2025's big campaign
29% discount

Order our “Signature games” with up to 29% discount (limited stock!) 🔥

Super campaign: Order our “Signature games” with up to 29% discount (limited stock!) 🔥

4 popular tournament formats for cornhole 2025

Cornhole tournament format

Cornhole is a popular outdoor game enjoyed by people of all ages. Its popularity is growing steadily, and it’s now being played competitively in tournaments across many parts of the world. In the United States, high-level competitions are held through organizations like the American Cornhole League, which are broadcast on television and attract large audiences.

There are several different types of tournament formats in Cornhole, each with its own advantages and drawbacks. In this article, we’ll take a look at the most popular formats used in Cornhole tournaments today.

1. Direct elimination (Single elimination)

Tournament tree for direct elimination (Single elimination) in Cornhole

The single elimination format is the most basic and easiest tournament setup in Cornhole. In this format, a Cornhole tournament is divided into several rounds, with each round consisting of a single match between two teams.

The winning team advances to the next round, while the losing team is eliminated. This format is well-suited for tournaments with a limited number of participants, as it requires fewer matches and takes less time to complete.

The main downside of this format is that there is no second chance for teams that have a bad game. One loss means immediate elimination and the end of the tournament run. This can feel harsh in a game like Cornhole, where a single lucky throw can sometimes decide the outcome of a match

Tournament tree for Double elimination in Cornhole

2. Double elimination (Double elimination)

The double elimination format is similar to single elimination but with one major difference: teams are not immediately eliminated after their first loss. Instead, they move into a secondary bracket.

This secondary bracket consists of additional matches where losing teams compete for a chance to return to the main tournament. It offers a second chance, which can be especially helpful in a game like Cornhole, where luck can sometimes influence the outcome.

The main drawback of this format is that it requires more matches, since the losing teams continue to play in the secondary bracket before being fully eliminated. This can be a challenge in tournaments with limited time or a small number of participants.

3. Round Robin

The Round Robin tournament format is similar to double elimination, but instead of having a secondary bracket, all teams compete against each other in a series of matches. This setup gives every team the opportunity to face all other teams and ensures that everyone gets to play multiple games. In the end, the team with the highest total score or most wins is declared the winner. It’s more like a league than a traditional knockout tournament.

The biggest drawback of this format is the number of matches required, since each team has to play several times. This can be especially challenging for events with limited time or a small number of available participants.

4. Playoffs

The Playoff tournament format is similar to the Round Robin setup, but instead of having every team play each other, teams are divided into two groups. Within each group, teams play a series of matches against one another. The top two teams from each group then move on to a playoff stage, which is played as a single elimination bracket until one team is declared the winner.

The main advantage of this format is that teams get to play multiple matches, while still maintaining the excitement of knockout-style playoffs. This can be especially important in a game like Cornhole, where luck can occasionally influence the outcome of a single match.

The main drawback is the higher number of matches required, since teams must compete in both group play and playoffs. This can be challenging for tournaments with limited time or a small number of participants.

Executive summary

There are several different tournament formats in Cornhole. The most popular ones are single elimination, double elimination, round robin, and playoff formats. Each format has its own strengths and weaknesses, so it’s important to choose the one that best suits your tournament setup.

Whether you’re organizing a competitive event or just playing for fun, Cornhole is a fantastic game that guarantees hours of entertainment. If you’re playing casually at home in the backyard with friends, feel free to try out different formats to keep the game fun and engaging.

Cornholestore logo
5/5

Buy your cornhole game with us!

Buy your cornhole game with us at Cornholestore!

Order our complete cornhole games with high-quality boards and bags in any color.

Shopping Cart
Scroll to Top