Event Formats

Event formatting can be a primary deciding factor on whether to attend a tournament or not.  With over 2,000 players attending events in 2022 we developed the formats below so participants can anticipate seeing similar formats regardless of the event date and/or location they plan to attend with APA.  Unless explicitly stated otherwise, in the details page for an event, you can expect to see the following take place as dictated by total attendance with each division of a tournament.

Tournament Play Expectations – all teams will play a minimum of 5 games during each tournament unless explicitly stated otherwise.

Round-Robin Matches – events will typically include round-robin matches followed by bracket/medal match play.  Matches are single game matches to 11, win by 2. 

Bracket/Medal Matches – events will include bracket/medal matches following round-robin play.  Medal matches, championship bracket only, will be single game matches played to 15, win by 2.  

Attendance Format Expectations – 

– 4 Team Division : 3 game round-robin play (to 11, win by 2) followed by a 4 team championship bracket for Gold, Silver, Bronze with bracket play including matches to 15, win by 2.

– 5 Team Division : 4 game round-robin play (to 11, win by 2) followed by a 5 team championship bracket for Gold, Silver, Bronze with bracket play including matches to 15, win by 2.  Seeds 1-3 will have a bye, seeds 4 and 5 will have a “play-in” match to play the 1 seed.

– 6 Team Division : 5 game round-robin play (to 11, win by 2) followed by a 4 team championship bracket for Gold, Silver, Bronze with bracket play including matches to 15, win by 2.  Seeds 5 and 6 may play a consolation game IF time/space permits.

– 7 Team Division : 6 game round-robin play (to 11, win by 2) followed by a 4 team championship bracket for Gold, Silver, Bronze with bracket play including matches to 15, win by 2.  Seeds 5 and 6 may play a consolation game IF time/space permits.

– 8 Team Division : TWO pools of 4 teams will be set – 3 game round-robin play within each pool (to 11, win by 2) followed by a 4 team championship bracket for Gold, Silver, Bronze with bracket play including matches to 15, win by 2.  A second 4 team consolation bracket will be set for the 3rd and 4th place teams in each pool with matches being played to 11, win by 2.

– 9 Team Division : we will set 1 of 2 formats dictated by court and time availability … 1) a complete 8 game round-robin format (matches to 11, win by 2) with Gold, Silver and Bronze awarded to the top 3 records after round-robin play or 2) a set number of round-robin matches will be played (likely 6) before seeding teams for a 4 team championship bracket, based on record.  Once bracket/medal matches begin, games will be played to 15, win by 2.  

– 10 Team Division : TWO pools of 5 teams will be set – 4 game round-robin play within each pool (to 11, win by 2) followed by a 4 team championship bracket for Gold, Silver, Bronze with bracket play including matches to 15, win by 2.  A second 4 team consolation bracket will be set for the 3rd and 4th place teams in each pool with matches being played to 11, win by 2.  A final consolation match for the 5th place teams in each pool will be scheduled to get all teams 5 games (match played to 11, win by 2).

– 12 Team Division : TWO pools of 6 teams will be set – 5 game round-robin play within each pool (to 11, win by 2) followed by a 4 team championship bracket for Gold, Silver, Bronze with bracket play including matches to 15, win by 2.  A second 4 team consolation bracket may be set for the 3rd and 4th place teams in each pool, court availability & time permitting, with matches being played to 11, win by 2.  

– Double Elimination Events : any tournaments designated as “double elimination format” will have matches in place that include a ‘Best 2 out of 3’ format (to 11, win by 2) with a 3 match guarantee in place, again, to make sure all participants enjoy a 5 game minimum during an APA event.