
Drake
Profile Joined October 2010
Germany6146 Posts
August 15 2011 15:24 GMT
#34
well i see it this case
you win winner bracket final 3-0 vs a guy then overall final you lose 2-3 when you was 1-0 so you had 1-3

so vs the player you have a 3-0 and 1-3 statistic but you lost the tournament

i like that its 2 bo5 etc cause its the most fair system
Nb.Drake / CoL_Drake / Original Joined TL.net Tuesday, 15th of March 2005
Chill
Profile Blog Joined January 2005
Calgary25993 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-08-15 15:26:20
August 15 2011 15:25 GMT
#35
On August 16 2011 00:22 red4ce wrote:
Show nested quote +
On August 15 2011 23:27 dani` wrote:
On August 15 2011 23:09 red4ce wrote:
I say just a regular BoX with no advantage going to the player from the winner's bracket. Simply not having to go through the loser's bracket is enough of an advantage already.

What? Do you realize that if the person from the upper bracket loses that BoX, he loses the tournament whereas the person from the lower bracket lost a game as well, but got a second chance in the lower bracket?

This is why it makes a LOT of sense to have the current format, the person from the upper bracket is simply allowed to lose 1 BoX as well, just like the person from the lower bracket already did before (which threw him into LB in the first place).


Yes I know exactly how double elimination works. What I am suggesting is that the winner's bracket finalist already has an advantage due to not having to go through the grind of the lower bracket. Take the IPL for example. + Show Spoiler +
White-ra made it to the grand finals having only to play 5 BoX sets, while Nerchio had to play 8 BoX
. Think of it as a sort of roundabout way of giving players byes into the next round.

How about loser bracket finals then? If one player came from the winners' finals, and one person grinded through the loser bracket, shouldn't the latter get an advantage by your definition?

I can't back these grey rules. If you make a format it should be fair. You can't start at what's most exciting and then go backwards trying to justify it.
Moderator
JustPassingBy
Profile Blog Joined January 2011
10776 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-08-15 15:32:38
August 15 2011 15:29 GMT
#36
On August 16 2011 00:21 Bobster wrote:
It's as Chill says.

The player from the loser's bracket has to win two BoX because the first one knocks the winner down into the loser's bracket (figuratively) and enables them to play the second BoX on equal standing, thus deciding the ultimate winner.


Having it be just one BoX with a small advantage for the player coming from the WB essentially means that every other player can lose a series and still be in the tournament, except for the guy who won everything so far. He loses one series and doesn't get any second chances. Pretty ridiculous to punish a player for winning in the name of "viewer excitement".

The thing is called Double Elimination because you have to lose twice to be eliminated. Simple.


No, I'd rather see this that all players are allowed to lose one series except in the grand finals, because it weights more than the other sets beforehand. And the player in the grand finals who lost the one series will have a small disadvantage.

Besides, calling this "punishment" is kind of ridiculous from the mathematical point of view. Just because he hasn't lost yet doesn't make it more likely that he loses. No matter how many games have been lost or won beforehand, both players will always be on equal footing if they face each other once again. All the sets lost beforehand will not change the probabilities of the outcome of the current match.
DemiAlbedo
Profile Joined October 2010
Canada69 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-08-15 15:35:08
August 15 2011 15:29 GMT
#37
I think the grand final should be a straight BO-7. Well I see many people saying they should do either A or B and trying to find a middle grand that gives the player from the winner bracket some sort of edge worthy of have his/her position, I think the advantage is already "built-in" to the system.

Look at N/A Battle.Net Invite.

SPOILERS WITHIN TAG.

+ Show Spoiler +
Sheth lost to Select and was dropped to the losers bracket. At that time he had to face Huk in the losers bracket right away. Upon winning against Huk (Amazing Games) he then rejoined the top rank in order to compete in the final. The finals in which they played immediately after. The advantage to the player in the winners bracket is that he gets to rest, get something to drink, analyze the players in the loser bracket, work off the adrenaline, talk to teammates, etc.


To me that is enough of an advantage for me to be happy with the tournament structure. Pending the matches are all played one after another, without delays.

Sorry wrong tournament lol. Thanks for the correction. Watch so many of these its hard to keep them all separate. Meant Battle.Net tournament not IPL.
Severedevil
Profile Blog Joined April 2009
United States4839 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-08-15 15:38:15
August 15 2011 15:31 GMT
#38
If I designed a tournament, it would be some sort of multiple elimination or group system until one round before the prizes start, so that every player faces elimination when they're playing for prizes. (A seed should be sufficient reward for coming out first in a group/never dropping a set in double-elim.)

On August 16 2011 00:25 Chill wrote:
Show nested quote +
On August 16 2011 00:22 red4ce wrote:
On August 15 2011 23:27 dani` wrote:
On August 15 2011 23:09 red4ce wrote:
I say just a regular BoX with no advantage going to the player from the winner's bracket. Simply not having to go through the loser's bracket is enough of an advantage already.

What? Do you realize that if the person from the upper bracket loses that BoX, he loses the tournament whereas the person from the lower bracket lost a game as well, but got a second chance in the lower bracket?

This is why it makes a LOT of sense to have the current format, the person from the upper bracket is simply allowed to lose 1 BoX as well, just like the person from the lower bracket already did before (which threw him into LB in the first place).


Yes I know exactly how double elimination works. What I am suggesting is that the winner's bracket finalist already has an advantage due to not having to go through the grind of the lower bracket. Take the IPL for example. + Show Spoiler +
White-ra made it to the grand finals having only to play 5 BoX sets, while Nerchio had to play 8 BoX
. Think of it as a sort of roundabout way of giving players byes into the next round.

I can't back these grey rules. If you make a format it should be fair. You can't start at what's most exciting and then go backwards trying to justify it.

Mirror matchups on symmetrical, two-spawn maps are the only thing that's fully fair, but we don't make tournaments out of those because it's not as exciting.
My strategy is to fork people.
JustPassingBy
Profile Blog Joined January 2011
10776 Posts
August 15 2011 15:31 GMT
#39
On August 16 2011 00:29 DemiAlbedo wrote:
I think the grand final should be a straight BO-7. Well I see many people saying they should do either A or B and trying to find a middle grand that gives the player from the winner bracket some sort of edge worthy of have his/her position, I think the advantage is already "built-in" to the system.

Look at IPL2.

SPOILERS WITHIN TAG.

+ Show Spoiler +
Sheth lost to Select and was dropped to the losers bracket. At that time he had to face Huk in the losers bracket right away. Upon winning against Huk (Amazing Games) he then rejoined the top rank in order to compete in the final. The finals in which they played immediately after. The advantage to the player in the winners bracket is that he gets to rest, get something to drink, analyze the players in the loser bracket, work off the adrenaline, talk to teammates, etc.


To me that is enough of an advantage for me to be happy with the tournament structure. Pending the matches are all played one after another, without delays.


Wait, wasn't that NA BNet invite?
Otherwise, can't explain the fact that 3 NA players compete for medals. ^^"
red4ce
Profile Blog Joined January 2011
United States7313 Posts
August 15 2011 15:33 GMT
#40
On August 16 2011 00:25 Chill wrote:
Show nested quote +
On August 16 2011 00:22 red4ce wrote:
On August 15 2011 23:27 dani` wrote:
On August 15 2011 23:09 red4ce wrote:
I say just a regular BoX with no advantage going to the player from the winner's bracket. Simply not having to go through the loser's bracket is enough of an advantage already.

What? Do you realize that if the person from the upper bracket loses that BoX, he loses the tournament whereas the person from the lower bracket lost a game as well, but got a second chance in the lower bracket?

This is why it makes a LOT of sense to have the current format, the person from the upper bracket is simply allowed to lose 1 BoX as well, just like the person from the lower bracket already did before (which threw him into LB in the first place).


Yes I know exactly how double elimination works. What I am suggesting is that the winner's bracket finalist already has an advantage due to not having to go through the grind of the lower bracket. Take the IPL for example. + Show Spoiler +
White-ra made it to the grand finals having only to play 5 BoX sets, while Nerchio had to play 8 BoX
. Think of it as a sort of roundabout way of giving players byes into the next round.

How about loser bracket finals then? If one player came from the winners' finals, and one person grinded through the loser bracket, shouldn't the latter get an advantage by your definition?

I can't back these grey rules. If you make a format it should be fair. You can't start at what's most exciting and then go backwards trying to justify it.


Um, no. My post wasn't about giving anyone advantages or disadvantages. It's about how playing fewer games is already enough of an advantage unto itself.
Prev 1 2 3 4 5 8 9 10 Next All
Please log in or register to reply.
Live Events Refresh
Next event in 1h 11m
[ Submit Event ]
Live Streams
Refresh
StarCraft 2
PiGStarcraft222
SortOf 148
ProTech115
FoxeR 50
StarCraft: Brood War
Flash 2310
Sea 2141
actioN 350
Larva 214
Shine 136
Leta 85
Killer 58
Pusan 54
Hm[arnc] 50
GoRush 31
[ Show more ]
Sharp 27
ToSsGirL 22
Backho 17
NaDa 10
Dota 2
XaKoH 361
NeuroSwarm114
League of Legends
JimRising 415
Counter-Strike
shoxiejesuss844
kRYSTAL_16
Super Smash Bros
Mew2King148
Other Games
gofns15900
summit1g6716
Liquid`RaSZi608
C9.Mang0485
ceh9452
Happy307
Organizations
Other Games
gamesdonequick888
StarCraft: Brood War
UltimateBattle 42
StarCraft 2
Blizzard YouTube
StarCraft: Brood War
BSLTrovo
sctven
[ Show 14 non-featured ]
StarCraft 2
• Light_VIP 12
• LUISG 3
• AfreecaTV YouTube
• intothetv
• Kozan
• IndyKCrew
• LaughNgamezSOOP
• Migwel
• sooper7s
StarCraft: Brood War
• BSLYoutube
• STPLYoutube
• ZZZeroYoutube
League of Legends
• Jankos778
• Stunt583
Upcoming Events
The PondCast
1h 11m
KCM Race Survival
1h 11m
LiuLi Cup
2h 11m
Scarlett vs TriGGeR
ByuN vs herO
Replay Cast
15h 11m
Online Event
1d 1h
LiuLi Cup
1d 2h
Serral vs Zoun
Cure vs Classic
Big Brain Bouts
1d 8h
Serral vs TBD
RSL Revival
1d 18h
RSL Revival
2 days
LiuLi Cup
2 days
[ Show More ]
uThermal 2v2 Circuit
2 days
RSL Revival
2 days
Replay Cast
2 days
Sparkling Tuna Cup
3 days
LiuLi Cup
3 days
Replay Cast
3 days
Replay Cast
4 days
LiuLi Cup
4 days
Wardi Open
4 days
Monday Night Weeklies
4 days
OSC
4 days
WardiTV Winter Champion…
5 days
Replay Cast
6 days
WardiTV Winter Champion…
6 days
Replay Cast
6 days
Liquipedia Results

Completed

Proleague 2026-02-10
Rongyi Cup S3
Underdog Cup #3

Ongoing

KCM Race Survival 2026 Season 1
LiuLi Cup: 2025 Grand Finals
Nations Cup 2026
IEM Kraków 2026
BLAST Bounty Winter 2026
BLAST Bounty Winter Qual
eXTREMESLAND 2025
SL Budapest Major 2025
ESL Impact League Season 8

Upcoming

Escore Tournament S1: W8
Acropolis #4
IPSL Spring 2026
HSC XXIX
uThermal 2v2 2026 Main Event
Bellum Gens Elite Stara Zagora 2026
RSL Revival: Season 4
WardiTV Winter 2026
CCT Season 3 Global Finals
FISSURE Playground #3
IEM Rio 2026
PGL Bucharest 2026
Stake Ranked Episode 1
BLAST Open Spring 2026
ESL Pro League Season 23
ESL Pro League Season 23
PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026
TLPD

1. ByuN
2. TY
3. Dark
4. Solar
5. Stats
6. Nerchio
7. sOs
8. soO
9. INnoVation
10. Elazer
1. Rain
2. Flash
3. EffOrt
4. Last
5. Bisu
6. Soulkey
7. Mini
8. Sharp
Sidebar Settings...

Advertising | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use | Contact Us

Original banner artwork: Jim Warren
The contents of this webpage are copyright © 2026 TLnet. All Rights Reserved.