In case of a disconnect during the round due to reasons beyond the player's control ( e.g. server crash or player crash), the referee team will restore the affected round via the CS:GO server backups. In specific cases, the referee team may decide to replay the round or the whole match based on the following scenarios:

● If the incident occurs before any damage or significant gameplay has occurred, and the opponent or referee has been immediately notified, the round will be restored via backups.

● If the incident occurs after any damage or significant gameplay has occurred, but the round outcome cannot be determined (server crash, etc.), the match will be restored to the start of the affected round.

● If the incident occurs after any damage or significant gameplay has occurred, but the round outcome is clearly obvious ( 3 seconds till bomb explosion with no player defusing, etc. ), but the round cannot be finished due to a server crash or another major incident, the referee team reserves the right to award the given round to the team which was likely to win the round.

● If the incident occurs after any damage or significant gameplay has occurred, and the outcome of the round is obvious ( e.g. single player dropped with the rest of the team unaffected), then the round will not be restored. The round will continue and count. The referee team reserves the right to rule for round restoration in case of special situations, in case the damage dealt was deemed insignificant. Special situations such as accidental team damage at the start of the round or even if the affected team dealt the damage.

In case the incident was clearly a participant's fault ( e.g. missbuy of a weapon or intentional disconnect ), the round will not be stopped and/or restored.

8. Pause/Break/Timeout

Players must pause immediately in the next freeze time if ordered by a tournament official. The players themselves have the option if the game settings allow it, to pause the game by typing the pause command (which activates the next freeze time). During breaks or interruptions, players may only leave the match area with official permission. In every case of a pause/break/timeout players are not allowed to leave their chairs if not told otherwise by the referee. There are different types of breaks:

A. Tournament Referee Pause: Tournament officials may pause a game at any time at their sole discretion. This is usually initiated by the tournament organization directly on the server. Once the mandated break is over and both teams are ready, play will resume.

B. Tactical break: Each team is granted a total of 4 tactical timeouts per map, each with a thirty (30) second break for tactical discussions. Such a pause must be clearly communicated in the previous round as a tactical break and will be added to the freeze time of the next round. The game will then continue automatically.

C. Technical break: This is only to be taken in an absolute emergency and must clearly be taken as a technical break in the previous round, stating reasons and in consultation with the tournament organization. The break lasts until the problem can be solved, but no longer than 15 minutes. It is only granted for the following reasons:

1. Accidental disconnection.

2. A malfunction of the hardware or software (e.g. monitor failures, problems with peripheral devices, errors in the game itself, .…)

3. Physical impairment of a player (e.g. broken chair)

9. TECHNICAL DEVICES [OFFLINE]

● In-ear headphones: During official matches, it is mandatory to wear in-ear headphones. It is the responsibility of the player to bring his in-ear headphones.

● Headphones: Headphones are mandatory to use during official matches. This technical equipment will be provided by [Organizer], so players will not be allowed to use their own.

● Mobile phones: Before each official match, all players and coaches must provide their electronic devices (including but not limited to mobile phones, smart watches, etc.) to the match referee. Keeping an electronic device during an official match is strictly forbidden.

10. Tournament format

The following tournament format & schedule is being applied during the IESF Qualification World Esports Championship Counter-Strike: Global Offensive tournament:

1. Group stage: All of the participants are divided into groups, all groups consisting of selected numbers of teams.
The teams in each group will be playing in a single round-robin Best of One (Bo1) format. In case of a draw, a clear winner must be determined, hence after each draw overtime must take place. Each team will play a total of five (5) matches in this stage.

From each group, the TOP 2 teams will advance to the next stage of the tournament.

Tiebreakers: If several participants are tied by win-loss difference at the end of a group stage, their ranking order will be decided as described below. Only the matches between the tied teams will be taken into consideration.

● Head-to-head result, if not applicable;

● Round score difference between the tied participants (23:21 > 23:22), if not applicable;

● Number of round wins between the tied participants (24:22 > 23:21), if not applicable;

● Overall round score difference (39:31 > 40:33), if not applicable;

● Overall number of round wins (40:32 > 39:31).

In the case of a three-way tie, after each resolved tie, the process is repeated for the remaining tied participants. When it comes to round scores, every overtime will be considered with the score of 16:15 for the winner. In special cases, the Referee can rule in a different way to determine the order in an unsolved tie (i.e. coin toss).

2. Playoffs: It will consist of a total of 2 teams, who will be placed into a single-elimination tournament with all matches being played in a Best of Three (Bo3) format.

11. Map Pool

The following maps are used for the IESF tournament (Valve official versions).
The map pool will follow the official Active Duty Map pool as defined by Valve and therefore might be updated before each tournament phase.

● Inferno
● Mirage
● Nuke
● Overpass
● Vertigo
● Ancient
● Anubis


12. Veto Process

The veto process order is defined based on the tournament stage as well as the tournament format. These are the general rules applicable to the veto process:

● For matches happening in the designated booths it must take place at least 30 minutes before the official match start. For main stage matches this timeframe can be extended up to 1 hour before the official match start.

● During the veto process both teams must provide the officially registered team leader who will be present during the veto alongside a dedicated referee. The team leader has the right to nominate another team member to take part in the veto process. It is not allowed to organize the veto process without the presence of an IESF official.

● Once the veto process has been done, and the match has been played it is no longer acceptable to protest about any procedure regarding the veto process that has taken place before the match.

Best-of-one (Bo1) matches

This format will only be applied in the group stage phase. Before each group stage match the team that starts the veto process will be determined by a coin toss which should take place 5 minutes before the scheduled match starts. The winning team decides whether they will be Team A or Team B. Team A starts the process and the order of the ban/pick is as follows:

1. Team A bans first map;

2. Team B bans second map;

3. Team A bans third map;

4. Team B bans fourth map;

5. Team A bans the fifth map;

6. Team B bans the sixth map.

7. The remaining map shall be played.

The starting sides on the map are determined by a knife round.

Best-of-three (Bo3) matches

The winning team decides whether they will be Team A or Team B. Team A starts the process and the order of the ban/pick is as follows:

1. Team A bans first map;

2. Team B bans second map;

3. Team A picks the first map and Team B decides the starting sides;

4. Team B picks the second map and Team A decides the starting sides;

5. Team A bans third map;

6. Team B bans fourth map;

7. The remaining map will be played in case of a tie after the first two maps.

8. Starting sides on the last map will be determined by a knife round.

14. MATCH SETTINGS

The following match settings will be used for tournament matches:

● Rounds: Best out of 24 (mp_maxrounds 24)

● Round time: 1 minute 55 seconds (mp_roundtime 1.92)

● Start money: $800 (mp_startmoney 800)

● Freeze time: 20 seconds (mp_freezetime 20)

● Buy time: 20 seconds (mp_buytime 20)

● Bomb timer: 40 seconds (mp_c4timer 40)

● Overtime rounds: Best out of 6 (mp_overtime_maxrounds 6)

● Overtime start money: $12,500 (mp_overtime_startmoney 12500)

● Round restart delay: 5 seconds (mp_round_restart_delay 5)

● Prohibited items: none (mp_items_prohibited "")

15. Overtimes

In case of a draw after all 30 regulation rounds have been played, overtime will be played in best out of 6 rounds setting (mp_maxrounds 6) and with $12,500 start money (mp_startmoney 12500). At the start of each overtime, teams will stay on the side from which they played the previous half - during half-time sides will be swapped. Teams will continue to play overtime until a winner has been found.

16. In-game chat

Usage of the in-game chat during the match is limited to communication with the tournament administration only. Any sort of advertisement or unrelated comments are not allowed before or after the match. Penalties may be applied if the in-game chat function is used to the goal of annoying the opponent or interrupting the flow of play.

Pre-match communication with opponents is only allowed respectfully.

17. Voice Communications

All voice comms between players must take place via Teamspeak.
If Teamspeak is not functioning, another VoIP program may be used at the tournament organizer’s discretion.

All communications during the match will be recorded. By participating in the competition, players give consent to their voice communications being logged for the purposes of transparency and competitive integrity.

18. Coaches

Each team has a right to have up to 1 person ( coach ) present on the game server during the match in the coaching spot for the given team. Coaches can only talk in the following game phases:

● During the dedicated tactical pause

● In half-time break

● Between maps (in case of a Best of three)

19. Player Settings

1. Configuration files

All configuration changes are allowed as long as they do not give an unfair advantage comparable to cheating. A player or team may be penalized for disallowed settings in any config file, regardless of if it is in use, or even stored in the game folder in question. The following commands are forbidden:

cl_showpos 1 – the value needs to be set to 0.

Participants are required to contact the tournament administration if they are unsure on the validity of a command and its value.

2. Scripts

All scripts are illegal except for buy, and jumpthrow scripts. Participants may be penalized for forbidden scripts in any config file, regardless of if it is in use, or even stored in the game folder in question.

3. Graphics drivers

Any modification or changing of the game using external graphics solutions or other 3rd party programs are strictly prohibited and may be punished as cheating.

4. Overlays

All kinds of overlays which will show the usage rate of the system in any way in-game (e.g. Discord overlay, Rivatuner Overlay) are forbidden. Overlays which show only the frames per second (FPS) are not forbidden and can be used.

5. Custom files

Players are not allowed to use any form of custom game files during their official matches. CS:GO skins are allowed to be changed, but “Agent” player skins are forbidden. Any other changes including, but not limited to, modification of sprites, radars, HUDs and scoreboards are strictly forbidden.

6. Device drivers

Using device drivers to pre-install/pre-script illegal macros on the participant’s devices (keyboards, mice, sound cards) is forbidden and may be punished as cheating.

7. In-game item nametags

Participants are not allowed to use name tags which violate the code of conduct on in-game items.

20. Use of bugs and glitches

The intentional use of any bugs, glitches, or errors in the game is forbidden. It is at the tournament administration’s discretion as to whether or not the use of said bugs had an effect on the match, whether or not they will award rounds, or the match, to the opposing team, or if they will force a rematch. The usage of the following bugs is strictly forbidden. If any bug used is not listed here, it is at the referee's discretion whether or not a punishment is necessary:

● Moving through clipped areas where the movement is not intended by the design of the map (any walls, ceilings, floors, etc).

● The bomb may not be planted in a location where it cannot be defused

● Planting the bomb in such a way that no one can hear the beeping sound, or the planting sound.

● Standing on top of teammates when such actions allow the player to peek over, under and/or through a solid object (e.g. wall, box, ceiling) that should not be possible according to map design.

● Pixel walking. A player is considered to be pixel walking if they sit or stand on invisible pixels on the map, where there is no visible edge.

● Disrupting any map features with the use of items (e.g. stopping the train on Overpass).

● Hacking, which is defined as any modification of the game client.

It is recommended to check with the referee whether or not a certain bug or glitch is considered illegal.

The following bugs are explicitly allowed:

● Defusing the bomb through walls and items etc.

● So-called “surfing” on tubes.

● Molotov that spread through the terrain.

● So-called “infinite” grenade distance throws.

The tournament referees reserve the right, retroactively or otherwise, to add more bugs to the list of explicitly allowed bugs.

21. VAC Bans

f any participant receives a ban on the publisher’s anti-cheat system (Valve Anti-Cheat), or by

any other Anti-Cheat used on a tournament platform (FACEIT Anti-Cheat, ESEA,

Challenge mode) they will be disqualified retrospectively, starting with their first match in the

Tournament. CS2 VAC bans are specifically honored, but only until 2 years after they have

been issued.

22. FORBIDDEN BEHAVIOR

● If a player of a team commits misconduct or any inappropriate act, the referee may take

disciplinary actions against the team which can include a caution, warning, forfeit, or

expulsion.

● Every participant has to show the needed respect towards referees and other

participants. Insults and unfair or disrespectful behavior towards anyone are not

tolerated and will be punished.

● Every team and participant has to try to win every game at every stage of the

competition. Purposefully losing for any reason is strictly forbidden.

● When a player of a team is found manipulating the client to customize the game beyond

the range of settings provided in-game, the team's participation may be forfeited upon

the referee's decision.

23. CHANGE OF RULES

A. This regulation applies to these qualifiers, and may be altered in the following

cases:

1. Rules are subject to change after the release of new patches.

2. Upon discovery of other reasonable factors.

3. Official head referee decision.

B. The referees may also judge any cases not specifically covered in this book and their

authority extends to cover the tournament as a whole in addition to this rulebook.

Any changes made shall be in effect from the moment such changes are communicated to

the participants.