Refer to the official 2025 ruleset: N/A ####

• Double Elimination Default settings
• 2/3 Rounds per Game 2/3 Games per Set.
• Top 3 Players will play 2/3 rounds, 3/5 Games per set. This is Winner's, Loser's, and Grand Finals matches.
• Winner of prior game must keep same character and Fuse. Winner may change the order of characters. Loser of prior game may switch characters and fuses.
• Random stage select (players may opt for an agreed stage)

All attendees (competitors, spectators), volunteers, staff, and anyone else present at this event are highly recommended (but not required) to wear face masks. Please see our COVID policy for more information.

The rules in this section apply to all games, unless noted otherwise in game-specific rule sections. Game specific rules supercede these rules. Competitors should additionally read the game-specific rules for any game they are competing in.

GENERAL

• Tournament Structure: All games will use the following structure unless stated otherwise. All brackets will be double elimination. Sets will consist of best-of-3 games until Winners Finals, Losers Finals, and Grand Finals, which will be best-of-5 instead. Games not using the above structure will be: GBVSR, SF6, GG:ST.

• Tournament Etiquette: Competitors are expected to check-in with their pool runners at least 5 minutes before the starting time for that pool. You should not leave the tournament area without first asking permission from the bracket runner. You will be disqualified if you do not report to your matches in a timely manner. The winner of each match must report their victories to the bracket runner so that they can be recorded in the bracket.

• Game Version: All multiplatform games will be run on the console specified for each event and played with default game settings (timer, damage, handicap, etc.) unless otherwise noted in the game-specific rules. The latest game patches will be used unless noted otherwise. DLC characters will be permitted so long as they have been made available for at least one week prior to the event's starting date.

• Controller Legality: You must provide your own controller for any game that you play. Controllers and converters that adhere to the EVO controller guidelines are legal for this event. EVO Rule 3, pertaining to SOCD issues, will be enforced at this event. Generally speaking, controllers and converters that map one physical input on the hardware side to one distinct game input on the software side are allowed, but any controller or converter that has programmable/macro functions to map a single physical input on the hardware side to a combination or sequence of game inputs on the software side is banned (examples: Brook console converters are allowed, but Cronus brand and Titan One/ConsoleTuner converters are banned). Controllers and sticks with turbo buttons are permitted for use, but the turbo functions must remain disabled during tournament matches. The legality of all specific controllers and converters will be left to the tournament staff's discretion.

• Control Configuration Options: All configurable button settings and macros available within the in-game controller configuration menu (ex: 3-punches combination mapped to a single shoulder button) are allowed. Hardware programmable input entry, rapid-fire, or other hardware assisted mechanisms are strictly forbidden.

• Controller Desyncing: When you sit down for your match, it is YOUR responsibility to delete the old controller pairings from the previous matches, NOT the responsibility of the players who were previously on that station. THIS APPLIES TO ALL PLAYERS, NO MATTER WHAT TYPE OF CONTROLLER YOU USE (stick, wired pad, wireless pad, etc.). Make sure to delete all unused bluetooth devices from the system menu whenever you get ready to play a tournament match. If a non-competitor's controller disrupts your match, then you or your opponent must delete that controller from the system, then continue playing as if there was no interference. If a disruption turns off the system entirely, then you must replay the game that was interrupted from the start, using the same settings (characters, stage, etc.) and maintaining the current game & set win count up to the start of the game that was interrupted. If that current game set is undeterminable, it will be reset from that point ( while keeping the previous set scores in tact).

• Audio Equipment: Players may connect their own audio gear (such as headphones, mixamps, and/or external speakers) to the tournament stations so that they can more easily hear the in-game audio. However, any audio equipment that interferes with other tournament equipment or impedes the other player's ability to hear the game audio (such as muting the monitor audio output) is not permitted. If both players wish to use their own audio gear but have no way to connect both of their equipment at the same time, then they must rock-paper-scissors for the privilege of using it in game 1 of the set, with the loser of each game having the option to use his or her equipment in the next game of the set. Players MUST notify their pool runner before connecting any equipment to the tournament stations, and players are NOT allowed to unplug any equipment at a tournament station to make room for their own equipment. Players are only allowed to use equipment that does NOT require power from a wall socket; audio devices must either be self-powered or simply require a connection to the console and/or monitor to function. If otherwise noted, to remove any distinct advantage between players, monitor audio or no audio may be used.

Matches and Characters

• Side Select: When players sit down to begin their match, they must make decide which sides of the screen they'll play on. If they cannot come to an agreement, then they must rock-paper-scissors for the side choice.

• Blind Pick: Blind pick may be requested before a set begins in order to prevent counter-picking at the character select screen during the first game of a set. Such a request must be made before either player makes any decision at character select. If blind pick is requested, then the player/team who requested it must individually tell the bracket runner all of their selections for the first game (characters, teams, super moves, etc.) that they plan to use. The opposing player/team will then make their selections for game 1, and then the player/team who requested blind pick will select what was told to the bracket runner.

• Character Lock The winner of each game must keep the same character/team/etc. for the next game of the set. The loser can change their selection for the next game. The individual game rules may have more specific details regarding exactly what a winner is or is not allowed to change for the next game of the set. The loser of a game is also allowed to request a side switch for the following game of the set.

• Stage Select: If the players do not agree on a stage for their match, then stage will be randomly selected. Otherwise, please see game specific ruling for stage select, eg. Tekken 8

• Coaching: Players are allowed one coach on stage for streamed matches. Coaching may only be performed in-between sets, and have a maximum duration of 1 minute each.

• Time Limits: There is a maximum of 120 seconds allowed between games in a set.

During Gameplay

• Pause Penalty: Accidentally pausing the game at any time during a match will force the pausing player to forfeit the current round. The only exceptions are in cases of "guaranteed defeat," such as pausing during a cinematic super attack that is 100% guaranteed to KO the other character anyway. If the game was paused due to a controller malfunction, then the offending player may request a new controller and use the remaining time of the current round to button check the new controller, so long as this button check isn’t abused to gain meter for the next round. If a pause occurs due to a non-playing controller, that controller and any unused controller will be disconnected, and the players will continue playing from that position. See Ruling Controller Desync.

• Glitches & Bugs: Glitches that halt gameplay entirely (e.g. anything that causes the game to freeze/reset) and exploits that are only possible via hacking or modifying the game are banned. Other glitches will be judged at the tournament organizers' discretion.

• Ties: A draw game does not count as a win or a loss for either player. The game will be replayed.

• Reporting Rule Violations: Rule violations must be reported to tournament staff at the time they occur. Otherwise, they might not be able to be properly addressed. If a player pauses the game to report a rule violation, but the tournament staff concludes that no such violation has occurred, then the player who paused will be penalized accordingly.

• Collusion:Collusion of any kind with your competitors is considered cheating. If the Tournament Organizer determines that any competitor is intentionally underperforming or otherwise colluding to manipulate the results, the collaborating players may be immediately disqualified. This determination is to be made at the sole discretion of the Tournament Director. Anyone disqualified in this manner forfeits all rights to any titles or prizes they might have otherwise earned for that tournament.

Prizing for each event will scale accordingly the player thresholds. For events with 64 or less players, the top 4 players will receive the following payout of the total pot, including any additional pot bonus: 1st: 50%, 2nd: 25%, 3rd: 15%, 4th: 10%

For events with greater than 64 players the top 8 players will receive following payout, including any additional pot bonus:

1st - 50% 2nd - 25% 3rd - 10% 4th - 5% 5th - 3% 5th - 3% 7th - 2% 7th - 2%

*Note that payouts will not be paid on the day of. Payouts may take up one month after the end of the event to be paid. For any questions concerning payouts, please contact the email for further inquiry.

The Tournament Organizer has discretion to decide how to handle any unexpected situations that arise that are not covered by the rules.

All attendees must comply to the rules of the venue, and consent to being filmed on site.