Round Robin formats overview
Use this guide to pick the round robin format that fits your event. Start with how players enter, whether partners stay fixed, and whether the event ends after pool play or advances to a bracket.
Compare round robin formats
Format | Best for | Choose this when |
|---|---|---|
Standard Round Robin (Set Partners) | Fixed teams | Players register as teams and keep the same partner for the full event. |
Rotating partner round robin | Individual player events | Players register as individuals and should get a new partner each round. |
Mixed gender rotating partners | Mixed rotation events | Players rotate partners, but every pairing must stay one male player and one female player. |
Round Robin to Single Elimination | Pool play with one playoff bracket | You want round robin standings to seed a single-elimination finish. |
Round Robin to Double Elimination | Pool play with a double-elimination finish | You want round robin standings to seed a double-elimination bracket. |
Round Robin to Compass | Pool play with cascading brackets | You want round robin standings to seed a Compass Draw where every team keeps playing after a loss. |
Round Robin to Compass
Round Robin to Compass combines pool play with a Compass-style playoff bracket. After round robin pool matches, the top 16 teams seed into a Compass Draw with four cascading brackets. Every team is guaranteed at least 3 games.
How the bracket works
Teams that lose in Round 1 of each bracket drop to the next bracket, so every team keeps playing throughout the event.
Bracket 1 quarterfinal losers also drop to Bracket 4.
If you have fewer than 16 teams, empty slots automatically fill with BYEs and propagate correctly through the bracket.
For more on Compass brackets, see Bracket formats overview.
How pool play feeds playoffs
Some round robin formats end after standings are set. Others use pool results to seed a playoff bracket. If your event includes playoffs, review Bracket formats overview and How Standings Are Calculated.
What to read next
Start by Creating an Event in GGS. Then set event rules in Event settings.