Europe
ESL Major Series
Tournament Structure
Groupstage
The groupstage will consist of four groups of four players. Each contestant will play each other contestant in their group once, playing one match per week.
Playoffs
The playoffs will be a double elimination tournament with the top two players of each group.
Schedule
It is our aim to follow this schedule as best as possible.
Qualifiers
- Qualifiers: Monday August 23 - Sunday October 3
Groupstage
- Week 1: Monday October 11 - Sunday October 17
- Week 2: Monday October 18 - Sunday October 24
- Week 3: Monday October 25 - Sunday October 31
- Catch up: Monday November 1 - Sunday November 7
Playoffs
- Round 1: Monday November 8 - Sunday November 14
- Round 2: Monday November 15 - Sunday November 21
- Round 3: Monday November 22 - Sunday November 28
- Round 4: Monday December 6 - Sunday December 12
- Final: Monday December 13 - Sunday December 19
Warcraft 3 Specific Rules
Head Admins
Gameaccounts
Each player needs to have a registered GGC GArena Client Nickname entered in his profile at the ESL page. If this is not the case he receives three (3) minor penalty points for a missing gameaccount.
Default match time
By default all matches are scheduled for Saturday and Wednesday 20:00 CET of the playweek. Matches may be rescheduled, see #Wildcards for details.
Match Media
Replay
It is mandatory to upload a replay for every match. The replay can be uploaded as .w3x or as compressed .zip files. If no replay is uploaded within 24 hours after the match both contestants receives three (3) minor penalty points. If for any reason (for example disconnect) no replay can be saved a protest must be opened explaining the situation. An admin will decide how to handle the situation. If both players agree to replay the match they can do it without further consultation.
Both contestants need to keep their replay at least 14 days for possible protests. In case no replay is presented both contestants can be get 1 penalty point for a missing matchmedia.
For the case that an opponent does not show up you need to provide a screenshot showing that your opponent (with the registered gameaccount) is not online. In addition to that the screenshot must show time and date (for example by having the ESL page header in the background).
Wildcards
Each player is allowed to move three matches during the whole season by using a Wildcard. The usage of a wildcard needs to be written into the matchcomments at least 24 hours before the matchstart. A wildcard enables a player to move the match at maximum 3 weeks after the current set matchdate. In case of a wildcard the new date needs to be posted to the matchcomments at least 72 hours after the original one and at least 24 hours before the new matchdate. At matchstart all players need to be online in IRC #esl.wc3 (on QuakeNet). It is also allowed to agree on a GGC channel in the matchcomment to directly meet there.
Match Mode
All matches have to be played on the latest version of Warcraft III The frozen throne in the best-of-3 (BO3) modus.
Mappool
The mapppool consists of following maps:
- Echo Isles
- Turtle Rock
- Twisted Meadows
- Secret Valley
- Ancient Isles
- Centaur River
- Last Refuge
Mapvoting
The mapvoting has to be done before the match starts (IRC or GGC). Each player will cross two (2) that are removed from the mappool for this match. Three maps remain to be played. The lower ranked player has the first pick and is allowed to pick the first map of the remaining three maps. In case that no player is ranked higher (for example at the first playday) an Admin coinflip decides who pickes first.
Disconnets
In case of a disconnect the follwing three things can be done:
- The remaining constetant agrees to play the match again: Both contestants play the map again.
- The dropped player admits his loss in the disconnected map: The reults of this map counts. The replay needs to be uploaded as usual.
- Both players disagree: A protest about this map has to be opened. The protest will be reviewed by two EMS Admins after the match. The other match need to be played as scheduled.
Penalties
If a player or a team violates one or more of the league rules, they will be punished according to the degree of the infringement. This penalty catalogue contains a list of offences with which penalties may be awarded to players and teams.
The administration will decide whether an offence has affected the outcome of the match to an extent that it can not be counted and must be repeated.
The administration reserves the right to give penalties not covered by this catalogue or give different penalties than the ones listed here.
Behaviour
As in daily life, a certain degree of courtesy should be maintained between players and teams of the ESL Major Series. Violations of this rule will be punished depending on the severity and frequency.
Insults
All insults occurring in connection with the ESL Major Series will be punished. This primarily applies to insults during a match but also on the ESL website (forums, match comments, player guestbooks, support and protest tickets, etc.). Insults on IRC, IM programs, E-mail or other means of communication will be punished if they can be linked to the ESL Major Series and the evidence is clear.
Particularly severe abuse cases with extreme statements or the threat of physical violence can result in significantly heavier penalties including the exclusion of the player.
Depending on the nature and severity of the insult the penalty will be assigned to the player or to the team in team leagues. In team leagues players may also be barred from playing for one or more match weeks.
Spamming
The excessive posting of senseless, harassing or offensive messages is regarded as spamming.
Spamming on the website (forums, match comments, player guestbooks, support and protest tickets, etc.) will be punished depending on the nature and severity.
Unsportsmanlike Behaviour
For an orderly and pleasant game it is essential that all players have a sportive and fair attitude. Breaches of this rule will be punished with (1) to (3) minor penalties. The most important and most common offences are listed below. However, the administration may assign penalties for not explicitly listed types of unsportsmanlike behaviour (e.g. harassment).
In-game Spam
Up to three (3) minor penalties may be awarded for the abuse of the game's chat functions if it's used for excessive spamming, in order to distract the opponents or to disrupt the game. These functions are solely meant for communication with the opponent and the match admin.
Kicking Players from the game server
Six (6) minor penalties will be awarded for kicking players from the game server. It is prohibited to kick players of the opposing team from the server during a match. The match admin present on the game server decides whether the kick affected the outcome of the match. A rematch may be set in grave cases.
Deception
The attempt to deceive the administration or other players using false or fictitious information, statements or data is punishable as follows:
Fake Results
Four (4) minor penalties are awarded for entering a fake result, for example: if the opponent leaves the server prematurely or refuses to play the match. If anything is unclear, e.g. the players cannot agree on a solution, a protest always has to be filed.
Fake Match media
Match media includes all records, such as e.g. Demos, screenshots, or logs, that are produced in the context of a match. The counterfeiting of Match Media is prohibited and will be punished depending on the seriousness with one (1) to four (4) minor penalties.
Serious Circumstances
If counterfeit match media is submitted and there is a suspicion of cheating the punishment is increased to six (6) minor penalties.
Miscellaneous Deceptions
Other attempts to deceive an admin or another player, depending on the severity, will be punished at the discretion of the administrators with one (1) to four (4) minor penalties.
Use of ineligible players
The use of an ineligible player is punished with one (1) major penalty.
Ringer/Faker
One (1) major penalty point will be given if a player is found to be playing under the name of another player.
Cheating
Cheating in an ESL Major Series match will result in the participant being kicked. The player(s) will be punished with 12 regular penalty points and a 2 year barrage from the ESL.
Expulsion
The tournament administration can remove any participants that he sees fit, for any reason.
