The YaLLa Compass circuit is evolving for the 2025 and 2026 seasons, bringing exciting new changes that will elevate the competitive gaming experience for players, fans, and partners alike.

Following the successful inaugural season in 2024, YaLLa Esports is further solidifying its commitment to building a long-term, sustainable global esports circuit from the MENA region, with enhanced support for teams and a focus on athlete-first experiences.

Format

For 2025, YaLLa Compass format will remain as a 12-teams main event, allowing for a more focused and competitive tournament structure. This will lead to a higher investment per team, improved travel arrangements and a more athlete-centric experience that enables the teams to focus on their gameplay and thrive in a more supportive environment.

Open Qualifiers:

YaLLa Compass Qatar Open qualifiers (online)

• 1st qualifier 29th July - 25th September 2024
• 2nd qualifier 30th September - 27th November 2024
• 3rd qualifier 13th January - 12th March 2025

YaLLa Compass UAE Open qualifiers (online)

• 1st qualifier 28th April - 28th May 2025
• 2nd qualifier 21st June - 20th August 2025
• 3rd qualifier 25th August - 24th September 2025

Closed Qualifiers:

YaLLa Compass Qatar Closed qualifiers (online)

• 1-3rd of April 2025

YaLLa Compass UAE Closed qualifiers (online)

• 21-23rd of October 2025

Main event format:

Group Stage:

• Two round-robin format groups
• Each group has 6 teams
• All matches are Bo1

The top three teams from each group advance to the Playoffs:

• Group stage winners advance to the Semifinals
• Group stage runners-up advance to the Quarterfinals as the High Seeds
• Group stage 3rd place teams advance to the Quarterfinals as the Low Seeds

Playoffs:

• Single-Elimination bracket
• Matches are Bo3, Grand Finals Bo5

Rules and invite process

Tier 1 ranked event

• Invites start from VRS #1
• 6 teams directly to main event
• 6 teams to closed qualifier
• Invites are sent 60 days before the main event start, based on the VRS

Eligibility Criteria for Tournament Entry:

• A team can only qualify for a Direct VRS Invite if at least three of its players were part of the roster on the date the invite was issued.

Consequences of Valve Bans on Roster Eligibility:

• Should a team lose players due to Valve sanctions and no longer meet the roster requirements, the Direct VRS Invite may be withdrawn.

Procedure for Declining or Inability to Compete:

• If a team opts out of the Direct VRS Invite or cannot participate, the invite will be passed to the next team in the VRS rankings until all spots are filled.

Avoiding Conflicts of Interest:

• Teams and players must ensure there are no financial or business entanglements with other participating teams. This includes having no shared management, ownership, licensing deals, or financial agreements with other competitors.

Visa Requirements:

• Teams must secure all required visas by the given deadline. If they fail to do so, the invite will be extended to the next eligible team on the VRS list.

Prize Pool

The 2026 season will bring even more excitement, with a total prize pool of $2.25 million and three events across the MENA region and beyond.

Overall distribution of $750,000 per tournament:

Main event: $600,000

Closed Qualifier: $75,000

Open Qualifier #3: $25,000

Open Qualifier #2: $25,000

Open Qualifier #1: $25,000

Prize pool distribution per tournament main event of $600,000:

1st: $300,000

2nd: $84,000

3rd-4th: $42,000

5th-6th: $30,000

7th-12th: $12,000

Location and Dates for YaLLa Compass 2026:

• 20-26 April 2026: Qatar
• 7-13 September 2026: Location TBA
• 16-22 November 2026: United Arab Emirates

Hospitality

To further enhance the experience, YaLLa Esports is committed to ensuring that all participating teams will have their flights, hotels, and other essential travel expenses covered, reinforcing the tournament's dedication to supporting teams.

• In line with our 2024 travel arrangements, we will continue to cover flights for 8 people per team
• We will also continue to cover 8 rooms per team, minimum 4-star hotel
• Food, beverages, and snacks covered for event duration for the 8 participants
• High-quality practice rooms for participating teams

The changes to the YaLLa Compass circuit reflect YaLLa Esports’ long-term vision to establish a world-class global esports circuit, with a strong focus on player development, fan engagement, and innovation. With these improvements, YaLLa Compass is positioned to be a central force of the region’s esports scene, providing opportunities for the best players and teams to shine.

“By focusing on a more intimate format with fewer teams and higher investment per team, we’re ensuring that every participant has the best possible experience,” said Teemu Koski, CGO of YaLLa Esports. “The evolution of YaLLa Compass is a key part of our strategy to create a lasting, sustainable esports circuit that will continue to attract global talent and fans.”

The 2025 season is set to kick off with the 3rd qualifying event on January 13, 2025.

Stay tuned for more updates as we approach the start of the 2025 season, and get ready for an even more thrilling and rewarding journey as YaLLa Compass continues to grow in the years ahead.