NAQT finals format

The NAQT Finals Format is in use at all levels of the ICT. Despite being developed by NAQT, it is not believed to be used at any other tournaments using NAQT questions.

Format

The top two teams by record play a best two-out-of-three final, with the team with the better record having the advantage. Accordingly, the team with the better record must win one game, while the team with the worse record must win two. If the two teams are tied, then a single one-game final determines the championship. If there are ties for a spot in the finals, they are resolved with a tiebreaker packet.

Criticism of the Format

The most common criticism of the format is that it still theoretically allows a team with a worse record to claim a championship over a team with a better record.

While that theoretical situation has never turned to reality, a similar situation occurred in the 2005 Division II final, in which a one-loss Michigan team lost twice to Chicago, which had three losses entering the final, had made the top bracket partially due to two five-point victories over a second-bracket and third-bracket team, and needed to defeat Harding in a tiebreaker to even make the final. Therefore Michigan, an otherwise much stronger team, earned second place, while the weaker Chicago team, which nevertheless finished with the same record, was awarded the championship.

Regardless of the criticism, the NAQT Finals Format is the most fair finals format for any tournament that insists on having a final to award a champion.