How to run a darts tournament
By Pierre, updated
With friends on one board or in a pub with several, a tournament asks for the same choices: the format, the game, the draw, and an idea of when it will finish.
Choosing the format
- Knockout
- The loser of each match is out. The quickest. If there aren't enough players to fill the bracket, some go through the first round without playing: those are byes.
- Groups, then knockout
- Groups of 4 where everyone plays everyone, then the top two of each group go into a knockout bracket. Everyone plays several matches.
- Round robin
- Everyone plays everyone, and the table decides the winner. The fairest, but the number of matches climbs fast.
How many matches
In a knockout, there's one match fewer than players: every match knocks someone out, and only one can be left. 8 players, 7 matches.
In a round robin, every pair of players meets: 6 players make 15 matches, 8 players 28.
The game and the legs
501 with a double out is the competition format; 301 is quicker; Cricket works for tournaments too. One leg to win is enough for the early rounds. Best of three or five legs gives the final more weight, if the night allows.
The draw, the bull-up and the marker
The bracket is drawn at random. Before each match, the bull-up decides who throws first: each player throws one dart at the bull, and the closest starts.
During the match, someone keeps the scoreboard. By tradition, it's often the loser of the previous match.
How long it takes
On a single board, matches are played one after another: with 12 players, allow two to three hours. With several boards, several matches are played at once, and the night gets shorter.
With Bullcast
Among friends, Bullcast Complete runs the tournament on your board, from 3 to 12 players: knockout, groups or round robin, in 301, 501, 701 or Cricket. The draw is done for you, the TV calls each match and shows the bracket, then the podium. The other players need nothing, no account and no subscription. For a pub or a club, Bullcast Pro adds sign-up in advance, the poster, several boards at once and the regulars' ranking.
Bullcast for pubsQuestions
How many players for a tournament among friends?
On Bullcast, from 3 to 12. In a round robin, 6 at most: beyond that, the matches don't fit in one night on one board.
Who throws first in each match?
Whoever wins the bull-up: each player throws one dart at the bull, and the closest starts.
Do players need an account?
No. On Bullcast, only the organiser needs Bullcast Complete; the players play without an account.