GUIDE
Everything you need to know about creating and managing brackets on Dart Seed. This page explains every field, how it shows up on the TV display, and tips for getting the most out of your tournaments.
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TV LAYOUT OVERVIEW
Here's how your bracket settings map to the TV display. Each labeled zone corresponds to a field on the create/edit form.
BASIC INFO
Bracket name & display title
TV CASTING & RULES
Logo, rule panels, and appearance — all in one collapsible section
On the create and edit forms, the TV Casting section (collapsible) contains everything that affects the TV header: logo, rule panels, and the preset loader. The Appearance section (also collapsible) contains the color scheme picker. Both sections are collapsed by default to keep the form clean.
Tip: Save your most-used rule configurations in Rule Presets, or hit + Save as Preset directly inside the TV Casting section while creating a bracket. When creating a new bracket, select a preset from the dropdown and both sides fill in automatically — no page reload needed.
FORMAT & SETTINGS
Player count, teams, elimination type
Double Elimination — Lose twice to be eliminated. Includes a Winners bracket, Losers bracket, and Grand Finals (with potential reset). The TV auto-rotates between bracket views.
COLOR SCHEMES
Theme your TV display
Choose a color scheme to theme the entire TV display and share view. Each scheme includes a background color/pattern, accent color, text color, card backgrounds, and border colors — all optimized for full-screen TV readability.
Standard Themes
- Midnight
- Ember
- Forest
- Royal Purple
- Ocean
- Gold
- Neon Arcade
- Arctic
- Sunset
- Stealth
Holiday Themes
- Easter
- Halloween
- Christmas
- Valentine's
- St. Patrick's
- New Year's
- 4th of July
- Thanksgiving
Tip: Holiday themes include subtle background patterns (snowflakes, pumpkins, etc.) that add atmosphere without distracting from the bracket. You can set a default color scheme in Bracket Defaults under your account menu.
PLAYERS & TEAMS
Enter names and seed positions
After setting your player count and team size, the form generates a card for each seed slot. Each card shows a #N seed label so it's easy to see the seeding order at a glance. Players are seeded in order — slot 1 is the #1 seed, slot 2 is #2, and so on.
Tip: You can re-seed (shuffle) the bracket after creation from the bracket management page. This re-randomizes the player positions while keeping all the same names and phone numbers.
PAYOUTS
Prize amounts per placement
Set prize amounts for up to 8 places. These are displayed as compact chips in the TV header's right side, and as a placements section on the share view.
TV Display Example
SKILL SHOTS
Optional side-event tracking
Skill Shots let you track a side event alongside your main bracket — like a bullseye challenge, closest-to-bull, or any special throw competition. Each skill shot slot can have its own prize amount.
Tip: Skill shots are fully editable after bracket creation. As players hit their shots during the event, update the names and hits from the Edit page.
TV & CASTING
Display on a big screen or Chromecast
The TV view is a full-screen, auto-refreshing display optimized for 16:9 screens. It's designed to be cast to a pub/bar TV and updates automatically every 15 seconds as you record match results.
How to Cast
Open your bracket and click the TV / Cast button
Use Chrome's built-in Cast feature or open the TV URL directly on a connected device
The display auto-refreshes and rotates between bracket views (Winners, Losers, Finals)
TV View Features
- • Auto-rotation — For double elimination, the view cycles through Winners, Losers, and Grand Finals brackets automatically.
- • Live updates — Refreshes every 15 seconds. Record a match result on your phone and see it on the big screen moments later.
- • QR code — A QR code on the TV links to the share/mobile view so players can follow along on their phones.
- • Full-screen optimized — Designed for 16:9 aspect ratio. Works on TVs, monitors, projectors, and Chromecast devices.
- • Chromecast compatible — Uses the Cast Receiver SDK for native Chromecast support. No extra apps needed.
MANAGING BRACKETS
After creation
Recording Match Results
From the bracket page, tap any match to record a winner. The bracket advances automatically — winners move forward, and in double elimination, losers drop to the losers bracket. Results are reflected on the TV and share views within seconds.
Editing a Bracket
You can edit a bracket at any time to change the title, logo, rules, payouts, skill shots, color scheme, and visibility. Player names and match results can also be updated. The edit page mirrors the create page with all fields pre-filled.
Re-seeding
If you need to shuffle the bracket, use the re-seed option from the bracket management page. This randomizes player positions while preserving all names. Best done before matches start.
Calling Players to a Board
From the bracket page, you can assign players to a specific board (e.g., "Board 1"). When you assign a player or team, any phone numbers on file receive an SMS notification with their board number and a link to the live share view so they can follow along on their phones. SMS notifications can be enabled or disabled sitewide from the Admin panel.
Resetting a Match
Made a mistake? You can reset individual matches to clear the result and undo the advancement. This cascades to later rounds if needed.
TIPS & FAQ
Common questions answered
How many players can I have?
Up to 128 players per bracket. The system supports any count from 2 to 128 and auto-fills BYEs as needed.
What's the difference between single and double elimination?
Single Elimination: One loss and you're out. Quick and straightforward.
Double Elimination: You need to lose twice. After your first loss, you drop to the Losers Bracket. If you survive there, you can fight back to the Grand Finals. If the Losers Bracket winner beats the Winners Bracket champion in Grand Finals, a reset match is played.
Can I change bracket settings after creation?
Yes. You can edit the title, logo, rules, payouts, skill shots, and color scheme at any time. All brackets are public by default — anyone with the link can view the share page and TV display. The only things you can't change after creation are the player count and bracket type (single vs. double elimination).
Do spectators need an account?
No. The share/mobile view and TV display are fully public. Anyone can scan the QR code or open the link to follow along. Only the bracket creator needs an account.
What devices support Chromecast?
Any Chromecast device (including Chromecast with Google TV) or TV with built-in Chromecast. You can also use the TV URL directly on any browser — just open it full-screen on any computer connected to a TV.
How do BYEs work?
When your player count isn't a perfect power of 2 (4, 8, 16, 32, etc.), the system adds BYEs to fill the bracket. BYEs are awarded to the highest seeds first, meaning those players automatically advance past Round 1. For example, with 12 players in a 16-slot bracket, the top 4 seeds get a BYE.
What are Skill Shots?
Skill Shots are an optional side event you can run alongside your bracket. Think of it as a bonus challenge — like hitting the bullseye, closest to the bull, or any other special throw. Each slot can have its own prize amount. Players' names and results are tracked separately from the main bracket and displayed on both the TV and share views.
Can I use this for games other than darts?
Absolutely. While Dart Seed is built with dart tournaments in mind, it works for any 1v1 or team-based elimination bracket — pool, cornhole, beer pong, foosball, or anything else. The bracket structure, TV display, and casting features are game-agnostic.
How do I manage my account settings?
Click your username in the top-right corner to open the account menu. Your settings are split into four sub-pages:
- • Account Info — Change your password or email address.
- • Bracket Defaults — Set default team size, bracket type, and color scheme for new brackets.
- • Rule Presets — Save rule text configurations to quickly load into any bracket.
- • Player Database — Save players with phone numbers for quick reuse and SMS notifications.
How do SMS notifications work?
When you enter a phone number for a player (or team member) and then call them to a board from the bracket page, they automatically receive a text message with their board assignment and a direct link to the live bracket view. Save your regular players to the Player Database so their numbers are always on hand. SMS notifications require the gateway to be active — your admin can check or toggle this from the Admin panel.