Select the empty cells between the matchups in Column C ( through C5 ). Apply a Right Border to connect the two matchups. Step 4: Set Up Round 2 (Semifinals) Column D will hold the winners of the first round.
=IF(E2="Team A", "Team A", IF(E2="Team B", "Team B", ...))
: Use cell borders to draw the actual "bracket" lines. By selecting a range and applying right or left borders, you can visually connect winners from one round to their next matchup Automating Results with Formulas make a bracket in excel
: Select the Horizontal Hierarchy layout, which naturally resembles a tournament flow from left to right. Customize the Shape : Use the Text Pane to type in participant names.
Move to Column . The winner of the first matchup should progress to cell B3 (exactly halfway between row 2 and row 4). The winner of the second matchup will progress to cell B11 . Select the empty cells between the matchups in
Repeat this formula structure for every advancing slot in the bracket. For Round 3, point your formula toward the team and score cells of Round 2. Once configured, typing scores into the early rounds will cause the winning teams to cascade automatically all the way to the finals. Pro-Tips for Managing an Excel Tournament Bracket
For more on data formatting, you can check official Microsoft Support for Number Formats. Part 2: How to Make a Tournament Bracket in Excel =IF(E2="Team A", "Team A", IF(E2="Team B", "Team B",
Highlight your entire sheet by clicking the triangle icon in the top-left corner (above row 1 and to the left of column A).
Whether you’re organizing a local pickleball league, a corporate sales competition, or a high-stakes March Madness pool, Excel is the go-to tool for building tournament brackets.
| Column D | | --- | | Team A | | Team B | | Team C | | ... | | Team P |
For example:
