> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.time2.bike/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Brackets

> Seeding, rounds, byes, and fixing a bracket that's gone wrong.

Knockout racing — dual slalom, 4X — gets a bracket panel and diagram on top of
the [dual slalom](/timing/formats/dual-slalom) screen.

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/time2bike/gd86sIECJkXq3-wr/images/timing/bracket.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=gd86sIECJkXq3-wr&q=85&s=c8dfd77080320aec205f98b598d5e3e8" alt="Bracket" width="1854" height="1054" data-path="images/timing/bracket.png" />

## Setting it up

Run your qualifying first, then click **Setup bracket**. For the whole-day
picture — mixed-category qualifying through to publishing — see
[Running a dual slalom event](/timing/formats/dual-slalom-event).

### Bracket format

| Option                   | What you get                                                                                                         |
| ------------------------ | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Single + 3rd place**   | Straight knockout plus a ride-off for third. The usual choice                                                        |
| **Single elimination**   | Knockout, first and second only                                                                                      |
| **Single + consolation** | Knockout plus a full consolation bracket placing every first-round loser — 5th to 8th in a field of eight. More runs |
| **Double elimination**   | Two losses to go out                                                                                                 |

### Match format

| Option            | Winner is                                               |
| ----------------- | ------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Combined time** | Lowest total across both legs. The standard slalom rule |
| **Best of 2**     | Whoever wins more legs                                  |
| **Single run**    | One leg, straight up                                    |

### How many advance

Say how many riders make the bracket — *31 qualified, 16 advance*. The bracket
itself is the next power of two above that, and the top seeds take byes for the
difference, resolved automatically.

Seeds fill in fastest-first from qualifying. You can drag to reorder, or seed
manually or at random.

### Maximum differential

Defaults to **1.5 seconds**, per USAC 5E2(c). A rider who wins the first run by
more than this only carries the maximum into the second — so a blown corner
costs the run, not the match. A rider who doesn't finish a run is charged the
maximum rather than an infinite gap.

> !!-IMAGE-NEEDED-!! — The bracket setup dialog with format, match format, size, and the seed list.

## Running it

The **bracket diagram** shows every match. Click one to point the operator panel
at it, then stage and run it like any other dual-slalom pair.

Winners cascade into the next round on their own. A match is decided when both
riders have all their legs recorded, or one forfeits.

**Resolve byes** re-walks the bracket and advances anyone with no opponent. Run
it after setup, and after any reseed or substitution.

## Fixing a bracket

Things go wrong at a slalom more than anywhere else. All of this is available:

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Wrong rider in a match" icon="user-pen">
    **Edit match** in the operator panel — substitute either rider by plate or
    name. Substituted riders are badged so you can see it was a manual change.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Riders on the wrong sides" icon="arrow-right-arrow-left">
    **Edit match** → swap A and B.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="A leg time is wrong" icon="clock">
    Fix it inline in the match panel, or open **Edit all times** for a table of
    every match and every leg with editable cells. That's the fastest route
    when an import double-fired or a tag was missed.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="A rider can't take their run" icon="ban">
    **Forfeit / DNF** at the bottom of the match panel. Their opponent advances.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="The seeding was wrong" icon="list-ol">
    **Edit seeds** re-runs seeding for the whole bracket. Only available before
    any match has been decided — after that, substitute riders instead.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="The bracket is in a state you don't understand" icon="triangle-exclamation">
    Press **Resolve byes** first — it fixes most of it. If it's still wrong, open
    **Edit all times** to see every leg at once and work out what's missing.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Seeding runs

Qualifying happens **on this same race**, not a separate one. Turn on seeding
mode and you can time riders from every dual slalom category through both lanes
at once — each rider's time records against their own category, and **From quali
times** then seeds each bracket from it.

→ [Running a dual slalom event](/timing/formats/dual-slalom-event)

## Next

<Card title="Corrections" icon="pen" href="/timing/screen/corrections">
  Fixing results outside the bracket.
</Card>