Step-by-step instructions
Confirm the entrants
List one player or team per line. Verify the roster before assigning bracket positions.
Generate the opening round
Select Build bracket. The tool draws random positions and inserts byes when the field does not fill a power-of-two bracket.
Save and track the competition
Copy the bracket and record winners in your own event sheet. The later-round entries are progression placeholders, not live scores.
Worked example
Eight unranked entrants are drawn into a complete bracket. No protected seeds are reserved.
One valid result is shown below. Your generated outcome will vary.
Example input
Alex Jamie Morgan Taylor Sam Jordan Casey Riley
Example result
Round 1 1. Jordan vs Riley 2. Alex vs Taylor 3. Casey vs Sam 4. Jamie vs Morgan Round 2 1. Winner of match 1 vs winner of match 2 2. Winner of match 3 vs winner of match 4 Final 1. Winner of previous-round match 1 vs winner of previous-round match 2
The positions are assigned by chance. A strong entrant can meet another strong entrant in the first round.
Random seeding is different from ranking-based seeding
If the event must keep top-ranked entrants apart, use a process that explicitly places protected seeds. This tool does not read rankings or distinguish seeded and unseeded entries. A random draw is appropriate only when unrestricted chance is the agreed position-allocation method. Save the final result before announcing match numbers and reporting instructions.
Settings and limits to check
The example has 8 retained entries. The generator supports 2–128 entrants and creates a single-elimination layout. Bracket capacity is the next power of two, and empty places become first-round byes. Later rounds show winner placeholders. It does not seed by ranking, protect top teams, manage round-robin play, or update results automatically.
Settings used in this example
Remove duplicate entries: On
Keep a usable copy of the result
Use Copy to place the current result in your own notes, or Download to keep a text file. Keep the eligible input list with the result when you need to explain which entries took part. A new generation replaces the displayed result rather than adding to a saved history.
The tool runs in your browser and does not upload your input. Save the result before refreshing or leaving the page. If other people need to use the same outcome, share your saved copy rather than asking them to generate another independent result.
Frequently asked questions
Can I guarantee the two strongest players are on opposite sides?
No. That requires ranking-based placement or another constraint the generator does not enforce.
Is random seeding the same as ranking players?
No. Random seeding assigns positions by chance. Skill-based seeding needs a separate ranking process.
Does the bracket update when someone wins?
No. Save the output and track match results yourself. Later rounds are placeholders showing progression.
What should I check in the worked example?
The positions are assigned by chance. A strong entrant can meet another strong entrant in the first round.