⏱️ Operational Buffer Time
To account for real-world conditions, the estimated match durations should be adjusted to include operational overhead. A 25–30% buffer is recommended to cover:
- Player delays or absences
- Referee calls or disputes
- Breaks between rounds (meals, restrooms)
- Table maintenance or cleaning
- Re-racks or slow play
- Matches exceeding 60-minute average
These buffers ensure a realistic and efficient tournament schedule with reduced risk of overruns or delays.
📊 Estimated Tournament Duration – 32 Players, Double KO to Quarterfinals
🔁 Format Summary
- Format: Double Elimination until Quarterfinals → Single Elimination from Quarterfinals
- Players: 32
- Match format: Best of 3 / Race to 2
- Average match time: 60 minutes
- Tables available: 6
- Short rack setup (9 balls)
- Match slots scheduled: 61
- Matches required: ~55
- Built-in slack: ~6 slots for delays or long matches
- Final comfortably playable between 23:00 – 00:30
- Match duration: ~60 minutes
- Target end: ~1:00 AM
🧮 Match Volume Estimate
- Double KO phase (until 8 players remain): ~48 matches
- Final single elimination phase (8 players): 7 matches
- Total estimated matches: ~55
⏱️ Raw Match Time
- 55 matches × 60 minutes = 3,300 minutes (~55 hours)
🧩 Estimated Tournament Runtime by Number of Tables
| Tables | Parallel Matches | Pure Match Time | With Buffer (25–30%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 4 | ~13.75 hours | ~17–18 hours |
| 6 | 6 | ~9.2 hours | ~11.5–12 hours |
| 8 | 8 | ~6.9 hours | ~9 hours |
🕓 Tournament Timeline Example – Start Time: 2:00 PM (14:00)
Using 6 tables and 60-minute average match duration with ~25% buffer
| Time Slot | Matches Played | Round Focus |
|---|---|---|
| 14:00 – 15:00 | 6 matches | Round 1 – Winners Bracket (WB) |
| 15:00 – 16:00 | 6 matches | WB continues + Early Losers Bracket (LB) |
| 16:00 – 17:00 | 6 matches | Round 2 WB + LB mid-rounds |
| 17:00 – 18:00 | 6 matches | Round 3 WB + LB |
| 18:00 – 19:00 | 6 matches | Final WB matches before QFs + LB continues |
| 19:00 – 20:00 | 6 matches | LB play-down to final 8 |
| 20:00 – 21:00 | 6 matches | Quarterfinals (Single KO begins) + LB ends |
| 21:00 – 22:00 | 6 matches | Semifinals + possible LB playoff/spotting |
| 22:00 – 23:00 | 4 matches | Finals prep, bronze match, or long LB game |
| 23:00 – 00:00 | 3 matches | Final Match + overflow from prior rounds |
| 00:00 – 01:00 | 0–2 matches | Awards / Overtime buffer / sudden death |
📊 Estimated Tournament Duration – 16 Players, Double KO to Quarterfinals
🔁 Format Summary
- Format: Double Elimination until Quarterfinals → Single Elimination from Quarterfinals
- Players: 32
- Match format: Best of 3 / Race to 2
- Average match time: 60 minutes
- Tables available: 6
- Short rack setup (9 balls)
- Match slots scheduled: 29
- Matches required: ~29
- Built-in slack: 0 slots for delays or long matches
- Final comfortably playable between 23:30 – 01:00
- Match duration: ~60 minutes
- Target end: ~1:00 AM
🧮 Match Volume Estimate
- Double KO phase (until 8 players remain): ~22 matches
- Final Single Elimination phase (QF, SF, Final): 7 matches
- Total estimated matches: ~29
⏱️ Raw Match Time
- 29 matches × 60 minutes = 1,740 minutes (~29 hours)
🧩 Estimated Tournament Runtime by Number of Tables
| Tables | Parallel Matches | Raw Match Time | With Buffer (25–30%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 4 | ~7.25 hours | ~9–9.5 hours |
| 6 | 6 | ~4.8 hours | ~6–6.5 hours |
| 8 | 8 | ~3.6 hours | ~4.5–5 hours |
🕓 Tournament Timeline Example – Start Time: 6:00 PM (18:00)
Using 6 tables and 60-minute average match duration with ~25% buffer
| Time Slot | Matches Played | Round / Phase |
|---|---|---|
| 18:00–19:00 | 6 matches | Round 1 – Winners Bracket (6/8 players) |
| 19:00–20:00 | 6 matches | Remaining WB Round 1 + Early Losers Bracket |
| 20:00–21:00 | 6 matches | WB Round 2 + LB continues |
| 21:00–22:00 | 5 matches | Final WB pre-QF + LB progress |
| 22:00–23:00 | 4 matches | Quarterfinals (Single KO begins) |
| 23:00–00:00 | 2 matches | Semifinals |
| 00:00–00:30 | 1 match | Final |
| 00:30–01:00 | – | Awards / Buffer |