Petanque tournament formats
How each format works, what it's best for — and every one of them runs on PlusPetanque in one click.
Organizer guideSwiss system
In a Swiss-system tournament every team plays the same number of rounds and nobody is eliminated. Each round pairs teams with equal or similar records — winners meet winners, losers meet losers — which makes it the fairest format for large fields on limited time.
Read moreKnockout (single elimination)
In a knockout, the loser of every match is eliminated and the winner advances until one team remains. It is the fastest and most dramatic format — but half the field goes home after one game unless you add a consolante (consolation bracket).
Read moreRound robin
In a round robin every team plays every other team once. It produces the most accurate ranking of any format because no result depends on the luck of a draw — at the cost of many rounds.
Read moreBarrage
Barrage is the classic French qualification format: teams play in poules of four, and after two rounds the teams standing at one win each play a decider — the barrage — for the last qualifying spot. Two wins qualify directly.
Read moreGroup stage + knockout (poules)
Teams are split into groups (poules) that each play a mini round robin; the best of each group advance to a knockout bracket. The format balances fairness — several guaranteed group games — with the drama of a final bracket.
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