The tournament consists of two rounds with 16 matches in total.

Preliminary Round: 12 matches

Final Round: 4 matches

 
PRELIMINARY ROUND
 
Two pools (A&B) are composed of four (4) teams each, with teams playing each other in a Round Robin format to determine the overall ranking and classification from 1st to 4th.

Teams ranked 3rd and 4th in each preliminary pool (A3,A4 & B3,B4) will be eliminated and attributed with a 5th place finish.

 
FINAL ROUND (Semi–Finals & Finals)
 
Semi-finals: The team ranked 1st in Pool A after the preliminary round will play against the team ranked 2nd in Pool B. The team ranked 1st in Pool B after the preliminary round will play against the team ranked 2nd in Pool A.

Finals: The losers of the semi-final matches will play-off for 3rd & 4th places. The winners of the semi-final matches will contest the final for 1st & 2nd places.

GOLDEN FORMULA

For the first time in an FIVB tournament, a new rule will be trialled during the FIVB Men's Club World Volleyball Championship Doha 2009 in order to “keep the ball flying” and add value to a rally for the spectator.

The Golden Formula playing system requires that the first attack for each team begins from the back row in an attempt to produce longer rallies.

For more info visit: http://www.volleyballgoldenformula.com