Gaming Challenge – Overwatch

1. TOURNAMENT RULES

1.1. Player Eligibility

• All participating players must  12+ to participate in this tournament.
  – All players MUST register with their Overwatch BattleTag game ID.
• For teams who have players in other countries, a minimum requirement must be followed: 

1. 1. 4 team members must be from the main country and 2 outside.
   2. Participating countries for this tournament:
      • SAUDI ARABIA
      • KUWAIT
      • UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
      • QATAR
      • BAHRAIN
      • OMAN

1.2. Team and Player Names

Gamers Hub Middle East reserves the right to reject Teams with inappropriate Team Names and Logo. 

Only registered team members are allowed to play for a team. If any player is found playing for a different team rather than their original team, the player will be disqualified from playing. Players and teams must compete under their officially registered Overwatch teams and nicknames (BattleTag game ID) during this tournament. 

1.3. Roster

A team roster may consist of eight (8) players – 6 main and 2 substitutes, to participate in this tournament. Teams are only allowed to play with the players they registered with. Any roster changes must be made before the start of the tournament – you can message any of the admin on Discord regarding the changes. 

Playing with different players may result in a disqualification of the team.

1.4. Game version

All players are advised to install the newest version of the game. Any updates or patches must be installed before the start of the tournament. If in such case an update occurs while the tournament is on-going, the games will be put to hold to make the necessary updates.

1.5. Technical Issues

Teams are responsible for their own technical issues (internet and hardware included). Matches will not be rescheduled because of technical issues and matches will be played nevertheless. If the maximum pause time is exceeded, the game goes on, even if the issue is not solved yet.

1.6. Disqualification

Gamers Hub Middle East reserves the right to disqualify temas to keep the tournament as efficient as possible.

This will only be done in cases where a team purposefully stalls or attempts to block another team. In some scenarios both teams may be affected. Any team found to be using a known exploit will forfeit their game upon the first occurrence of the exploit. If the team is found to use another known exploit for a second time and it is determined to have been done on purpose they will be removed from the event and barred from any future events. Betting during any ESL event (by a player, team, or on behalf of anyone associated with the team) is off limits. Those partaking will be disqualified from the event in question and will receive a minimum of 6 months ban.

2. Overwatch Cup Rules

2.1. Overwatch Tournament Format

2.1.1. Match Settings

• • • Rule set: Competitive
    • High bandwidth: On
    • Game mode:
      • Start of the tournament – quarterfinals: Best of One
      • Quarterfinals & semifinals: Best of Three
      • Finals: Best of Five
    • Map rotation: Single map
    • Return to lobby: After a game
    • The higher seed starts the map veto
      • Available maps: King’s Row, Numbani, Watchpoint: Gibraltar, Dorado, Hanamura, Temple of Anubis, Volskaya, Nepal, Lijiang Tower, Hollywood, Ilios, Route 66, Eichenwalde, Oasis, Horizon Lunar Colony, Junkertown & Blizzard World
    • Hero selection limit: 1 per team
      • All heroes are currently allowed
    • Disable kill cam: On

General Rules:

• • • • In case of a tie on Assault, Hybrid or Escort a preset Best of One Control map is to be played. The team that captures the first objective fully, on the first point of the control map will win the tied map.
        Please note: Control maps picked in from the map pool are to be played as a Best of Three
      • Recordings and/or screenshots from each round are required

2.2. Pause

• • Each team is allowed up to 10 minutes of emergency pause time per map for a total of two maps. (Control maps, e.g. Nepal, count as 1 map. Pause time is not reset between the various “stages.”).
    • Team that requested pause need to announce the reason before or immediately after pause.
    • When resuming the game from pause, both teams need to confirm in chat that they are ready to continue.
    • If total pause time of 10 minutes runs out, the game has to be resumed, no matter if the issue got fixed or not. If one team refuses to resume the game, the oppose team will receive a default win.
  • Pauses are only for emergencies such as player disconnects, hardware failure, and internet connection issues.  
  • Lobby Hosts must pause the game immediately after requested by any player in the server, within reason.  
  • Pauses used to contact tournament administrators for disputes will not be counted against the time bank.  
  • After the time bank is up, teams must forfeit or continue play, unless there is a dispute being sent to tournament administrators.  
  • Game Restart:  
    • In case of a server crash or other unforeseen circumstances, a tournament administrator may assess a game restart, which will be communicated to each Team Captain.  
    • Examples may include, but are not limited to:  
      • Incorrect game settings 
      • Server crash
  • Admins hold the right to request teams to pause during the match in case of any other issues, and the time used to pause the match will not count for the team it was requested to.
  • Abusing the pause time can lead into punishment or direct team disqualification. 

2.3. Map Pick/Veto

Unless otherwise specified, the map pick/veto rules are as follows:

• • The highest seeded team will be chosen to start the pick & ban phase
  • Contestants ban maps until number of maps needed.
  • Maps are played in the order they were picked.

2.4. Custom Match Settings

2.4.1. Rule Set

• • • Rule set: Competitive

2.4.2. Map Options

• • • Map rotation: After a game
    • Map order: Single Map
    • Return to lobby: After a game

2.4.3. Maps

• • • Disable all maps except for the map that is to be played.

2.4.4. Hero Options

• • • Hero selection limit: 1 per team
    • Role selection limit: None
    • Allow Hero Switching: On
    • Respawn as random hero: Off

2.4.5. Heroes

• • • All heroes are to be set as “on” unless otherwise instructed.

2.4.6. Gameplay Options

• • • High bandwidth: On
    • Control game mode format: Best of 3
    • Health modifier: 100%
    • Damage modifier: 100%
    • Healing modifier: 100%
    • Ultimate charge rate modifier: 100%
    • Respawn time modifier: 100%
    • Ability cooldown modifier: 100%
    • Disable skins: Off
    • Disable health bars: Off
    • Disable kill cam: On
    • Disable kill feed: Off
    • Headshots only: Off

2.4.7. Team Options

• • • Team balancing: Off
    • When balancing occurs: After a mirror match

2.6. Game preparations

All players are advised to resolve their connection or hardware issues before the start of their match 

Please resolve any problems that might occur before a match starts. Connection or hardware problems during a match could lead to a disqualification by ESL admins. Agreements between the teams/players have to be posted as match comments. The match must be played with the right settings. Make sure all players are eligible to play. In team games, all players must be registered for their corresponding team.

2.7. Substitute Players

One substitute is allowed to play for your team during a cup, starting with the next map. Substitutes cannot begin playing on a map that has already been started. Keep in mind that the substitute must have been on the team roster before the cup started.

2.8. No show

If a participant is not ready to play 15 minutes after the scheduled match time, please submit a support ticket. This is the fastest way to get your match checked to move on to the next round.

2.9. Number of players

Matches should be played as example in 6on6 with 12 players, if a side is missing a player the match can be played with less people but only if both teams agree.

2.10. Disconnects

In the case that a player(s) disconnects, the team is allowed to continue to play the match at a disadvantage.

2.11. Forfeit

Participants can choose to forfeit a match if they wish. Forfeiting will result in loss of the match and possible penalty points.

2.12. Protests

If a match was incorrectly reported by your opponents, your team has 10 minutes to protest (under [play.eslgaming.com/protest/add]) the report. Match protests must include media evidence clearly showing the results of the match/series.Teams are responsible for providing proof of match results in case of disputes.

2.13. Re-host

A rehost can only be played with prior admin approval. Please contact an admin via support ticket to receive approval. In a re-hosted game each participant must choose the same side as they picked at the start of the the original match. Disconnects and lag issues will only qualify for a re-host if the issue occurs the within the first 60 seconds of the game.

2.14. Observers

Observers are allowed only if both teams agree. Exceptions to this rule are, ESL admins and people that are given permission by an admin (e.g. shoutcasters or streamer). Under no conditions are teams allowed to play with referees other than ESL referees.

3. Results

Both participants are responsible to enter the correct result. Results must be submitted after all games have been played. If anything is unclear, participants should have screenshots and the required replay files available to verify the result and file a protest.

4. Communication & Support

Please use matchchat, located on the bottom right hand side of your screen or submit a support ticket for any assistance during the cup.

4.1. Admins

All participants must adhere to the decisions and rules of the tournament organizers, admins, and referees. All decisions are final, except in cases where the option to appeal is clearly stated. Conversations, either verbal or written, between organizers, admins, or referees, and participants are confidential. Publicly posting or sharing these conversations with outside parties is strictly forbidden, unless permission is obtained.