Valve has made several changes to the Valve Regional Standings (VRS) system, which include modifications to invitation requirements, the introduction of Wildcard teams, and adjustments to regional sub-regions. These changes aim to enhance the competitive landscape and ensure fairness in tournament invitations.
Clarification of the Main Stage
Valve has clarified the definition of the Main Stage of the tournament. It is now defined as the stage of the competition after which new teams no longer join but only drop out. This clarification helps to better understand the structure and progression of the tournaments.
VRS Prioritization
Valve has set specific priorities for VRS ranked teams. Here are the key points:
Wildcard Invitations and Open Qualifiers
- Wildcard invitations and open qualifier teams must start in the tournament no later than the first stage, where VRS invitees appear.
- VRS teams should receive invitations according to their ranking.
- If a team has received an invitation through VRS, it cannot start the competition later than another team with a higher VRS rating.
- For seeding within a single stage, tournament operators will use the VRS global ranking (if available). This could impact tournaments like the ESL Pro League, where teams determine their own seeding. Although ESL has previously been granted an exemption, it has not yet announced any changes to its system.
Removal of Closed Qualifiers
Additionally, Valve has removed closed qualifiers from the rules. However, the new definitions of the Main Stage and VRS priorities give tournament operators flexibility in creating multi-stage tournaments. This change aims to streamline the qualification process and provide a more straightforward path for teams to enter the main competitions.
Wildcard Invitation Rules
Valve has also clarified the Wildcard invitation rules. Now, for every 8 teams invited through VRS, 2 Wildcard invitations are allowed. In this case, the invited team must meet one of two criteria:
- The team must have at least 3 players who have been in the top 8 squads on the Invite VRS list in the last 6 months.
- The team has placed 1st or 2nd in any tournament of the same or lower level than the one issuing the invitation within the last 6 months.
If the tournament operator provides Wildcard invitations or open qualifiers, such teams must start the tournament no later than the first stage with VRS invitations. If a tournament has VRS invitations, a minimum of two teams must be invited from the same VRS list.
Division of Subregions
Valve has divided the Americas and Asia rankings into subregions to ensure balanced representation:
- Americas: North America (NA) and South America (SA)
- Asia: Oceania, East Asia, and West Asia
Invitations should be evenly distributed across subregions (e.g., one team each from NA and SA). Additionally, teams that receive invitations must have a core roster of citizens from the respective subregion. This division aims to promote regional diversity and ensure that talent from different parts of the world is adequately represented in major tournaments.
Impact on Future Tournaments
These changes by Valve are expected to have a significant impact on future tournaments, fostering a more competitive environment and providing clearer guidelines for team invitations. Tournament operators will have more flexibility in organizing events, and teams will have a fairer chance to compete on the international stage.
