Which best describes the structure of a double elimination tournament?

In a double elimination tournament, the format is designed so that each competitor must lose twice before being eliminated from the tournament. This means that after one loss, a competitor or team is placed into the "loser's bracket," where they still have the opportunity to compete for the championship if they can win all their matches from that point onward. Thus, the statement that each competitor can lose only once before elimination accurately captures this structure.

The other options do not correctly reflect the nature of double elimination tournaments. While the first choice describes a league format, and the third indicates a single elimination concept, the fourth option incorrectly suggests that teams must win two matches to be eliminated, which misinterprets the process of elimination in this specific tournament format. In summary, the defining feature of a double elimination tournament is the necessity for a competitor to lose twice for elimination, making the selected answer the best description of its structure.