Sample schedules for 32, 48 and 64 players
Round-by-round timetables for three common field sizes, so you can see whether your plan fits the day before you take entries.
One category of the stated size, starting at 9:00 AM. Group matches are best of three at 15 minutes, early knockout rounds 20 minutes, semifinals and finals best of five at 30 minutes, plus a 4-minute changeover per match and a 10-minute break between stages. The consolation bracket runs alongside the main bracket. Your numbers will differ: use the time calculator with your own match lengths.
32 players on 6 tables
Groups of four, top two advance, then knockout with consolation
78 matches, about 6 h 09 min of play, finishing near 3:09 PM.
| Round | Matches | Rounds of play | Start | End |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group round 1 | 16 | 3 | 9:00 AM | 9:57 AM |
| Group round 2 | 16 | 3 | 9:57 AM | 10:54 AM |
| Group round 3 | 16 | 3 | 10:54 AM | 11:51 AM |
| Round of 16 + consolation Round of 16 | 16 | 3 | 12:01 PM | 1:13 PM |
| Quarterfinals + consolation Quarterfinals | 8 | 2 | 1:13 PM | 2:01 PM |
| Semifinals + consolation Semifinals | 4 | 1 | 2:01 PM | 2:35 PM |
| Final + consolation Final | 2 | 1 | 2:35 PM | 3:09 PM |
Knockout only with consolation
46 matches, about 4 h 20 min of play, finishing near 1:20 PM.
| Round | Matches | Rounds of play | Start | End |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Round of 32 | 16 | 3 | 9:00 AM | 10:12 AM |
| Round of 16 + consolation Round of 16 | 16 | 3 | 10:12 AM | 11:24 AM |
| Quarterfinals + consolation Quarterfinals | 8 | 2 | 11:24 AM | 12:12 PM |
| Semifinals + consolation Semifinals | 4 | 1 | 12:12 PM | 12:46 PM |
| Final + consolation Final | 2 | 1 | 12:46 PM | 1:20 PM |
48 players on 8 tables
Groups of four, top two advance, then knockout with consolation
118 matches, about 6 h 09 min of play, finishing near 3:09 PM.
| Round | Matches | Rounds of play | Start | End |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group round 1 | 24 | 3 | 9:00 AM | 9:57 AM |
| Group round 2 | 24 | 3 | 9:57 AM | 10:54 AM |
| Group round 3 | 24 | 3 | 10:54 AM | 11:51 AM |
| Round of 32 + consolation Round of 32 | 16 | 2 | 12:01 PM | 12:49 PM |
| Round of 16 + consolation Round of 16 | 16 | 2 | 12:49 PM | 1:37 PM |
| Quarterfinals + consolation Quarterfinals | 8 | 1 | 1:37 PM | 2:01 PM |
| Semifinals + consolation Semifinals | 4 | 1 | 2:01 PM | 2:35 PM |
| Final + consolation Final | 2 | 1 | 2:35 PM | 3:09 PM |
Knockout only with consolation
62 matches, about 4 h 20 min of play, finishing near 1:20 PM.
| Round | Matches | Rounds of play | Start | End |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Round of 64 | 16 | 2 | 9:00 AM | 9:48 AM |
| Round of 32 + consolation Round of 16 | 24 | 3 | 9:48 AM | 11:00 AM |
| Round of 16 + consolation Quarterfinals | 12 | 2 | 11:00 AM | 11:48 AM |
| Quarterfinals + consolation Semifinals | 6 | 1 | 11:48 AM | 12:12 PM |
| Semifinals + consolation Final | 3 | 1 | 12:12 PM | 12:46 PM |
| Final | 1 | 1 | 12:46 PM | 1:20 PM |
64 players on 10 tables
Groups of four, top two advance, then knockout with consolation
158 matches, about 7 h 54 min of play, finishing near 4:54 PM.
| Round | Matches | Rounds of play | Start | End |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group round 1 | 32 | 4 | 9:00 AM | 10:16 AM |
| Group round 2 | 32 | 4 | 10:16 AM | 11:32 AM |
| Group round 3 | 32 | 4 | 11:32 AM | 12:48 PM |
| Round of 32 + consolation Round of 32 | 32 | 4 | 12:58 PM | 2:34 PM |
| Round of 16 + consolation Round of 16 | 16 | 2 | 2:34 PM | 3:22 PM |
| Quarterfinals + consolation Quarterfinals | 8 | 1 | 3:22 PM | 3:46 PM |
| Semifinals + consolation Semifinals | 4 | 1 | 3:46 PM | 4:20 PM |
| Final + consolation Final | 2 | 1 | 4:20 PM | 4:54 PM |
Knockout only with consolation
94 matches, about 5 h 32 min of play, finishing near 2:32 PM.
| Round | Matches | Rounds of play | Start | End |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Round of 64 | 32 | 4 | 9:00 AM | 10:36 AM |
| Round of 32 + consolation Round of 32 | 32 | 4 | 10:36 AM | 12:12 PM |
| Round of 16 + consolation Round of 16 | 16 | 2 | 12:12 PM | 1:00 PM |
| Quarterfinals + consolation Quarterfinals | 8 | 1 | 1:00 PM | 1:24 PM |
| Semifinals + consolation Semifinals | 4 | 1 | 1:24 PM | 1:58 PM |
| Final + consolation Final | 2 | 1 | 1:58 PM | 2:32 PM |
Reading the tables
"Rounds of play" is how many times each table is used in that round. Groups of four need three group rounds, and because group matches all happen before the knockout, they take most of the morning. Knockout only is faster but sends half the field home after one match unless the consolation bracket is run.
These are minimum times with no late players, long matches or table breakdowns. Add 15 to 25 percent for a realistic schedule, or cap the number of entries. If the schedule shows you will finish too late, the three levers are more tables, shorter early matches and a smaller field.
Several categories
If you run Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced events on the same tables, add the table-hours of each category and divide by the number of tables. Stagger the categories so that finals are not all at the same moment, and put the semifinals and finals of each on your best table. See the scheduling guide.