Match Rules 

1. Matches are played 5v5, each team can pick one map from the map list to play. Maps are, by default, 15 minutes long. We play with overtime and spawn delay enabled, so there are no draws.
2. Matches will be played all three maps. 
3. Each match in the group stage will consist of two chosen maps, the first map to be played is the first one picked. The coin-toss loser will assume position A. The toss winner assumes position B, in addition to team color choice.
4. Veto system for group stage: A - Ban, B - Ban, A - Pick, B - Pick. 
5. After two maps are played both team captains will return to Discord and proceed with map bans; the team who capped most in both maps combined will start the banning phase. If that is equal, the team who capped the most on the opponent's map will begin bans. If that is also equal, a coin-toss will be used and the winner will start bans.
6. Each team will only be able to pick a specific map once during the cup (example, a team picks Duku in week 1, for the rest of the cup, they can't pick it again. This does not include decider maps, only chosen maps.).
7. Each team will only be able to ban a specific map once during the cup. This rule is functionally identical to #7 in this section.

Server Selection

1. All matches must be played with cup settings on servers sanctioned by PassionateGaming.
2. Captains are encouraged to agree on a server before the match - when scheduling the match, before the match day. Once the match is scheduled, team captains have the ability to book their desired server for the match on the My Matches tab of the league page on the website.
3. If no servers are booked for the match, admins will assign a server based on which ones are available after consulting with the captains involved in the match.
4. Whilst we will do our best to provide the best and fairest server available for the match, it may not always be possible and a compromise will have to be reached.
5. If a match involves a team made up mainly of players from North America, South America, or Oceanic regions then the match may be played across two servers (a UK and an NA based server. No GER.) if either team requests it. If this isn't an option, refer to rule 4.
6. A decider map including NA vs EU teams will be picked by determining the ping difference. Considering previous experiences, expect them to be played on servers located in the UK.
7. In the case of a split server match, Team A's map will be played on Team B's server and vice-versa.

SCHEDULING MATCHES

1. This is an open schedule tournament. Nothing will be forced unless near the planned ending of the cup. The final deadline to get all matches played is February, 28th 2026.
2. If anything does get forced, it will be to a Sunday during normal EU match times at PassionateGaming (20:00 - 22:00 CEST).
3. Team captains are encouraged to schedule their matches on their own using the Challenging functionality on My Matches tab of the League page on the website.
4. We strongly advise teams to use an online scheduling website or a devised system in Discord to ensure all team members are on the same page for match availability.

Entering match results

1. Team captains are encouraged to enter/confirm results of their matches on their own using the button on My Matches tab of the League page on the website. Traditionally, the captain of the winning team enters the match result.
2. If for some reason the results cannot be entered on the website, screenshots of the match should be provided to the cup admins via Discord

First-person demos

1. All players must record a first-person demo on all maps. There is no valid excuse for not recording a demo of your game. If you don't know how to or yours is 'broken', contact an admin or your captain for help.
2. Players must keep their demos for the duration of the entire cup. They can be requested from any match by an admin after their team has played their last game.
3. An admin not participating in the match has the right to request as many demos as they want.
4. Cheating accusations will be reviewed and ruled on by an anti-cheat team.
5. Admins may request that a player uploads all demos for the entire duration of the season.
6. The opposing team captain may request demos no later than seven days after the match.
7. If a player refuses or fails to upload demos when requested, it will result in a forfeit loss of each map a demo is not provided for.

Cheating

1. Any player caught cheating will be permanently banned from the Discord server and all competitions organized by PassionateGaming.