diff --git a/backend/app/core/brackets.py b/backend/app/core/brackets.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8950e0d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/app/core/brackets.py
@@ -0,0 +1,205 @@
+# backend/app/core/brackets.py
+
+import math
+from typing import Optional
+
+
+class Match:
+    def __init__(self, match_id: int, name: str):
+        self.id = match_id
+        self.name = name
+        self.next_win: Optional["Match"] = None
+        self.next_loss: Optional["Match"] = None
+        self.players: list[Optional[int]] = [None, None]
+        self.is_bye: bool = False
+        self.ghost_count: int = 0
+
+
+class BracketGenerator:
+
+    def __init__(self):
+        self.matches_dict = {}
+        self.match_counter = 1
+
+    def generate(
+        self, num_players: int, double_elimination: bool = False
+    ) -> list[Match]:
+        self.matches_dict = {}
+        self.match_counter = 1
+
+        size = 2 ** math.ceil(math.log2(num_players))
+        seeds = self._generate_seeding_indices(num_players)
+
+        bracket = self._create_tree_bracket(size, "WB")
+
+        for i, match in enumerate(bracket[0]):
+            match.players = [seeds[i * 2], seeds[i * 2 + 1]]
+
+        lb_rounds = []
+        if double_elimination:
+            lb_rounds = self._create_strict_lb(size, bracket)
+
+        if double_elimination:
+            self._create_de_finals(bracket, lb_rounds)
+        else:
+            self._create_se_third_place(bracket)
+
+        self._apply_ghost_logic(bracket[0], num_players)
+
+        all_matches = sorted(self.matches_dict.values(), key=lambda x: x.id)
+        return [m for m in all_matches if not m.is_bye]
+
+    def _generate_seeding_indices(self, num_players: int) -> list[int]:
+        p2 = 2 ** math.ceil(math.log2(num_players))
+        seeds = [1]
+        curr = 1
+        while curr < p2:
+            seeds = [x for val in seeds for x in (val, (curr * 2) + 1 - val)]
+            curr *= 2
+        return seeds
+
+    def _create_tree_bracket(self, size: int, prefix: str) -> list[list[Match]]:
+        rounds: list[list[Match]] = []
+        current_size = size // 2
+        r_num = 1
+
+        while current_size >= 1:
+            round_matches: list[Match] = []
+            for _ in range(current_size):
+                name = f"{prefix} Round {r_num}"
+                m = Match(self.match_counter, name)
+                self.matches_dict[m.id] = m
+                round_matches.append(m)
+                self.match_counter += 1
+            rounds.append(round_matches)
+            current_size //= 2
+            r_num += 1
+
+        if rounds:
+            rounds[-1][0].name = "Grand Final"
+        if len(rounds) > 1:
+            for m in rounds[-2]:
+                m.name = f"{prefix} Semifinal"
+
+        for r in range(len(rounds) - 1):
+            for i, match in enumerate(rounds[r]):
+                match.next_win = rounds[r + 1][i // 2]
+
+        return rounds
+
+    def _create_strict_lb(
+        self, size: int, wb_rounds: list[list[Match]]
+    ) -> list[list[Match]]:
+        lb_rounds: list[list[Match]] = []
+        num_wb_rounds = len(wb_rounds)
+        total_lb_rounds = (num_wb_rounds - 1) * 2
+
+        current_lb_size = size // 4
+        if current_lb_size < 1:
+            current_lb_size = 1
+
+        for r in range(1, total_lb_rounds + 1):
+            if r > 2 and r % 2 != 0:
+                current_lb_size //= 2
+
+            round_matches = []
+            for _ in range(current_lb_size):
+                m = Match(self.match_counter, f"LB Round {r}")
+                self.matches_dict[m.id] = m
+                round_matches.append(m)
+                self.match_counter += 1
+            lb_rounds.append(round_matches)
+
+        if lb_rounds:
+            lb_rounds[-1][0].name = "Losers Final (3rd Place Match)"
+
+        for r in range(len(lb_rounds) - 1):
+            curr = lb_rounds[r]
+            next_r = lb_rounds[r + 1]
+            for i, match in enumerate(curr):
+                if len(curr) == len(next_r):
+                    match.next_win = next_r[i]
+                else:
+                    match.next_win = next_r[i // 2]
+
+        for r in range(num_wb_rounds):
+            wb_round = wb_rounds[r]
+
+            if r == 0:
+                lb_target_idx = 0
+            else:
+                lb_target_idx = (r * 2) - 1
+
+            if lb_target_idx >= len(lb_rounds):
+                break
+
+            lb_round = lb_rounds[lb_target_idx]
+
+            for i, wb_match in enumerate(wb_round):
+                if r == 0:
+                    target = lb_round[i // 2]
+                else:
+                    target = lb_round[i] if i < len(lb_round) else lb_round[0]
+
+                wb_match.next_loss = target
+
+        return lb_rounds
+
+    def _create_se_third_place(self, wb_rounds: list[list[Match]]) -> None:
+        """Creates a standalone 3rd place match for Single Elim"""
+        if len(wb_rounds) < 2:
+            return
+
+        semis = wb_rounds[-2]
+        third_place_match = Match(self.match_counter, "3rd Place Match")
+        self.matches_dict[third_place_match.id] = third_place_match
+        self.match_counter += 1
+
+        for m in semis:
+            m.next_loss = third_place_match
+
+    def _create_de_finals(
+        self, wb_rounds: list[list[Match]], lb_rounds: list[list[Match]]
+    ) -> None:
+        """Links Double Elim Grand Final"""
+        wb_final = wb_rounds[-1][0]
+        wb_final.name = "Winners Final"
+
+        gf = Match(self.match_counter, "Grand Final")
+        self.matches_dict[gf.id] = gf
+        self.match_counter += 1
+
+        wb_final.next_win = gf
+        if lb_rounds:
+            lb_rounds[-1][0].next_win = gf
+            reset = Match(self.match_counter, "Grand Final Reset")
+            self.matches_dict[reset.id] = reset
+            self.match_counter += 1
+            gf.next_loss = reset
+
+    def _apply_ghost_logic(
+        self, round_one_matches: list[Match], num_players: int
+    ) -> None:
+        """
+        Injects ghosts into WB Round 1 and lets them flow recursively.
+        """
+        for m in round_one_matches:
+            p1, p2 = m.players
+            if p1 and p1 > num_players:
+                self._add_ghost(m)
+            if p2 and p2 > num_players:
+                self._add_ghost(m)
+
+    def _add_ghost(self, match: Match) -> None:
+        """
+        Recursively propagates a ghost through the bracket.
+        """
+        match.ghost_count += 1
+        match.is_bye = True
+
+        if match.next_loss:
+            self._add_ghost(match.next_loss)
+
+        if match.ghost_count == 2:
+            if match.next_win:
+                self._add_ghost(match.next_win)
diff --git a/backend/app/core/utils.py b/backend/app/core/utils.py
index 2307a2c..4c565c5 100644
--- a/backend/app/core/utils.py
+++ b/backend/app/core/utils.py
@@ -1 +1,63 @@
-# backend\app\core\utils.py
+# backend/app/core/utils.py
+from .brackets import Match
+
+
+class MermaidLive:
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def _get_visual_target(match: Match, is_win=True) -> Match | None:
+        current = match.next_win if is_win else match.next_loss
+        while current and current.is_bye:
+            current = current.next_win
+        return current
+
+    @classmethod
+    def export(cls, matches: list[Match]) -> None:
+        print("\n--- COPY TO MERMAID.LIVE ---")
+        print("graph LR")
+        print("    classDef wb stroke:#01579b,stroke-width:2px;")
+        print("    classDef lb stroke:#b71c1c,stroke-width:2px,stroke-dasharray: 5 5;")
+        print("    classDef final stroke:#e65100,stroke-width:4px;")
+
+        wb_nodes = [
+            m
+            for m in matches
+            if "WB" in m.name or "Semifinal" in m.name or "Winners Final" in m.name
+        ]
+
+        lb_nodes = [m for m in matches if "LB" in m.name or "Losers Final" in m.name]
+        final_nodes = [
+            m for m in matches if "Grand Final" in m.name or "3rd Place" in m.name
+        ]
+
+        print("    subgraph Winners Bracket")
+        for m in wb_nodes:
+            cls._print_node(m, "wb")
+        print("    end")
+
+        if lb_nodes:
+            print("    subgraph Losers Bracket")
+            for m in lb_nodes:
+                cls._print_node(m, "lb")
+            print("    end")
+
+        print("    subgraph Championship / 3rd Place")
+        for m in final_nodes:
+            cls._print_node(m, "final")
+        print("    end")
+
+        for m in matches:
+            target_win = cls._get_visual_target(m, is_win=True)
+            if target_win:
+                print(f"    M{m.id} --> M{target_win.id}")
+
+            target_loss = cls._get_visual_target(m, is_win=False)
+            if target_loss:
+                print(f"    M{m.id} -.-> M{target_loss.id}")
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def _print_node(m: Match, style: str) -> None:
+        label = m.name
+        if m.players[0] and m.players[1]:
+            label += f" ({m.players[0]} vs {m.players[1]})"
+        print(f'    M{m.id}["{label}"]:::{style}')
diff --git a/backend/app/models.py b/backend/app/models.py
index 925e8ae..a96a36f 100644
--- a/backend/app/models.py
+++ b/backend/app/models.py
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ class Match(Base):
     court_id: Mapped[Optional[int]] = mapped_column(
         ForeignKey("courts.id"), nullable=True
     )
-    start_time: Mapped[Optional[datetime]] = mapped_column(DateTime, nullable=True)
+    timestamp: Mapped[Optional[datetime]] = mapped_column(DateTime, nullable=True)
 
     status: Mapped[MatchStatus] = mapped_column(
         SqlEnum(MatchStatus), default=MatchStatus.PENDING