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 or in written communications, 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.
Divisions of Play – in general, 3.0 events can include players 3.24 or below, 3.5 events can include players 3.74 or below, 4.0 events can include players 4.24 or below, 4.5 events can include players 4.74 or below, and 5.0 events can include players 5.24 and below. The event director reserves the right to merge divisions of play but will do so by no more than a .5 point skill level (3.0 with 3.5, 3.5 with 4.0, 4.0 with 4.5 and 4.5 with 5.0).
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.
Seeding/Tie Breakers – teams/players will be seeded within their pool based on their overall record, head-to-head results, and score differential. A 2-way tie is broken by head-to-head results with a 3-way tie being broken by score differential. Should there be a tie in score differential within a 3-way tie, the head-to-head result within that matchup will determine the higher seed between those teams.
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. For Singles divisions, there will be no bracket play after the round-robin matches conclude. Overall records will be used to determine Gold/Silver/Bronze.
– 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 6 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 4th and 5th place teams in each pool with matches being 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.
– 14 Team Division : TWO pools of 7 teams will be set – 6 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. Advancing teams will be the 1st and 2nd place teams from each pool.
– 15 Team Division : THREE pools of 5 teams will be set – 4 game round-robin play within each pool (to 11, win by 2) followed by a 7 team championship bracket for Gold, Silver, Bronze with bracket play including matches to 15, win by 2. Advancing teams will be the 1st and 2nd place teams from each pool plus the top ranked 3rd place team from one of the three pools. Remaining brackets will be set to make sure all teams play 5 games.
– 16 Team Division : FOUR pools of 4 teams will be set – 3 game round-robin play within each pool (to 11, win by 2) followed by an 8 team championship bracket for Gold, Silver, Bronze with bracket play including matches to 15, win by 2, AFTER the first round of play. Once the first round concludes, the remaining championship (not the back draw) bracket games will be to 15, win by 2. Advancing teams will be the 1st and 2nd place teams from each pool. Remaining brackets will be set to make sure all teams play 5 games.
– 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.