Game rules

General

Agreements

Certain agreements between participants are allowed to slightly differ from the ESL rules. Agreements that differ greatly from ESL rules are however not allowed. Please note that the ESL rules were made to ensure a fair match for all participants. You are not allowed to file a protest after the match if you think that the agreements made before the match in the end resulted in a disadvantage for your team.

Rules that can be changed with agreements are explicitly stated. Rules that do not explicitly state they can be changed by agreement, cannot have agreements made.

All arrangements between participants made in addition to the ESL rules have to be written down in the match comments. The other participant has to confirm the arrangements also in the comments. To avoid abuse of the edit function, a third comment must be written.

Please also keep screenshots and/or log files of your arrangements. If you do not fulfil these requirements, any protests or supports concerning arrangements will be rejected.

The following rules may never be changed by arrangement:
  • Entering results for matches that have not been played
  • Allowing players to play that are barred because of penalty points, or are barred in the league due to a ban
  • Allowing players to play in leagues with premium requirement that are barred for not having Premium
  • Allowing players to play without ESL Anticheat

ESL Anticheat & Demos

ESL Anticheat / Linesman

ESL Anticheat is mandatory for all players to use for the full duration of all matches without exception. If a player cannot use Anticheat then they are not allowed to take part in a match.

For a missing or an incomplete Anticheat file the player/team will be punished. Apart from this rule are all players which have evidence (screenshot of a bug)) that ESL Anticheat stopped/crashed due to an error. The first time a player has no logout or no Linesman file, a warning will always be given, whether he can prove it was an error or not.

Warnings for a missing logout and linesman are valid for 14 days. We only handle and warn a missing logout if they are reported within a protest. A match won't be deleted if warnings have been given.

Another missing logout / missing Linesman file within that 14 days timespan will be treated like playing without Anticheat and will be penalized as such.

A match has to be postponed if the ESL website or AC-servers are down, making Anticheat unusable.

Demos

It is mandatory for all players to record one point-of-view (POV) demo per map for the full duration of all matches without exceptions. A possible knife round is part of demo and has to be recorded. Possible overtimes have to be recorded as well. In general not working demos will be treated as missing demos, although the final decision is up to the admin. If the demo is incomplete, the admin will decide whether or not it will be treated as a missing demo. If a protest has been opened for a match, all match media must be kept for at least 14 days until after the protest is closed. In case of a match abort the aborting team loses any right for a demo. If the server crashes no automatic replay will be available. In this case players have to upload demos on admin request.

Requesting demos

It's not possible to request player ineye demos, except no GoTV demo is available. Only the Anti Cheat team is allowed to request the ineye demo of an accused player if they deem it's required. Failure to provide the demo will be punished with 6 pps (missing demo with cheat suspicion). The Anti Cheat team will nevertheless perform the analysis based on the Go TV demo.

Uploading demos

Demos have to be compressed into an archive (.zip, .rar, .7z). Apart from that all match media has to be uploaded to the ESL website (the match page). You are not allowed to upload your match media to your personal web space or any other kind of external hoster.

Editing demos

It is strictly forbidden to edit demos. If a replay has been manipulated, the admin team will decide what penalty is appropriate.

Accusation of cheating by timetable

If you want to accuse your opponent(s) of cheating, you need to hand in a timetable within 72 hours after the match has been finished. Timetables must be prepared based on the Go TV demo that is automatically uploaded to the match page. Instructions on how to do this can be found on this page. A timetable should be handed in along with the opening of the protest, so please make sure you have your timetable(s) ready when you open the protest. Nevertheless the timetable can still be handed in later (as long as it is within the 72h deadline) in case you did not do that along with the opening of the protest.

Settings

Player settings

Illegal scripts

In general, all scripts are illegal except for buy, toggle and demo scripts. Here are some examples for illegal scripts:
  • Stop shoot scripts (Use or AWP scripts)
  • Center view scripts
  • Turn scripts (180° or similar)
  • No recoil scripts
  • Burst fire scripts
  • Rate changers (Lag scripts)
  • FPS scripts
  • Anti-flash scripts or binding (snd_* bindings)
  • Bunny hop scripts
  • Stop sound scripts
Violations of this rule will lead to a warning the first time. If in team matches more than 1 player played with wrong client settings and they have been warned before already, the match will be deleted.

In-Game overlays

All In-Game overlays - provided by the game itself - except the following are forbidden:
  • cl_showpos 1
  • cl_showfps 1
  • net_graph 0/1 (nevertheless you are not allowed to abuse the net_graph to help you aiming, like in this screenshot)

Custom files

The HUD can be changed as long as no information is deleted or falsified which is available in the standard HUD. If you use a custom HUD, it has to be readable. If an admin is hindered in his work because of unreadable HUDs, penalty points could be assigned. Protests or support tickets because of unreadable HUDs will be rejected immediately.

Custom files are only allowed for your HUD and GUI. Other custom files are forbidden, including custom models, changed textures or sounds (volume, soundscapes)

Illegal software and hardware tools

Changing the game graphics or textures with the help of video card drivers or similar tools is illegal. Furthermore any kind of overlay that displays the system performance while playing (e.g. Nvidia SLI Display, Rivatuner Overlays) is illegal. Tools that only display the FPS are legal. You will be punished regardless of whether the changes have been made using external hardware or software and regardless of actively using them or not.

Color depth

The usage of a color depth of 16 bit is not allowed. Evidence of usage can only be given by ESL Anticheat. Trying to prove the use of 16 bit with screenshots is not allowed and protests about this will be rejected.

Content of the config folder

In the config folder you are only allowed to have config files. Pictures, demos, screenshots and zipped files are forbidden. If an admin is hindered in his work because of too many unclear config files, penalty points (1-3) can be assigned. Protests and support tickets opened because of this rule are illegal and will be rejected.

Game account

It is mandatory to register a CS:GO SteamID in your player profile otherwise you will be auto kicked from the server. If you get kicked from the server with the message "You are not a match participant", please open a protest to the match.

Match rules

Nickname and clan tag

Each player has to use a nickname that is similar to the nickname entered in the ESL player sheet. You are not allowed to change your nickname in-game. Protests or support tickets because of a violation of this rule will be rejected.

If an admin's job is hindered because of wrong or difficult nicknames and/or clan tags, penalty points can be given to the players and teams

Warmup

To start the match all contestants have to type .ready in the chat.

Number of players

A match can only start when the following minimum number of players are available:
  • 2on2: only 2on2 is allowed.
  • 3on3: only 3on3 is allowed.
  • 5on5: only 5on5 is allowed.
Only players who were in the team prior to match confirmation are allowed to play in the match.

This rules only relates to the number of players which have to be available at match start, in case a player should drop see rule Player drop.

Adding new players

All players on a team at the official start time are eligible to play in all matches. New players must be registered in the team with their CS:GO SteamID prior to the game integration match confirmation.

Servers

The ESL provides 128 tick high quality servers to play on. It's allowed to play on another server if both partys wishes to do so (e.g. due to ping problems). If you do not want to play on the ESL server, you need to have your own server.

If both players/teams should have a 128 tick server available, the match is going to be split over two servers. The server of the player/team which is on the left side in the match sheet will be used for the first half of the match. The other server for the second half of the match.

During the match

No show

If your opponent does not confirm that they are ready 10 minutes (Cups) / 20 minutes (League) after the official match time, you have to open a protest to request a default win. Map vote and connecting to the server need to be done in time. Players/teams showing no real effort to do it or even delaying the process on purpose may be disqualified.

Choice of side

A knife round will be played to determine the side. This is forced by the server. The winner of this knife round will choose the side by typing .stay or . switch in the chat.

Server crash

If the server crashes before three rounds have been completed (in a half), the server must be restarted and the half's score will be reset to 0-0.

If the server crashes after the third round has been completed, the half must be restarted with start money 2000 and the score will be counted from the last completed round. The start money is set to 2000 and the team that lost the last round kills itself using "kill" in the console. This round does not count. The half continues with the following round. The start money has to be set to 800 again. Only possible on private server, on gameintegration servers matches can only start from 0-0.

Player drop

If a player drops the server will be paused at the end of the current round (see rule Game pausing).

The waiting time for a dropped player is 15 minutes. If the player or a substitute rejoins the server and both teams are ready, the game can be resumed. In case the dropped player does not reconnect within 15 minutes and there should be no substitute available, the team must continue playing with one less player.

Change of players

Players can be changed at any time but the opposing team has to be informed in advance. If necessary the game can be paused (see rule Game pausing). This change may not take more than 5 minutes. After the waiting time the match can also be continued without the full team and the player can join in the running game. Changed players must be registered in the team with their CS:GO SteamID prior to the match.

Game intermissions

If the match is interrupted, the match is valuated up until that point. The match will be continued according to the following procedure (does not apply to Handgun competitions since the money is 1000 there):
  • The start money is set to 2000 for the remaining game time.
  • The team that lost the last round kills itself using the command “kill” in the console. This round does not count.
  • The game begins with the next round.
  • Should further maps have to be played after this map, the start money must be set back to the normal value (800).
This rule serves the purpose of covering unexpected intermissions that are not willfully brought about by the teams. So if a game is interrupted but cannot be continued on the same day, the remaining game time can be played at a later date but within seven days. If the teams/players fail to agree on a date, an admin will determine the date. If a team/player fails to appear an admin will decide whether the match is rated as 'did not show up' or 'match abort'.

Only players who were in the team at the initial play-date are allowed to continue the game. New players have no permission to play the match, except the opponent teams grants it.

Only possible on private server, on gameintegration servers matches can only start from 0-0.

Game pausing

If you have a problem that prevents you from playing on, you are allowed to pause the game. You have to announce the reason before or immediately after you paused the game. Pausing the game without any reason will lead to penalty points (see Unsportsmanlike behaviour). If the problem can't be solved (max. 10 minutes pause time) see rule Game intermissions.

Overtime

Playing overtime is mandatory and will be forced by the server. The overtime will be played MR3 (maximum of 6 played rounds) with $10.000 start money. For the start of the overtime, teams will stay on the side which they played the previous half on, during half-time sites will be swapped. Teams will continue to play overtimes until a winner has been found.

After the match

Right to write a support ticket / file a protest

Only players/teams involved in a match are allowed to write a support ticket or to file a protest. Players can open a protest up to 72h after match start, except cups here is the protest time 10 minutes.

Game abort

If a team aborts a match before it is finished, a win may be granted to the remaining team if the match advanced to a point where the end result can be determined. If your opponent should deliberately leave the match, you must definitely file a protest. You are not allowed to enter a result yourself. This can be penalized as a fake result.

Special rules

Disqualification

This will only be done in cases were a team shows no real effort to get a match done or is even obviously blocking. In hard cases this can even effect both teams. If one team is unable to connect to the server due to game account problems this will result in a defaultloss.

Bugs and forbidden actions

Bomb

To plant the bomb in a way that it cannot be reached anymore is forbidden. Places that can be reached with the help of a team mate are allowed. Violating this rule will result in the deduction of 3 rounds.

Climbing

Climbing with the help of team mates is in general allowed. Not allowed are positions where textures disappear in walls or grounds if a special movement (e.g. a jump) is required.

Boosting, sky walking, sharking

Boosting through walls, ceilings or the ground, invisible pixels or surfaces, sky walking, map swimming, floating and sharking are all forbidden

Grenades

Throwing grenades inside walls is not allowed. Throwing them above walls and roofs is allowed.

Self-Kills

Self-kills by console in order to shorten the round time is strictly forbidden.

Other

The use of bugs is in general not allowed. Should a bug that is not listed be used, an admin will decide if a penalty is necessary.

Penalty points

ESL Anticheat / Linesman / wrong clientsettings

Missing Anticheat logout: warning (Valid for 14 days)
Missing Linesman: warning
Missing Anticheat: default win to the opponents
Wrong client settings: warning
Playerskin model usage: default win to the opponents

By reaching the number of 2 warnings in different matches during a competition the team will be disqualified.

Illegal graphic settings

The use of illegal software and hardware tools in order to change the game graphics or textures will in general be punished with 6 penalty points

Illegal scripts

Using illegal scripts will be penalized with 2, 4, 6 or 12 penalty points. The amount of penalty points given depends on the script and it is up to the responsible admin to decide this. It does not matter whether the script has been used or not. If the config files of a user contain illegal scripts or parts of illegal scripts, he will be penalized, regardless of active use.

The use of no flash and no recoil bindings/scripts in any and all forms will be punished with 6 penalty points after the first violation without active use and 12 penalty points after repeated violation or after active use of them.

Weapon choice

Using a restricted weapon will result in the deduction of three rounds for each violation.

Idling in ladders or leagues

If a player/team is idling without playing any match, penalties can be given.

Recreation of teams

The recreation of team accounts is forbidden if active penalty points and/or barrages are bypassed, the ranking of the ladder gets faulty or if the participants aim for an advantage. If needed, active penalty points will be assigned to the new account and the barrages thereof will be kept. Teams which were created by bypassing this rule can be deleted. In case of recurrence the players may directly be punished.
  • If a new team is created to bypass good or bad statistics the new team could be deleted and if the circumstances require penalties will be given to the players. Played matches keep rated.
  • If penalty points were bypassed, the new team will be deleted and corresponding penalties will be given to the old team. The played matches keep rated.
  • If a barrage is bypassed, the new team will be deleted and the barrage is reset on the old team account. The played matches are deleted. The bypassing of this rule is no reason for a protest. Protests because of this will be rejected. All hints have to be submitted via support ticket. Afterwards the appropriate arrangements will be initiated against the team and/or players.

Game specific penalties

Rule violation Number of penalty points
Settings
Illegal config setting Player / Team: warning / 2 per setting and match deletion
Illegal script Player / Team: 2, 4 or 6 and match deletion
Custom files Player / Team: 2 and match deletion
Wrong models Player: 3 and match deletion / Team: 3
Match media
Missing/incomplete demos Player / Team: 3 and match deletion
Missing/incomplete ESL Anticheat Player / Team: 3 and match deletion
Missing/incomplete Linesman Log file Player / Team: warning / 2
Missing match media with cheat suspicion Player / Team: 6 and match deletion
Unsportsmanlike behaviour
Bug use Player / Team: 2 per use
Self-Kills Player / Team: 2 per match
Other Player / Team: Up to 4
Matches get only deleted if the team/player violating the rules won the match. In cup and league matches default wins are given instead of a match deletion.

System rules

1. ESL Cups

1.1. Concept

The ESL cups are intended to resolve the best players during a single tournament bracket. They can be either single or double elimination. This means you might be able to continue even if you have one loss during a previous round. You can read more from our tournament guide.

1.2. No show

If your opponent does not show up after 10 minutes, you must enter the result as your opponent did not appear in time. Do not enter a default win for yourself.

General rules

1. Global Rules

1.1. General

The league administration has the right to decide outside or even against the rulebook in special cases to guarantee fairplay.

1.2. Code of Conduct

Every participant has to behave with respect towards the representatives of the ESL, press, viewers, partners and other players. The participants are requested to represent esports, the ESL, and their Sponsors honorably. This applies to behavior in-game and also in chats, messengers, comments and other 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 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 behavior, 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 behavior.

Please refer to the AnyKey Keystone Code to learn more about good sporting behavior. Refer to the ESIC Code of Conduct for detailed conduct rules and penalties

Violation of this code of conduct will result in possible exclusion of the offending player from current tournaments in which they are participating, and may result in additional penalties thereafter and also lose their right to receive any winnings. In the case of repeated or extreme violations, penalties may include disqualification or banning from future ESL events.

1.2.1. Insults and offensive behaviour

All insults that happen during an ESL-Match or on the ESL platform, may be punished. This includes but is not limited to ingame chat of the corresponding game, guestbooks, forums, Match- or News-Comments, ESL Messages, Match-Chat, game IDs. Insults that happen on external messengers are not taken into account.

Penalties are no longer limited to Penalty Points and barrages, but may also contain the following depending on the incident, location and frequency of the insult:

  • Penalty Points & barrages are given for incidents within ESL-Matches
  • Exclusion of the offending player from the current tournaments in which they are participating*
  • Insults or inappropriate behaviour within Comments or other options for contacting a player, will result in a Forum- & Comment ban

Severe incidents including, but not limited to the following points, may be punished in other ways:

  • Extremist statements
  • Threat of violence
  • Sexual harassment
  • Stalking
  • severe insults
  • pornographic linkings

The right to appeal is only with the injured.

* Another player registered on the teamsheet may replace the player if the tournament rules allow it. If more than one player of the same team is excluded, the team is disqualified for the current tournaments in which it participates.

1.2.2. Spamming

The excessive posting of futile, annoying or offensive contributions within the ESL is considered as spamming. Spamming on the website (forums, match comments, player comments, support- and protest pages, etc) is penalized as follows:

  • Written warning for the first offence
  • 1 penalty point + 1 week comment ban for the second spamming incident.
  • 2 penalty points + 2 week comment ban for the third spamming incident.
  • 3 penalty points + 3 week comment ban for the fourth and any further spamming incidents.

The decisive factor therefore is the amount of active penalties for spamming.

1.2.3. Public behaviour

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

All participants shall abstain, at all times, from any action or inaction that brings anybody involved with the tournament in any way into public disrepute, contempt, scandal or ridicule or reduces the public relations or commercial value of any involved party. This includes derogatory comments aimed at ESL, its partners or products in interviews, statements and/or social media channels.

1.3. Matches, competitions, meetings

In all competitions there should be a fair playing field for all players.

Every encounter, whether a ladder match or other competition must be played according to the rules until it is complete and the result on the ESL page entered, or at events the result sheet is completed. Any encounter that did not take place, should be deleted. Matches will be opened only by admins to delete exceptions. Matches that did not take place will be considered fake matches and will be punished.

It is not allowed for participants to bet on matches in their own competition. Betting against yourself (in team leagues: against your own team) will get you (in team leagues: your team) disqualified and the betting player(s) banned.

Players and teams that are already qualified for or participating in an event (e.g. Pro League or any offline event) or the later stages of a tournament (e.g. Open/Challenger League, but not Sony Open Series) are not allowed to participate in any of its ongoing or upcoming qualifiers. In the case of a player or team breaching this rule, they will be disqualified from the current qualifier and may face further punishment, up to and including disqualification from the event.

1.4. Game / client

In general, all programs which are not part of the original game, including custom-data and modifications, are not allowed in any ESL game. All external voice programs are allowed (e.g. Teamspeak, Ventrilo etc.). Scripts and changes to the game's configuration are allowed, unless they are partly or completely forbidden by the league specific rules. Programs that provide an advantage during game play (e.g. drivers that allow the removing of walls) are forbidden. Any programs that change the game itself are forbidden.

1.5. Game Coverage

The ESL reserves exclusive right to the coverage of ESL matches. This includes all forms of transmission, including IRC Bots, Shoutcast-streams, HLTV and ESL-TV Broadcasts. The ESL can assign the coverage rights of a match or of several matches to a third party or to the actual players themselves. In this case, terms and conditions would have to be arranged with the ESL management before the match.

In general, the ESL will contact any player or team if they wish to broadcast one of their matches. If no contact is made, individual players are allowed to arrange their own broadcasts. Should the game take place on a server that ESL administrators have no direct access to, it must be made sure that enough slots are available for the according clients.

1.6. Internal Texts

All texts written in either protest or support tickets, or written by the administrators to members of a certain league or tournament, cannot be published without the permission of the ESL.

1.7. Language

The official language of this national section is English. All players should be able to communicate in English and to do so.

2. Fraud/deception

ESL is a member of ESIC, the Esports Integrity Commission. The Esports Integrity Commission is a not for profit members’ association established in 2015 by key esports stakeholders to deal with issues of common interest – in particular the threat that match manipulation and betting fraud and other integrity challenges pose to esports.

Membership of ESIC centres around key Principles that the members have agreed and they have also agreed to be bound by a Code of Ethics to govern their behaviour amongst themselves. ESIC is a historic Commission of businesses that are usually in competition with each other, but recognise that they are all threatened by attacks on the integrity of esports.

2.1. Deception

The attempt to deceive admins or other players with wrong or fake statements, information or data will not be tolerated.

2.2. Other unauthorized offences

Including but not limited to the abusing of bugs in the website.

These penalties are at the discretion of the responsible admin and are penalized according to severity.

2.3. Cheating

All forms of cheating in ESL matches are forbidden and will be penalized by the ESL. Players found cheating outside of the ESL may be barraged on the ESL depending on the evidence available. Note, we do not accept publicly submitted demo or screenshot evidence in these cases. Should it become known to the ESL administrators that any form of cheating was used to the advantage of a player or a team during an ESL match, the ESL reserves the right to punish them to the full extent of the rules available. By breaking any rule a player risks being barred or completely excluded from a specific league or from all leagues. This also includes their team.

The use of programs (or "hacks") or other methods to circumvent, modify or in any way manipulate ESL Anticheat is forbidden. Any use of such programs or methods will be punished as cheating. Even testing of such programs or methods in a match not happening within the ESL will be punished.

2.3.1. Distribution of cheats

Contributing to the distribution of cheats in any way is not allowed on ESL. This includes but is not limited to referring to the name, website or logo of cheats anywhere on ESL, such as player profiles, team profiles, forums, comments, guest book entries, etc.

Violating this rule will be punished from a warning up to exclusion from ESL.

2.3.2. Cheating Sanctions

Disqualification from the tournament, results voided, forfeiture of prize money, ban between 2 years and lifetime depending on age and level of player and nature/size of tournament and how the player cheated. Cheating at a professional level (i.e. where qualification for a professional event is at stake) should normally result in a 5 year ban, but, in aggravating circumstances, can result in a lifetime ban.

2.3.3. Rehabilitation

Nevertheless first offenders willing to intensively deal with their situation can get a second chance. More information about the cheater rehabilitation can be found here.

2.4. Match-Fixing/betting fraud

Engaging in any action that improperly influences the outcome of a game or match by any means.

2.4.1. Match-Fixing Sanctions

Results voided, 5 year ban unless significant mitigating factors in line with the ESIC Anti-Corruption Code or, in the presence of aggravating circumstances, a longer ban, forfeiture of prize money and monetary fine (if discovered before the end of a tournament, disqualification).

2.5. Doping

Any kind of doping is forbidden.

2.5.1. Prescribed medication

If players 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 tournament (deadline in local time). They may still be subject to a doping test, but a positive result for the prescribed substance will be disregarded.

2.5.2. Doping Sanctions

Mild cases of doping will be punished with a warning and possibly minor penalty points for the participant. Severe cases (i.e. use of drugs containing performance enhancing substances, like Adderall) will be punished as follows: Results voided, ban of between 1 and 2 years, forfeiture of prize money (if discovered before the end of a tournament, disqualification).

2.6. Competition manipulation and bribery

Bribing or attempting to bribe a referee or organizer or trying to manipulate the competition.

2.6.1. Competition manipulation and bribery Sanctions

Results voided, ban of between 1 and 2 years, forfeiture of prize money and monetary fine (if discovered before the end of a tournament, disqualification)

2.7. Second and subsequent offences

For second and subsequent offences, participants should expect far harsher sanctions and in all likelihood a lifetime ban from esports.

3. Accounts

3.1. Player

An ESL Account can only be created if the user is at least six years old. When registering, each player must provide an up-to-date and correct email address and it is the player’s responsibility to keep this up-to-date. To play in a ladder, a method of contact must be available and visible to all users in your player profile.

Also, the permanent residence must be chosen according to the country he/she is currently living in. Should the country differ from his/her nationality, the player can add an additional flag in the settings.

3.1.1. Multiaccounts

Each player in the ESL must only have one account! If a player can not access his account and then creates a new one, then he/she must write a support ticket explaining in detail the reason for not being able to access the account.

3.1.2. Nicknames, Team Names and URL Aliases

We reserve the right to edit Nicknames and/or URL aliases, if they fail to comply with the following requirements.

Nicknames/aliases are forbidden if they:

  • are protected by third-party rights and the user has no written permission
  • resemble or if they are identical to a brand or trademark, no matter whether it has been

registered or not

  • resemble or if they are identical to a real person other than themselves
  • use names of ESL Gaming products
  • resemble or if they are identical to the names of ESL Gaming employees
  • are nonsense

In addition to the above, any nicknames/team names/aliases that are purely commercial (e.g. product names), defamatory, pejorative, offensive, vulgar, obscene, anti-Semitic, inciting hatred, or offending against good manners are forbidden. Using alternative spelling, gibberish or wrong spelling in order to avoid the requirements mentioned above is illegal. We reserve the right to extend, change, exchange or delete these rules if necessary.

3.1.3. Photo

It would be nice if a player's photo clearly shows the face of the player, for adding anything else (graphics, other people, other parts of body, etc.) please use the logo function. For anything else please use the gallery. Photos with weapons are not allowed!

3.1.4. Country

A player's country must be set to their country of residence. Deliberately faking the country of residence is punishable.

If a player's country of residence is changed in order to avoid any country restrictions or if the player is trying to fake or abuse they will be punished with 2 penalty points. If the player does so and plays in a team match, the team will get 3 penalty points and the match is deleted.

3.1.5. Nationality

A player's nationality must be set to their nationality that is proven by a current passport. Deliberately faking nationality is punishable.

3.1.6. Account sharing

Each ESL account is strictly personal and cannot be shared with other ESL users and / or other players that don't have an ESL account. Failure to comply with this rule will result in a ban of up to 6 months.

The original registrant must always be the final user of the account, which cannot be lent or transferred in any case. This will be considered as account sharing or multi account and pursued according to the ESL rules.

3.2. Teams

A team's name does not have to be unique, but the ESL reserves the right to refuse clans with the same or similar names as a well-known clan (e.g. If you named your team “Schroet Kommando" or “Schroet Commando” etc, that would not be allowed).

Names which are restricted by law will not be accepted and will be deleted and punished with penalty points if found. Also, names which go against all forms of etiquette and good manners will not be accepted.

If a team deletes its account because of a certain amount of active penalty points and registers a new account, the penalty points will be transferred to the new account if the team rejoins the same ladder. Furthermore 1 additional penalty will be added for the attempted deception.

The logo must represent the team and have some reference to the team's name or to the team's short handle. Copyrighted logos, or logos which go against etiquette and good manors will not be accepted.

3.2.1. Changing team names

A team can change its name at any time. This also applies when a team is restructured.

Changing a team's name in order to fool other teams is forbidden. Extremely long names, or consistent changing of team names is prohibited and can be punished with penalty points.

3.2.2. Team nationality

In general, during matches of ESL national sections, at all times in-game a team must have more than 50% of its players that are residing in or have the nationality of the country or countries that the national section represents.

3.2.3. Players in team

A player may only play for one team in a tournament or league. Participants in an EPS may not also play in the EAS underneath it.

In tournaments or leagues that require Premium or Trusted then only players with this status are eligible to play. In general players that are marked inactive or honorary on a team page are not eligible to play.

If a homepage is required for a tournament or league then a every player that is on the team account must also be on the homepage.

3.2.4. Sponsors/partnerships

The ESL administration reserves the right to prohibit or remove teams with sponsors or partners that are solely or widely known for pornographic, drug use or other adult/mature themes and products from partaking in ESL Play events at any time.

4. Penalty points

If a player or team disregards or violates one or more of the rules of the league, this can have various consequences depending on the severity of the offence.

As a rule, the penalty points are deleted after a certain period of time. There are different clearance periods depending on the amount of points:

  • 1-2 penalty points: 2 months
  • 3-6 penalty points: 3 months
  • 7 penalty points: 6 months
  • 12 penalty points: 2 years

In addition to penalty points, players and teams may be barred (also known as frozen, locked and barraged) if they have accumulated a certain amount of penalty points:

  • After obtaining 4 penalty points: 1 week barrage
  • After obtaining 8 penalty points: 2 weeks barrage
  • After obtaining 10 penalty points: 1 month barrage

Barred players and teams must finish playing their open matches. They cannot challenge nor be challenged. Barred players may not take part in team matches with exception of 2on2 teams.

Penalties (penalty points/barrages/bans) given on ESL subplatforms (e.g. ESL Europe, ESL America) are valid on all ESL subplatforms.

5. Participation in prize tournaments & pro qualifiers

Unless otherwise explicitly permitted, it is not allowed for employees of ESL Gaming GmbH, its subsidiaries or partners, volunteer or contractor staff or employees that are in some way connected to a respective tournament including sponsors, publishers or game developers, to participate in prize winning tournaments, qualification for prize winning tournaments or pro qualifiers.

Prize winning means any tournaments with physical (e.g. hardware) or money prizes. Those prizes will be offered under the raffle conditions, which regulates claiming and receiving prizes. Tournaments with only virtual ESL awards, such as ESL Premium or awards are exempt.

In case you win prize money, depending on the payment method you choose, there might be fees. ESL will cover the fees on the sender end and recipient will cover the fees on the recipient's end.

If in doubt, please contact support.

6. Penalty Point Catalogue

In general, a player and the team can receive up to 6 penalty points per match, unless a single violation has a higher punishment. A team is only punished once per violation, regardless of how many players. Where a player or team receives penalty points for multiple violations, the penalty points are added together.

Rule violation Number of penalty points
General
No show Team: 3; Player: 2
Reject compulsory challenge Normal: 1
Intense (top 10): 2
Abort match Player / Team: 2
Use of ineligible player
Inactive barrage Player / Team: 3
Barraged Player / Team: 6
Unregistered player Player / Team: 3
Missing Premium (where required) Player / Team: 3
Missing Trusted (where required) Player / Team: 3
Ringer/Faker Player / Team: 6
Playing with wrong gameaccount Player / Team: 3
Playing without a registered gameaccount Player / Team: 3
Unsportsmanlike behaviour
Multiple/Fake accounts Warning / 1-4 penalty points
Deception Player / Team: 1 - 4
Fake result Player / Team: 4
Fake match media Player / Team: 6
Fake match Player / Team: 6
Cheating Player: 12 / Team: 6
* In cup and league matches default wins are given instead of a match deletion and penalty points.

Matches get only deleted if the team/player violating the rules won the match.

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