In other words, why do a full O(n2) Round-Robin and then some, if we know we can do a full sort in linearithmic time, and can crown an undefeated Single Elimination champion in less than n games? Well, minimizing the number of games isn’t actually in the league’s interest. In computer science unnecessary comparisons are always bad, a waste of time and effort. But in sports that’s far from the case. In many respects, after all, the games themselves are the point.
