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Seeding, Competitive Intensity and Quality in Knock-Out Tournaments

Author

Listed:
  • Dmitry Dagaev

    (National Research University Higher School of Economics)

  • Alex Suzdaltsev

Abstract

What is the optimal way to seed a knock-out tournament in order to maximize the overall spectator interest in it? Seeding affects the set of matches being played in the tournament, while neutral spectators tend to prefer to watch (i) close and intense matches; (ii) matches that involve strong teams. We formulate a discrete optimization problem that takes into account both these effects for every match of the tournament. With deterministic outcomes and linear objective function, we solve this problem analytically for any number of participants. It turns out that, depending on parameters, only two special classes of seedings can be optimal. While one of the classes includes a seeding that is often used in practice, the seedings in the other class are very different. When we relax the assumptions, we find that these classes of seedings are in fact optimal in a sizable number of cases

Suggested Citation

  • Dmitry Dagaev & Alex Suzdaltsev, 2015. "Seeding, Competitive Intensity and Quality in Knock-Out Tournaments," HSE Working papers WP BRP 91/EC/2015, National Research University Higher School of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:hig:wpaper:91/ec/2015
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    File URL: http://www.hse.ru/data/2015/03/19/1092630400/91EC2015.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Karpov, Alexander, 2015. "A theory of knockout tournament seedings," Working Papers 0600, University of Heidelberg, Department of Economics.
    2. Corona, Francisco & Forrest, David, 2017. "Evaluating significant effects from alternative seeding systems : a Bayesian approach, with an application to the UEFA Champions League," DES - Working Papers. Statistics and Econometrics. WS 24521, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid. Departamento de Estadística.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    knock-out tournaments; seeding; competitive intensity; quality;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C61 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Mathematical Methods; Programming Models; Mathematical and Simulation Modeling - - - Optimization Techniques; Programming Models; Dynamic Analysis

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