General Rules

Date updated: 23.01.2025

Foreword

This document details the core rules and regulations that all participants must follow during YaLLa Compass 2025 competitions. Failure to comply with these rules may lead to penalties as specified within this document.

Please be aware that additional regulations may apply or take precedence if explicitly stated.

The tournament administration holds ultimate authority in all decisions. In rare cases, decisions may be made outside the scope of this rulebook—or even contrary to it—to maintain fairness and sportsmanship.

We hope you, whether a participant, spectator, or member of the press, thoroughly enjoy the competition. Our team is dedicated to creating a fair, exciting, and enjoyable experience for everyone.

Best regards,

The Tournament Administration Team

2025 EVENTS

2025 TIER 1 Events

Format

For 2025, YaLLa Compass format will remain as a 12-teams Main Event LAN, 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.

Prize Pool Distribution per Main Event of $600,000

• 1^st: $300,000
• 2^nd: $84,000
• 3^rd-4^th: $42,000
• 5^th-6^th: $30,000
• 7^th-12^th: $12,000

Locations, Dates & Details:

Qatar, Doha

• Main Event (LAN) 16-20^th April 2025, 12 teams total
• Closed Qualifier (Online) 1-2 April 2025, 12 teams total

Invitation details

• Invitation date: 60 days before Main Event
• Total of 18 direct VRS invites starting from VRS rank 1
• Top 6 invites directly to Main Event LAN
• Remaining 12 invites to Closed Qualifier

Main Event (LAN) 16-20^th April, 12 teams total

Format

Group Stage

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

The top three teams from each group advance to the Playoffs

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

Playoffs

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

Closed Qualifier (Online) 1-2nd April, 12 teams total

Format

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

The top three teams from each group advance to the Main Event LAN

• Group winners advance as 7th and 8th seed (original VRS rank as tie breaker)
• Group runners-up advance as 9th and 10th seed (original VRS rank as tiebreaker)
• Group 3rd place teams advance as 11th and 12th seed (original VRS rank as tiebreaker)

Prize pool distribution $75,000

• Each match win rewards $2,500
• Max $12,500 per team for a perfect 5-0 score

UAE, Dubai

• Main Event (LAN) 19^th-23^th November, 12 teams total
• Closed Qualifier (Online) 21-23rd October, 16 teams total

Invitation details

• Invitation date: 60 days before Main Event
• Total of 18 direct VRS invites starting from VRS rank 1
• Top 6 invites directly to Main Event LAN
• Remaining 12 invites to Closed Qualifier
• Additionally, 4 teams invited to Closed Qualifier:
• Winner of a Tier 2 event in the past 6 months,
• Wild card invite (max 2 total), or
• Next in VRS rank after direct invites.

Main Event (LAN) 19^th-23^th November, 12 teams total

Format

Group Stage

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

The top three teams from each group advance to the Playoffs

• Group winners advance to the Semifinals
• Group runner-ups advance to the Quarterfinals as the High Seeds
• Group 3rd place teams advance to the Quarterfinals as the Low Seeds

Playoffs

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

Closed Qualifier (Online) 21-23^rd October, 16 teams total)

Format

• Two single-elimination groups
• Each group has eight teams
• All matches are Bo3

The top three teams from each group advance to the Main Event LAN

• Group winners advance as 7th and 8th seed (original VRS rank as tie breaker)
• Group runner-ups advance as 9th and 10th seed (original VRS rank as tiebreaker)
• Group 3rd place teams advance as 11th and 12th seed (original VRS rank as tiebreaker)

Prize pool distribution $75,000

• Group winners: $15,000 (x2)
• Group runner-ups: $10,000 (x2)
• Group 3rd place: $7,500 (x2)
• Group 4th place: $5,000 (x2)

2025 TIER 2 Events

General Information

Invitation details

• Invitation date: 30 days before Main Event
• Total of 24 direct VRS invites starting from VRS rank 9
• Top 8 teams directly to Main Event
• Remaining 16 invites to Closed Qualifier

Prize Pool Distribution $25,000

• 1st: $10,000
• 2nd: $5,000
• 3rd-4th: $3,000
• 5th-8th: $1,000

YaLLa Compass Contenders Tier 2 ranked circuit will replace the YaLLa Compass Open Qualifiers moving forward.

YaLLa Compass Contenders #1 (Online)

• Main Event (Online) 12^th May - 27^th May 2025
• Playoffs: 26^th and 27^th May 2025
• Closed Qualifier (Online): 28^th April - 8^th May 2025

Main Event (Online) 12^th May - 27^th May 2025

Format

Swiss Stage

• 16 Team Swiss System
• All matches are Bo3
• Top 8 teams proceed to Playoffs

Playoffs

• Single-Elimination bracket
• All matches are Bo3

Closed Qualifier (Online) 28^th April - 8^th May 2025

Format

Swiss Stage

• 16 Team Swiss System
• All matches are Bo3
• Top 8 teams proceed to Main Event

YaLLa Compass Contenders #2 (Online)

• Main Event (Online) 11^th August - 3^rd September 2025
• Playoffs: 2^nd - 3^rd September 2025
• Closed Qualifier (Online): 21^st July - 31^st July 2025

Main Event (Online) 11^th August - 3^rd September 2025

Format

Swiss Stage

• 16 Team Swiss System
• All matches are Bo3
• Top 8 teams proceed to Playoffs

Playoffs

• Single-Elimination bracket
• All matches are Bo3

Closed Qualifier (Online) 21^st July - 31^st July 2025

Format

Swiss Stage

• 16 Team Swiss System
• All matches are Bo3
• Top 8 teams proceed to Main Event

1 Definitions

1.1 Range of validity

The event is operated as part of YaLLa Esports DMCC.

This rulebook forms a part of the YaLLa Compass Ruleset, which is valid for this event, its participants and all matches played within the scope of the event. With their participation, the participant states that they understand and accept all rules.

The YaLLa Compass Ruleset is comprised of:

• Counter-Strike General Rules
• Counter-Strike Game Specific Rules
• Counter-Strike Roster Restrictions

1.2 Participants

An event participant is a team or a player that is taking part in an YaLLa Compass competition. Any member of an YaLLa Compass team is a participant of that team and is locked to it, regardless of whether or not the person has played for said team.

1.3 Region

For YaLLa Compass, teams from all regions are welcome but, for online tournaments, matches are played on EU servers regardless of the region of the participating team.

1.4 Punishments

1.4.1 Definitions and scope of punishments

Punishments are given for rule violations within YaLLa Compass events. They may be penalty points, fines, default losses, player/team suspensions or disqualifications, or a combination of these punishments dependent on the incident in question. Participants will be informed about the punishment by email and given a timeframe within which they can appeal the decision. Only the licence-holder or their designated spokesperson are eligible to make appeals.

1.4.1.1 Penalty points

Penalty points may be given for incidents relating to the competition. Every penalty point deducts one percent (1%) of the overall prize money received by the participant in the competition it is given.

1.4.1.2 Fines

Fines may be given for incidents related to competition matches, and for failures to fulfil obligations that are not directly related to the competition such as press/media appointments, or planned sessions for fan interaction. Where the amount of fines accrued exceeds the total prize money earned from an event, an additional invoice will be sent to the participant to clear the remaining amount.

1.4.1.3 Bans/suspensions

Bans or suspensions may be given for very severe incidents. They can be awarded either to a participant or an organisation.

1.4.1.4 Disqualification

In the most severe cases of rule violations, participants may be disqualified from the event. Disqualified participants forfeit all prize money accumulated for the competition in question. Furthermore, the organisation and its members get banned until the end of that competition.

1.4.1.5 Additional methods of punishment

In special cases, the tournament administration can define and implement other methods of punishment not directly outlined in the YaLLa Compass Ruleset.

1.4.2 Punishments for repeat offences

All punishments outlined in this rulebook are applicable for first-time offences. Repeat offences will usually be punished more severely than listed in the appropriate section of these rules.

1.4.3 League bans and penalty points outside of YaLLa Compass

League bans and penalty points outside of YaLLa Compass do not normally apply towards YaLLa Compass events, except when the punishment has been awarded for cheating. Some other incidents (e.g. behaviour or fraud) may also be punished, depending on the severity.

1.5 Tournament organisation

The event is organised and operated by YaLLa Esports DMCC.

YALLA ESPORTS DMCC.

Cluster L, Dubai JLT, Office 2312

Preatoni Tower

Dubai, UAE

https://www.yallaesports.com/

2 General

2.1 Rule changes

YaLLa Compass reserves the right to amend, remove, or otherwise change the rules, without prior notice. YaLLa Compass also reserves the right to make judgments on cases not specifically covered by the rulebook in order to preserve the spirit of fair competition and sportsmanship.

2.2 Validity of the rules

If a provision of this rulebook is or becomes illegal, invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, that shall not affect the validity or enforceability in that jurisdiction of any other provision of this rulebook or the validity or enforceability in other jurisdictions of that or any other provision of this rulebook.

2.2.1 Local laws

If any rules or procedures are in conflict with local laws, they will be adjusted to be aligned with the laws in a way that stays as close as possible to the originally intended effect.

2.3 Confidentiality

The content of email communication, match channels, discussions or any other correspondence with tournament officials and administrators are deemed strictly confidential. The publication of such material is prohibited without written consent from the tournament administration.

2.4 Additional agreements

The tournament administration is not responsible for any additional agreements, nor do they agree to enforce any such agreements made between participants. YaLLa Compass highly discourages such agreements taking place, and such agreements that contradict the YaLLa Compass ruleset are under no circumstances allowed.

2.5 Match broadcasting

2.5.1 Rights

All broadcast-related rights for YaLLa Compass events are exclusively owned by YaLLa Esports DMCC. This includes, but is not limited to: IRC bots, shoutcast streams, video streams (e.g. POV-streams), CSTV, replays, demos or TV broadcasts.

2.5.2 Third-Party Use

YaLLa Esports DMCC may grant broadcasting permission to third parties or participating teams. Such permissions must be formally arranged and approved by the YaLLa Compass Broadcast Distribution Team prior to the start of the match.

2.5.3 Participant responsibility

Participants cannot refuse to have their matches broadcast by YaLLa Compass-authorized broadcasts, They may not decline or alter how their match is presented without explicit written approval from the tournament administration. Participants must also ensure appropriate conditions are met to allow for smooth execution of any approved broadcast coverage.

2.6 Communication

The main communication method for YaLLa Compass events is email. When contacting participants of YaLLa Compass events, the tournament administration will use contact email addresses that have been supplied to them. Where a contact email address is not known, the tournament administration may use the email addresses registered to participants on their SteamIDs or FACEIT profiles.

For online competition, Discord servers may also be utilized to facilitate match coordination, broadcast management, and event operations. In such cases, the relevant Discord servers will be explicitly communicated via email by the tournament administration.

All inquiries must be directed via email to the following address: media@yallacompass.com

2.7 Conditions of participation

The following conditions must be met in order to participate in the event.

2.7.1 Age restriction

All participants of an event must be sixteen (16) years of age at the time of the first mandatory day of the competition, including media days and qualifiers.

2.7.2 Home country/region

A participant’s home country is determined by the citizenship of the majority of its players. If no majority exists due to a tie, the team may choose between the tied regions. If all players are from outside the three main regions, the team may select any region as their home region.

All invitations will adhere strictly to the regional classifications outlined in the Valve Regional Standings and will follow the invite priority specified in the 2.22 Valve Regional Standings invitation slot priority rule. For example, a team classified as American in the Valve Regional Standings will only be eligible for a American Valve Regional Standings invitation the main event or a closed qualifier). Similarly, if a team is classified as both American and Asian in the Valve Regional Standings, the invitation slot priority will determine which of the two invites they will receive.

2.7.3 Physical location during online matches

In online matches, the majority of the team has to be playing from the region of the competition or qualifier they belong to. An exception to this rule is only possible by written consent from YaLLa Compass, and will only be granted when a valid reason is supplied. Any exceptions must be directly requested via email to the tournament administration by the participant for each event individually.

2.8 Sponsor restrictions

Sponsors or partners that are solely or widely known for pornographic, drug use, other adult/mature themes and products or otherwise which could harm esports/YaLLa Compass’s reputation are not allowed in connection with YaLLa Compass.

2.9 Player details

When requested, players are required to send us all requested information including, but not limited to: full name, contact details, date of birth, address, game account and photo.

2.9.1 Nicknames

Players are only allowed to use their own official nicknames - without any additions - during YaLLa Compass matches. Every player that has officially registered their nickname with Valve for sponsored events is required to use the same nickname for all YaLLa Compass matches. Players that have not registered their nickname for Valve sponsored events may request a nickname change by emailing the tournament administration team. All nicknames must be in line with the YaLLa Compass Code of Conduct. YaLLa Compass may reject nicknames that include political, religious or offensive matters or sentiments, as judged by YaLLa Compass.

2.9.2 Game account

Participants are required to submit game account information during the roster submission process, SteamID or FACEIT sign up page for the event. Where a participant has submitted a game account for a past event and wishes to use a different game account, they must resubmit their game account information. Unless specifically allowed by the tournament administration prior to the start of a match, participants may not use a different game account to the one submitted for the event.

2.10 Roster submissions

2.10.1 Standards

Roster submissions must include the following information:

• Team name & shorthandle
• Team logo (when requested)
• Contact person and details
• Starting lineup
• Substitute players, if applicable

YaLLa Compass reserves the right to request additional team information as required. Failure to provide any of this information may render the participant ineligible to compete in the tournament.

2.10.2 Team names

Team names may not have any extensions such as “CS team”. They may only consist of the team name and, if allowed, a title sponsor. YaLLa Compass reserves the right to shorten team names where necessary or appropriate. All team names must be in line with the YaLLa Compass Code of Conduct. YaLLa Compass may reject team names that include political, religious or offensive matters or sentiments, as judged by YaLLa Compass. Teams whose names are shared with that of a brand, company or website must follow the same guidelines as listed in 2.10.2.1 Title Sponsors.

2.10.2.1 Title sponsors

YaLLa Compass may only permit participants of YaLLa Compass events to include a title sponsor in their team name if they change the name of their whole organisation. Participants need to directly contact YaLLa Compass to request the name change of their organisation, and YaLLa Compass may consider it under the following guidelines:

• The application to change the name of the organisation needs to be made by the roster submission deadline of the first tournament that should include the new name. This is usually two weeks before the tournament and will be communicated on a per event basis by YaLLa Compass.
• The organisation needs to officially change their name and include their title partner in the naming of the organisation.
• The organisation needs to use their new name in all communications and assets
• The organisation needs to update all their social media channels to their new name
• The organisation needs to use their new name across all games and tournaments they will participate in, not just YaLLa Compass events.

Each specific title sponsor can only be included in one organisation participating in the tournament. Only the actual name of the partner may be included; product descriptions or similar are not allowed.

An application to change the name of an organisation to include a title sponsor may only be made once within a twelve (12) month period. YaLLa Compass reserves the right to deny any application to change the name of an organisation at its own discretion. Participants are advised to reach out to YaLLa Compass to check if a partner would be eligible to be part of the name of their organisation.

2.10.3 Team logos

Team logos must not include or incorporate the logo or iconography of brands, teams or trademarks not associated with the team, unless they are a valid title sponsor, as governed by 2.10.2.1 Title sponsors.

Copyrighted images and content cannot be submitted as a team logo without verifiable permission from the copyright holder.

All team logos must be in line with the YaLLa Compass Code of Conduct. YaLLa Compass may reject team logos that include political, religious or offensive matters or sentiments, as judged by YaLLa Compass.

2.10.4 Changes to the team or roster

Any changes to the team or roster must be approved by the tournament administration before the changes are allowed to be implemented. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Adding or removing players
• Changing the team name
• Changing the team logo

2.11 Event licences

2.11.1 Definition

Before each event, YaLLa Compass awards an event licence to the participants. In most cases, these are participants that have:

• Been invited to a specific event by the tournament organisation
• Won participation through other tournaments or events

2.11.2 Duration

YaLLa Compass licences are valid for the event for which they are granted, only.

2.11.3 Team licence

Event licences will be awarded to a legal entity (registered association/organisation, Ltd company, and so on). Any legal entity is only allowed to hold one licence in the same competition. No other legal entity controlled by the same person/people is allowed to hold more than one licence. An organisation or team may only hold a licence for 1 roster throughout the entirety of an event. It is strictly forbidden for an organisation to change which lineup represents them during an event.

If no such entity exists for the team in question, or the existing entity has never been reported to and accepted by the tournament administration, a restricted licence may be awarded to the team where the team leader or organiser will be the designated contact person. This person will be responsible for keeping the team information up to date.

Regardless of the license type, the license remains valid only if the majority of players who either received the invitation or actively participated in the event or its qualifiers remain together as a team. In cases where a team used more than five players during the event or the qualifier that resulted in obtaining the license, the majority will be determined based on the players with the highest number of matches played.

The licence holder or representative is responsible for all actions and commitments of the team. Any changes in the team licence must be reported to and accepted by the tournament administration before they can be implemented. The licence holder decides who the recipient of any prize money won under its licence will be.

Any participant surrendering their event licence by choice may be precluded from being granted another licence in the same competition.

2.11.3.1 Multiple teams

Organisations are not allowed to field multiple teams in YaLLa Compass events.

If both teams from the same organisation get invites, the organisation will have to choose which team to field with priority given to the highest ranking one.

2.11.4 Withdrawal of licence

YaLLa Compass reserves the right to withdraw an event licence from any participant(s), if YaLLa Compass feels that they have not behaved within the guidelines set out by YaLLa Compass and its governing organisation.

2.12 Conflict of interest

2.12.1 Conflict of interest for participants

Players and coaches submitted as part of the team are not allowed to have any financial interest in the success of any other participant that is competing in the same competition. They are required to affirm that they have no conflict of interest (including any business entanglement such as shared management or ownership) with any other participant.

2.12.2 Conflict of interest for team staff

No person or entity that has direct or indirect influence or control over any organisation that has a team taking part in the competition is allowed to have direct or indirect influence nor to hold any shares/stocks or other financial stakes in another such organisation. An exception can be made if the involvement is extremely minimal or “unintentional”, e.g. if the amount is so low that any financial benefit of it could never match the direct benefit from the success of the actual organisation.

2.13 Prize money

All prize money will be paid out ninety (90) days after the YaLLa Compass event in question has been completed.

If a participant fails to provide accurate payment information, an invoice or other required documentation (e.g. tax documents), the prize money will not be paid out until a reasonable time after this has been rectified.

2.13.1 Prize deductions due to penalty points

Each penalty point assigned during an event results in a reduction of 1% from the participant's total earned prize pool. This is calculated from the total winnings at the conclusion of the event (excluding travel stipends or reimbursements). The deducted amount is redistributed proportionally among the remaining participants still eligible for prize money.

2.13.2 Prize deductions due to fines

Fines are removed from the winnings of the team in question. They are not redistributed to the other participants.

2.13.3 Withdrawal of prize money

As long as the prize money for the competition has not been paid out, YaLLa Compass reserves the right to cancel any pending payment if any evidence of fraud or foul play is discovered.

2.13.3.1 Prize money in case of ongoing investigations

If, at the due date of the prize payment an investigation into a player is ongoing, the payment for that player will be postponed until after that investigation has been concluded. If the investigation ends after the end of the third year after the competition, but the result is that the player should have received prize money, that payment will still be executed.

2.13.4 Transfer of prize money

The prize money will be sent as a bank transfer or other agreed method by both parties, as specified by the license holder. If a participant has not collected their winnings within one year of the initial payment date the prizes are forfeited.

2.14 Penalties and consequences of leaving the event

2.14.1 Withdrawing from the event

Participants are considered to have withdrawn from the event if they leave during the ongoing stage, between the two stages of the event, including its qualifying stage (e.g., qualifier and main event), or if they leave after accepting the invitation. In such cases, the participant will forfeit all prize money accumulated for the event, and penalties may be imposed. YaLLa Compass reserves the right to penalize the participant, organization, and all its members with fines, relegations, or other sanctions, which may be enforced immediately or in the next event they participate in within three hundred sixty-five (365) days.

Stricter penalties, including increased fines, suspension from future events, or exclusion from invitations, may be enforced, particularly in cases of last-minute cancellations or when replacements result in significantly weaker participation.

Participants will not be penalized if they withdraw from an event due to a second squad from their organization qualifying for the event. Additionally, in special cases, tournament administration may waive penalties if there is an appropriate reason, such as a medical emergency or visa complications.

2.14.1.1 Leaving an event during the playoff stage

A team is considered to have left the event if they forfeit an elimination match during the playoff stage. If a team forfeits before the first round of the playoffs, they will be replaced by the next highest ranked team from the previous stage of the tournament, when possible. If a team forfeits during a later elimination round of the playoffs, the participant will be given a final placing as if they had lost in the previous elimination round, only earning the prize money or rewards from that placing.

2.14.2 Deletion of matches

All matches involving participants that have left a stage of the event after it has started will be reset and deleted. In playoff brackets, the most recent or the next upcoming match (depending on the situation) of the participant will be considered a default win for their opponent.

2.15 Match start

2.15.1 Online Match Timing

All matches in the event should start as stated in the tournament schedule. Any changes in the time must be accepted by the tournament administration and, when deemed necessary, by the opposing participant (if rescheduling is generally possible). All participants in a match should be on the server and ready to play, at the latest, ten (10) minutes before the match is scheduled to start. The time may be adjusted by the tournament administration if deemed necessary.

2.15.2 Online Match Delays

If a participant is not on the server ten (10) minutes prior to the scheduled match start time, they can be awarded one (1) penalty point. If they still do not join the server by five (5) minutes before the scheduled match start time, another one (1) penalty point may be awarded. If the participant is still not on the server and ready to play by the scheduled match start time, a further one (1) penalty point may be given, with an additional one (1) penalty point applied every two (2) minutes until fifteen (15) minutes after the scheduled start time of the match, for a maximum of ten (10) penalty points. At that point, the participant will be considered a no-show.

2.15.3 Offline Match Delays

Players are expected to arrive at their designated tournament area no later than fifty (50) minutes before their scheduled match start time, unless otherwise explicitly stated by the tournament administration. Coaches are expected to arrive at their designated tournament area no later than thirty (30) minutes before their scheduled match start time, unless otherwise explicitly stated by the tournament administration. If a participant knows that they will not be on time to their tournament area, they must notify the tournament administration at the earliest point possible. Mitigating circumstances and attempts to inform YaLLa Compass about the lateness and minimise its impact may be taken into account when applying penalties. It is the participant’s responsibility to monitor the tournament schedule, and any announcements made about changes to it, in order to avoid lateness.

2.15.4 Not being punctual for an offline match

On the first occasion that a participant fails to arrive at their designated tournament area within the first ten (10) minutes of their expected arrival time, they will receive a warning. After that point, for every five (5) minutes the participant is late, they will receive one (1) penalty point, for a maximum of eight (8) penalty points.

If the lateness continues beyond the scheduled match start time, or if an issue occurs as a result of the late arrival of the participant which delays the match start time such as not yet being ready to play, participants will be awarded one and a half (1.5) penalty points for every two (2) minutes until fifteen (15) minutes after the scheduled start time of the match, for a maximum of twelve (12) penalty points. At that point, the participant will be considered a no-show.

2.15.5 Repeated lateness

If a participant is late in more than two matches in the same competition, they will be considered a repeat offender and the standard punishments will be increased as follows:

• Match 3 and further incidents: +100%

In case a participant is considered a repeat offender on multiple occasions, they will be subject to the increased penalties at the start of the next YaLLa Compass competition they attend. This will be communicated to the participant before their first match.

2.15.6 Participants not showing

If a participant is not ready to play by 15 minutes after the scheduled start of the match, they are considered a no-show. In that case, the participant will be penalized with an additional 5 penalty points on top of any penalty points accumulated for not being punctual for the match.

The tournament administration can decide to award (partial) default losses in the case of a best of series, or disqualify the participant. After a second 15 minute period the opponent will be rewarded with a full match series win. In mitigating circumstances, the match may be rescheduled when appropriate, if the schedule allows it.

2.16 Tournament Seeding

2.16.1 Determining the “better seed”

Whenever a clear seeding can be given, one participant will be declared the “better seed”. This participant then has the choice of who starts the map-veto process.

• In online qualifiers, the tournament seeding (see round one of the upper bracket) determines who has the better seed.
• For group stages, a clear seeding will be implemented and it will remain valid for the duration of that whole stage. Where a group stage is preceded by a preliminary stage, the results of that stage will be taken into account during the group draw.
• For competitions that use the “Live Rating” method, participants will be assigned seeds based on their ELO-like ratings that will dynamically update after each match.
• For any other competition format, if a clear seeding is implemented (e.g. in the bracket draw), it will remain valid for the duration of that whole stage (excluding the grand final).
• In playoffs that follow upon a previous round that gave a clear ranking, the participant that had the higher previous round ranking is considered the “better seed” until the grand final. Where a “better seed” cannot be established, i.e, when two group winners face each other in a semi-final, a coin toss will be used to determine it.
• In a single elimination grand final and a double elimination final with no map advantage, a coin toss is used to determine the “better seed” team. In a double elimination final with a map advantage, the team coming from the lower bracket is considered the “better seed”.

If a case is not covered here or still unclear for any reason, contact the tournament administration.

2.16.2 Seeding based on Valve Regional Standings

If the tournament uses Valve Regional Standings for seeding, the most recent live version of the global Valve Regional Standings available on the seeding date will be utilized. Points will remain unchanged regardless of roster changes. The live version of the Valve Regional Standings can be accessed here:

https://github.com/ValveSoftware/counter-strike_regional_standings/tree/main/live

The seeding date is typically four weeks prior to the start of the event.

2.17 Match protests

2.17.1 Definition

A protest is the official communication between the parties and an admin to report problems that may have affected the outcome of an official match, or are in the process of affecting them for ongoing matches.

2.17.2 Match protest rules

Protest must contain detailed information about why the protest was filed, how the issue came to be and when it occurred. A protest may be declined if proper documentation is not presented. Only one representative per team is supposed to be involved in the protest process. Insults and flaming are strictly prohibited during a protest and may result in penalty points or the protest being ruled against the insulting party.

2.17.2.1 Deadline for match protests

The deadline for when participants are allowed to issue a match protest is the earliest of the three following:

• Twelve (12) hours after the scheduled starting time of the match
• The beginning of the next match for either of the two participants (a minimum of ten (10) minutes has to be kept between matches by all participants)
• Only at offline events - the end of the event day (departure of the tournament administration team)

2.18 Video presentation

In videos (e.g. interviews, feature videos, camera feeds or similar) that happen from an environment not controlled by YaLLa Compass, the visible surroundings/background should be kept neutral, clean and presentable. Any plans to showcase sponsors, logos or advertisements (e.g. in a background banner or placed items) need to be approved by YaLLa Compass beforehand. Obvious promotion of sponsor products (including consumption) is not allowed. Brand logos may never appear bigger than the players' faces on screen.

2.19 Voice communication & recording

The voice communication tool used by YaLLa Compass is TeamSpeak and Discord. Communication during matches is limited to the five players on the server and one coach. Additional personnel may join the communications channel but must be purely passive listeners (i.e. muted at all times), personnel must leave immediately after match is pushed LIVE. Participants must provide details of a TeamSpeak server when requested, as well as provide full access to tournament administration. Participants will be held accountable for the appearance of the TeamSpeak servers they provide, and any inappropriate behaviour, language or content hosted there may be penalised. YaLLa Compass reserves the right to enforce the use of one of their servers.

For offline events, YaLLa Compass will provide and monitor a local TeamSpeak server.

YaLLa Compass reserves the right to record all communication during the matches. The tournament administration will join the TeamSpeak channel thirty (30) minutes before the start of the match, and will start recording the communications fifteen (15) minutes before the start of the match.

2.20 Camera obligations

When specifically stated, each player in an online event must be able to provide a clean camera feed. Every participant needs to activate their camera a minimum of thirty (30) minutes before the start time of the match. Participants may turn off their cameras between maps in a series but must turn them back on a minimum of five (5) minutes before the start of the next map. Failure to provide a clean camera feed for the full duration of the map (including pre-match) will result in the participant being subject to fines. If at any point during the map the camera feed is not provided, it will be considered missing for the entire map. The following fines are standard punishments for each map missed:

Team:

• 20% of the lineup no camera: $50 + 0.25% of the prize money winnings
• 40% of the lineup no camera: $100 + 0.5% of the prize money winnings
• 60% of the lineup no camera: $150 +0.75% of the prize money winnings
• 80% of the lineup no camera: $200 + 1% of the prize money winnings
• 100% of the lineup no camera: $250 + 1.25% of the prize money winnings
• Coach missing: additional $50 + 0.25% of prize money winnings

If a participant fails to fulfil the camera obligations in more than two matches in the same competition, they will be considered a repeat offender and the standard punishments will be increased as follows:

• Match 3: +100%
• Match 4: +200%
• Match 5 and further incidents: +300%

In case a participant is considered a repeat offender on multiple occasions, they will be subject to the increased penalties at the start of the next YaLLa Compass competition they attend. This will be communicated to the participant before their first match.

2.21 Play area

Only the players on the server and the submitted coach are allowed to communicate within the play area assigned to the participants during matches. During online tournaments, additional personnel may be present in the area but may not communicate in any way or enter or exit the area when matches are live. All electronics not provided by the tournament administration are forbidden within the play area, except cameras and devices used solely for communication with the tournament administration.

2.22 Roster retention

For participants who are invited to an event at the invite date, they must retain a majority of players that match the criteria for which the team was invited.

2.23 Deadlines

Communications from YaLLa Compass (either via email or sent via an instant messaging service while at an event) which include deadlines are considered to be an extension of this rulebook, and all other YaLLa Compass Rulebooks, and must be adhered to as such.

2.24 Valve’s Tournament Operating Requirements

YaLLa Compass events are classified as Ranked Events under Valve's Tournament Operating Requirements. As such, all rules outlined in these requirements are applicable to the YaLLa Compass ecosystem. The full set of rules can be reviewed here:

https://github.com/ValveSoftware/counter-strike_rules_and_regs/blob/main/tournament-oper ation-requirements.md

3 Replacement rules

3.1 Replacements

In situations where a participant cannot continue competing in the event, YaLLa Compass will arrange for a replacement. If this happens before the replacement deadline, the replacement will inherit any financial benefits like paid flights and hotels from the replaced participant.

Usually competition groups or brackets will not be reseeded if they were already publicly announced before the drop-out happened. In special cases, when the fairness of the competition is in jeopardy, the tournament administration can still change or even re-draw the competition.

Replacement participants will be considered and contacted to ask whether or not they want to participate.

3.1.1 Differentiating drop-outs and ineligible teams

A drop-out refers to a team that initially accepted a tournament slot but later cannot participate for example, due to travel or visa issues.

An ineligible team is defined as being a participant who an invitation is not extended to due to other factors. For example, a team who is already qualified to a specific YaLLa Compass competition is not eligible to receive a second invitation.

3.1.2 Replacement tiebreaker

If participants have identical scores or positions on the relevant invitation list or qualifier, preference will be given to the participant with the higher ranking in the Valve Regional Standings.

If that leaves several options, the tournament administration will make a choice based on other criteria or/and a random draw.

3.1.3 Reseeding

If any dropouts occur more than 10 days before the event's start date, the tournament will be reseeded. If the dropout happens within 10 days of the tournament’s start, the replacement team will inherit the dropped team’s position in the tournament. However, they will be assigned the lowest available seed in that stage for the purposes of the map veto. All teams seeded below the dropped team will move up one spot in the seeding for the map veto.

3.2 Offline events replacement rules

3.2.1 Multi-Stage Events

If a team drops out of a later stage before the event begins, the highest-ranked team (based on Valve Regional Standings) from the previous stage will be promoted. The newly vacant slot in the earlier stage will then be filled following the replacement protocols outlined below.

3.2.2 Global Valve Regional Standings slots

If a team invited via the global Valve Regional Standings withdraws more than two months prior to the event's start date, their slot will be awarded to the next highest-ranked team from the latest available global invitation Valve Regional Standings at the time of the withdrawal.

For withdrawals occurring less than two months before the event's start date, invitations will be extended only to teams with valid visas for the region or country in which the tournament is taking place. Invited teams will have 24 hours to provide proof of these visas unless a valid reason is provided to justify an extension.

3.2.4 Qualifier slots

For withdrawals occurring less than two months before the event's start date, invitations will be extended only to teams with valid visas for the region or country where the tournament is taking place. Invited teams must provide proof of these visas within 24 hours, unless a valid reason is provided to justify an extension.

If no such team exists, the slot will be reassigned to the next highest-ranked team from the latest available global invitation Valve Regional Standings at the time of the withdrawal.

3.2.5 Last minute replacements

Any withdrawal occurring less than two weeks prior to the event’s start date will result in the invitation being granted to the highest-ranked team on the Valve Regional Standings from the host region of the event. Only teams with valid visas for the region or country where the tournament is being held will be considered. Invited teams must provide proof of these visas within 24 hours, unless a valid reason is provided to justify an extension.

3.3 Online events replacement rules

3.3.1 Closed qualifier invites

If a team withdraws from a closed qualifier more than 48 hours before its scheduled start, their spot will be offered to the next highest-ranked team in the Valve Regional Standings.

For withdrawals occurring less than 48 hours before the start date of the event's first open qualifier for the same region, the slot will be transferred to the last open qualifier within the same region.

4 Event rules

4.1 Equipment

YaLLa Compass will supply core hardware including monitors, PCs, SSDs, and tournament-approved headsets. Players must bring their own peripherals (e.g. keyboard, mouse, mousepad, in-ear headphones with adequate cable length, and any required USB soundcards). PS2 keyboards are not supported. All player equipment is subject to the approval of the tournament administration. YaLLa Compass reserves the right to deny the use of any equipment and/or device if they deem it to be providing an unfair competitive advantage. Participants might be asked to hand in their equipment for additional checks. Participants who want to use more than one piece of the same equipment need to ask the tournament administration for approval.

It is expressly prohibited to attempt to modify any BIOS settings on computers provided by YaLLa Compass, in tournament or practice areas.

4.1.1 SOCD features

The use of Simultaneous Opposing Cardinal Directions (SOCD) features, including but not limited to Snap Tap, Rappy Snappy, or any similar mechanisms that produce equivalent outcomes, is strictly prohibited. Non-compliance with this rule may result in penalties, ranging from a default map loss to disqualification from the tournament.

4.2 Configs and drivers

All participants must send in their configs and list of required drivers (software names and version numbers) by a specific deadline set by the tournament administration before the event. If any participant doesn’t send in their configs and drivers, they may have to manually set up their config on site and play with default drivers. The team will not receive additional time to set up their config manually.

Submitted config folders may only include:

CS2 Convar Configs:

Steam\userdata\YOUR_ID\730\local\cfg\cs2_machine_convars.vcfg

Steam\userdata\YOUR_ID\730\local\cfg\cs2_user_convars_0_slot0.vcfg

CS2 Key Bind Config:

userdata\YOUR_ID\730\local\cfg\cs2_user_keys_0_slot0.vcfg

CS2 Video Settings:

userdata\YOUR_ID\730\local\cfg\cs2_video.txt

Additionally, each participant is allowed to submit one other configuration file with any required aliases, along with a text file with any other settings, e.g. launch options, NVIDIA or monitor settings, or a requested spotify playlist.

4.3 Clothing

All team members must wear coordinated team clothing and full-length pants with closed shoes. Items like shorts, sandals, and crocs are prohibited. Headwear is not allowed unless pre-approved for religious or medical reasons (requests must be submitted 48 hours prior to the event start), unless a medical emergency prevents timely submission. Penalties will be awarded for minor violations of this rule (a minimum of $250 fine), but in major cases (for example offensive content, other team branded clothing etc.), players will not be allowed to start their matches before the problematic piece of clothing has been replaced. If possible, and deemed appropriate by the tournament administration, YaLLa Compass will provide suitable clothing for the participants that are not dressed accordingly. The cost of provided clothing will then be subtracted from the prize money awarded to the participants. Any delay caused by change of clothing will be considered the players fault and penalised according to the rules of punctuality.

4.4 Obeying instructions

Instructions given by the tournament administration should always be obeyed and followed. Failure to do so may result in penalty points being awarded.

4.5 Player and tournament brief

The player and tournament briefs are documents that are sent to the participants by mail before the tournament. They are meant as extensions to the rulebook for a specific event and are equally binding.

4.6 Technical checklist

After completing their setup process the player will sign the technical checklist. This process exists to ensure the integrity of the system used to compete before the match starts. Technical pauses caused by problems that should have been noticed if the checklist had been properly followed will be punished with one (1) penalty point, as well as any relevant penalties for delays caused. By signing this document, participants confirm that they are ready to start their match as scheduled. Participants may be forced to start the match even if a technical issue arises that would have been resolved during the checklist process.

4.7 Arrival day

Participants must arrive at the player hotel by the date designated as the Arrival Date by YaLLa Compass. Where a participant refuses to arrive on that date, a minimum fine of $2,000 will be given, increasing based on the disruption caused to any scheduled activities for the participant. In cases where YaLLa Compass deems the reasoning for a delayed arrival to be unacceptable, disqualification and replacement of the participant will be possible. Fines will not be given in the case of delayed travel due to circumstances beyond the control of the participant, nor when a participant lives locally and is not staying at the player hotel.

4.8 Media obligations

If YaLLa Compass decides that one or more players need to be part of interviews (short pre-/post-match interviews and/or longer interview-sessions), a press conference or an autograph, photograph or video session, then the players cannot deny this and must attend. For all YaLLa Compass tournament matches, participants cannot refuse a request to provide an interviewee. The interviewee must be a player, unless otherwise specifically requested by YaLLa Compass. The same interviewee cannot be provided for consecutive requests in an event. Most events will have a mandatory media day, where participants will be photographed, filmed and interviewed by YaLLa Compass for the event presentation. When applicable, participants will receive a media schedule beforehand to be informed about the nature, duration and schedule of any activities of this kind that take more than five (5) minutes. In some cases, participants may be asked to provide assets for use on YaLLa Compass arranged broadcasts. Failure to provide them on time when requested will be considered a missed media obligation.

4.8.1 Missing media obligations

Not fulfilling media obligations will result in fines. Their range depends on the situation. The following fines are standard punishments for the most common cases:

Not showing up complete and on time for the media day: $4,000 + 5% of the prize money winnings

Appearing incomplete or too late for a signing session:

• 1-30% of the lineup missing: $600 + 0.75% of the prize money winnings
• 31-50% of the lineup missing: $800 + 1% of the prize money winnings
• 51-70% of the lineup missing: $1,000 +1.25% of the prize money winnings
• 71-99% of the lineup missing: $1,200 + 1.5% of the prize money winnings
• 100% of the lineup missing: $2,000 + 2.5% of the prize money winnings

Appearing incomplete or too late for a press conference:

• 1-30% of the lineup missing: $360 + 0.45% of the prize money winnings
• 31-50% of the lineup missing: $480 + 0.6% of the prize money winnings
• 51-70% of the lineup missing: $600 +0.75% of the prize money winnings
• 71-99% of the lineup missing: $720 + 0.9% of the prize money winnings
• 100% of the lineup missing: $1,200 + 1.5% of the prize money winnings

Similar punishments will be applied if other, comparable media obligations are missed. The fines can be reduced if the participant shows up with delay but still early enough to create the required content/have a reasonable session. The fines can be also/further reduced if the participant delivers proof of mitigating circumstances. The decision about that will be made by the tournament administration alone.

4.9 Stage matches

Each participant is required to play their stage matches, if they reach them. This is an integral component of the tournament and exceptions will not be allowed.

4.10 Tournament areas

4.10.1 Food, drinks, smoking and behaviour

If nothing else has been announced, it is forbidden to bring or eat any food in the tournament areas. Smoking or vaping is also strictly prohibited. Players are allowed to have beverages, but only in cups or bottles that have been provided by YaLLa Compass, and only below the table unless told otherwise. Excessively loud noise (e.g. playing music from a speaker) and offensive language is forbidden.

4.10.2 Electronic devices

It is strictly forbidden to connect or use any electronic devices (e.g. phones, cameras, vaporisers, tablets, hand warmers etc.) on the tournament computers without prior examination and approval from the tournament administrators. Participants are not allowed to bring any electronic devices, cameras or similar devices (e.g. vaporiser) into the tournament area unless permitted by the tournament administration. Such devices have to be handed to tournament administration before the match starts. Participants are not allowed to take photos and/or make any recordings on stage.

4.10.3 Unnecessary items

Items that are not immediately necessary (e.g. clothing that is not being worn, bags etc) have to be stored out of sight as indicated by YaLLa Compass.

Paper versions of documents for tactical purposes are allowed on desks in reasonable sizes and numbers (e.g. a notebook).

4.10.4 Internet access

Internet access on tournament computers is disabled for all participants.

4.11 Setup period

A setup period, encompassing setup of peripherals, settings and warming up, of thirty (30) minutes is normally provided before an offline match, although this period is not guaranteed. The exact time available for setup will be relayed to teams when they arrive at the tournament area.

Both teams will be offered the same amount of setup time and will only be allowed into the tournament area at the same time. An exception to this is when one (1) participant is late due to something within their control (i.e., arriving late for their shuttle). Where a participant is late due to circumstances not within their control (i.e., traffic on route to the tournament venue), the other participant will not be given access to the tournament area until they are both on site.

Any time spent away from the tournament area during this thirty (30) minute period will still be considered as part of the setup period. Additional setup time may be given, at the discretion of the lead referee, if a technical issue arises over the course of the setup period that could not have been foreseen beforehand. Any technical issues caused by player equipment (i.e., peripherals or in-ears) will not result in extra setup time being given, nor will it be given for technical issues that arise after a player has chosen not to start setting up when the tournament area was opened for them.

4.12 Photo and other media rights

By attending and participating in any YaLLa Compass event, players and team representatives agree that YaLLa Compass may capture and utilize visual and audio content (including photos, interviews, and video clips) featuring them. These assets may be published on YaLLa Compass digital channels or used in content related to event coverage, promotional campaigns, or future marketing.

4.13 Winners ceremony

Finalists reaching the Grand Final are required to remain at the venue for the post-match ceremony. This includes photo sessions, award presentations, and any closing activities scheduled by the tournament staff. Participation is mandatory unless prior approval has been granted for exceptional circumstances.

4.14 YaLLa Compass provided areas

All individuals granted access to areas operated or arranged by YaLLa Compass (such as tournament stages, practice rooms, or designated hotels) must adhere to local laws, venue rules, and event guidelines. These expectations apply equally to players who have been eliminated from the competition. No marketing or promotional activity may take place in these spaces unless it has been explicitly approved by YaLLa Compass.

5 Code of Conduct, rule violations and punishments

5.1 Code of conduct

All participants are expected to demonstrate professionalism, respect, and sportsmanship towards fellow players, tournament staff, media, sponsors, and the audience. This standard applies both during gameplay and across communication platforms, including in-game chat, voice comms, and social media. We expect players to conduct themselves according to the following values:

• Compassion: treat others as you would be treated.
• Integrity: be honest, be committed, play fair.
• Respect: show respect to all other humans, including teammates, competitors, and event staff.
• Courage: be courageous in competition and in standing up for what is right.
• Participants must not engage in harassment or hate speech in any form. This includes, but is not limited to:
• Hate speech, offensive behaviour, or verbal abuse related to sex, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, disability, physical appearance, body size, age, or religion.
• Stalking or intimidation (physically or online).
• Spamming, raiding, hijacking, or inciting disruption of streams or social media.
• Posting or threatening to post other people’s personally identifying information (“doxing”).
• Unwelcome sexual attention. This includes, unwelcome sexualized comments, jokes, and sexual advances.
• Advocating for, or encouraging, any of the above behaviour.

Violation of this Code of Conduct will result in penalty points. In the case of repeat or extreme violations, penalties may include disqualification, mandatory training sessions or banning from future YaLLa Compass events.

5.2 Cheating

5.2.1 Cheat software

Any use of software that could be considered cheats is strictly forbidden. The tournament administration reserves the right to specify what is considered a cheat.

5.2.2 Information abuse

Receiving game-related information from anyone not actively participating in the match (e.g. via streams or third parties) is forbidden.

5.2.3 Punishments for cheating

When cheating during an event is uncovered , the result(s) of the match(es) in question will be voided. The participant will be disqualified, forfeit their prize money and be banned from all competitions in YaLLa Compass for a duration of normally 5 years. This duration can be lower, if significant mitigating factors are in play, but also higher, if there are aggravating circumstances.

5.2.4 Methods to detect cheating

YaLLa Compass reserves the right to use different methods to inspect participants and their equipment, with or without prior notice. One of these is the use of metal detectors on participants entering the stage. Participants are not allowed to refuse these inspections.

5.3 Doping

5.3.1 Test Refusal

Refusing to be tested is considered doping. Punishments will be the same as for severe cases of substance abuse.

5.3.2 List of prohibited substances and methods

The List of Prohibited Substances and Methods created by the Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC) is valid for the YaLLa Compass tournaments. The Iist can be found here:

https://esic.gg/codes/esic-prohibited-list/

Any unsanctioned use of these substances is considered doping.

5.3.3 Prescribed medication

If participants have an active prescription for a substance on the WADA list, they have to send proof to the tournament administration before the first day of the competition (deadline in local time). They may still be subject to a doping test, but a positive result for the prescribed substance will be disregarded.

5.3.4 Punishments for doping

Mild cases of doping will be punished with a warning and possibly penalty points for the participant. Severe cases (i.e. use of drugs containing performance enhancing substances, like Adderall) will be punished with nullification of the results achieved under the influence of the substance, a ban of one to two (1-2) years, forfeiture of the prize money won, as well as disqualification of the participant.

If a participant is found guilty of a severe case of doping only after the last match of the tournament has already been over for at least twenty four (24) hours, the participant will still get a ban, but the tournament result will remain in place and there are no consequences for the team. Mild cases will not be punished at all, after that time.

5.4 Using alcohol or other psychoactive drugs

To play a match, be it online or offline, under the influence of alcohol or other psychoactive drugs, even if not among the punishable substances linked under 5.3.2, is strictly prohibited, and may lead to severe punishment. Moderate consumption of alcohol outside the active tournament hours for a participant is permitted if not in conflict with local/national law.

5.5 Betting

No players, team managers, staff or management of attending organisations may be involved in betting or gambling, associate with betters or gamblers, or provide anyone any information that may assist betting or gambling, either directly or indirectly, for any of the YaLLa Compass matches or the competition in general. Any betting or gambling against your own organisation’s matches will lead to an immediate disqualification of the organisation and a minimal ban of 1 year from all YaLLa Compass competitions for all persons involved. Any other violation will be penalised at the sole discretion of the tournament administration.

5.6 Competition manipulation

Offering money/benefits, making threats or exerting pressure towards anyone involved with YaLLa Compass with the goal of influencing a result of a match is considered competition manipulation. The most common example is offering your opponent money to let you win.

5.6.1 Punishments for competition manipulation

When attempted competition manipulation is uncovered in the YaLLa Compass, the result(s) of the match(es) in question will be voided. The participant will be disqualified, forfeit their prize money and be banned from all competitions in YaLLa Compass for a duration of between one and two (1-2) years. A fine is also possible.

5.7 Match fixing

Using any means to manipulate the outcome of a match for purposes that are not sporting success in the tournament in question is considered match fixing. The most common example is intentionally losing a match to manipulate a bet on the match.

5.7.1 Punishments for match fixing

When match fixing is uncovered in the YaLLa Compass, the result(s) of the match(es) in question will be voided. The participant will be disqualified, forfeit their prize money and be banned from all competitions in YaLLa Compass for a duration of normally 5 years. This duration can be lower if significant mitigating factors are in play, but also higher if there are aggravating circumstances. A fine is also possible.

5.8 Limitations for issuing punishments

Punishments can be issued for a limited amount of time after the incident that is being punished takes place. In cases of cheating and match-fixing, this duration is set to ten (10) years. For infractions like ringing, faking, lying about legally relevant personal information (name, age, nationality, residency, …), the duration is set to five (5) years. Smaller infractions may expire earlier.

5.9 Publisher bans

YaLLa Compass reserves the right to refuse players who have standing bans from the game publisher to take part in YaLLa Compass tournaments.

Counter-Strike VAC bans are specifically honoured, but only for two (2) years after they have been issued.

5.10 Breach of etiquette

For an orderly and pleasant game, it is essential that all participants have a sportive and fair attitude. Breaches of this rule will be punished with one (1) to six (6) penalty points. The most important and most common offences are listed below. However, the tournament administration may assign penalties for not explicitly listed types of breach of netiquette (e.g. harassment).

5.10.1 Public behavior

All participants shall abstain, at all times, from poor, undesirable, or negative behavior towards anybody involved with the competition in any way.

All participants shall abstain, at all times, from any action or inaction, illegal or otherwise, that could bring anybody involved with the competition in any way into public disrepute, contempt, scandal, ridicule or harms the public relations or commercial value of any involved party. This includes derogatory comments aimed at YaLLa Compass, its partners or products in interviews, statements and/or social media channels.

5.10.2 Insults

All insults occurring in connection with YaLLa Compass will be punished. This primarily applies to insults during a match but also on any YaLLa Compass owned or affiliated platforms. Insults on messenger programs, email or other means of communication will be punished if they can be linked to YaLLa Esports and the evidence is clear. Particularly severe abuse cases with radical statements or the threat of physical violence can result in significantly heavier penalties including the exclusion or disqualification of the participant. Depending on the nature and severity of the insult the penalty will be assigned to the player or to the team.

5.10.3 Spamming

The excessive posting of senseless, harassing or offensive messages is regarded as spamming by YaLLa Compass. Spamming on any YaLLa Compass owned or affiliated platforms will be punished depending on the nature and severity of the offence.

5.10.4 Damaging or soiling

Participants taking action that could or does result in damage or soiling of rooms, furniture, equipment or similar items will incur a minimum fine of $500. This fine may be increased based on the costs required to restore the items to their original condition, the efforts involved in addressing the issue, and any reputational damage incurred with third parties or the public.

5.11 Unsportsmanlike behavior

For an orderly and pleasant game, it is essential that all participants have sportsmanlike behavior. The most important and common offences are listed below. However, the tournament administration may assign penalties for not explicitly listed types of unsportsmanlike behavior.

5.11.1 Ringer/faker

Any participant involved in faking or ringing a player will be suspended for a minimum of two (2) matches and ten (10) penalty points will be awarded per incident.

5.11.2 Playing with a disallowed player

Using a disallowed player results in ten (10) penalty points being awarded and the player will be suspended for a minimum of two (2) matches. In addition to this, the opponent will be offered a rematch. If the tournament administration decides there is not enough time for a rematch (this will always be the case in matches in continuous order, like all except the last round of a bracket, but can happen in other cases as well), a default win will be given to the opponent.

5.11.3 Misleading tournament administration or players

Any attempts to deceive opposing players, the tournament administration, or anyone else related to YaLLa Compass may be penalized with one (1) to four (4) penalty points.

5.12 Final Say

YaLLa esports shall have the sole, absolute, and unrestricted right to interpret, amend, enforce, and make final determinations on any and all matters related to this Rulebook. YaLLa’s decisions shall be binding and conclusive in all cases, and no party shall have the right to challenge, appeal, or override such decisions.

YaLLa esports retains the exclusive right to modify, revise, or repeal any rule, regulation, or provision within this Rulebook at any time and without prior notice or consent. Any interpretation or determination made by YaLLa shall be final and shall not be subject to review by any third party, including but not limited to courts, arbitration panels, or governing bodies.

By accepting or participating under the provisions of this Rulebook, all parties expressly acknowledge and agree to YaLLa esports’ unlimited discretion in all matters concerning its content, application, and enforcement.

6 Copyright notice

All content appearing in this document is the property of YaLLa Compass DMCC or is being used with the owner's permission. Unauthorised distribution, duplication, alteration or other use of the material contained in this document, including without limitation any trademarked image, drawing, text, likeness or photograph, may constitute a violation of the laws of copyright and trademark and may be prosecuted under criminal and/or civil law.

No part of the content of this document may be reproduced in any form or by any means or stored in a database or retrieval system, except for personal use, without the written permission of YaLLa Compass DMCC.

All content in this document is accurate to the best of our knowledge. YaLLa Compass DMCC assumes no liability for any error or omission. We reserve the right to change content and files on our website (including but not limited to [yallesports](https://www.yallaesports.com/), [yallacompass](https://yallacompass.com/), and all subdomains) at any time without prior notice or notification.