After Alliance Selection, the alliance formed advance to the event playoffs. These teams are seeded into a playoff bracket, and play a series of matches until one alliance is crowned the champion!
Bracket Formats
Over the course of the FIRST Robotics Competition, two different bracket styles were used.
Single Elimination
Up until 2023, the single elimination bracket style was used, occasionally with minor modifications depending on the requirements of the game. Alliances would play a best of 3 series against another alliance, with the winner of the series advancing through the tournament bracket.
Bracket Graphic
Double Elimination
In 2023, the double elimination bracket was introduced to give each alliance an more equal shot at making it to finals. Instead of playing one alliance in a best of three each round, alliances play best of ones, but play a different alliance depending on if they win or lose that matches. Once an alliance loses two matches before finals, they are eliminated. Once two alliances have advanced to the finals, they play a best of three series against each other to determine the event winner.
Bracket Graphic
