The Denver Gazette’s Ice Cream Shop Bracket has launched.

The competition pits 32 of the Denver area’s top ice cream purveyors against one another in a March Madness style bracket.

Last week, we asked our readers to nominate their favorite Denver area ice cream shops and they responded with more than 300 recommendations. Our tournament committee narrowed those recommendations down to 32, based on a variety of criteria, including reader nominations, ice cream quality, shop atmosphere, online ratings and social media following. National chains were ruled ineligible by the committee.

Each week, The Denver Gazette’s readers will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite in each matchup, culminating with the winner being crowned in the first week of April.

Round 1 polls close Tuesday, March 10 at 11:59 p.m.