Tournament facts for kids
A tournament is a type of competition where many players or teams take part in a sport or game. The idea of a tournament comes from the Middle Ages, when knights would compete in events called "tourneys." Today, the word is still sometimes used for military events.
The word tournament can mean two main things:
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Tournaments in One Place
One type of tournament happens in a single place over a short time. Think of it like a big event that lasts a few days or weeks.
- Example: A Chess tournament. All the games happen in one hall. Players use chess clocks and follow special rules. Game clubs often help members get ready for these kinds of events.
Tournaments with Many Matches
Another type of tournament involves many individual matches. Each match usually has only a few competitors, often just two. The overall winner is decided by combining the results of all these matches.
- Example: Many team sports, racket sports, and board games use this type. Even though only two teams or players compete in one match, many teams can be part of the whole tournament. This lets a lot of people compete against each other over time.
How Tournaments Can Be Different
These two types of tournaments are not always the same.
- Some golf tournaments are like the first type. They happen at one course over a few days.
- Football (soccer) leagues, like the Premier League, are like the second type. Matches are played in many different places over a whole year.
- Some tournaments fit both ideas. The Wimbledon tennis championship is a great example. It happens at one location over a short period, but it also involves many individual matches to find the champion.
Images for kids
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Example of a round-robin tournament with ten participating teams: each team plays each other team, over nine days
