ESL Pro Tour Counter-Strike - Rulebook 2026 Update #2 - Changelog

ESL Pro Tour Counter-Strike Rulebook 2026

1.1 Range of validity

The event is operated by ESL Faceit Group Limited with its registered address at Millbank Tower Faceit 25th Floor, 21-24 Millbank, London, England, SW1P 4QP (who may be referred to in this document as “ESL” and/or “EFG”) and its Affiliates (as defined in the EFG CS2 Competition Terms and Conditions).

This rulebook forms a part of the ESL Pro Tour Counter-Strike Competition Documents Ruleset, which are valid for EPT events (as defined in the Competition T+Cs EFG CS2 Competition Terms and Conditions), its participants and all matches played within the scope of these events. With their participation, the participant states that they understand and accept all rules. The General Rules for the ESL Impact series can, instead, be found here.

The ESL Pro Tour Counter-Strike “Ruleset” is comprised of:

• This EPT Counter-Strike Rulebook (this “Rulebook”) Ogólne zasady; and
• The EPT Counter-Strike Game Specific Rules located here;
• The EPT Counter-Strike Roster Restrictions located here; and
• The EFG CS2 Competition Terms and Conditions located here (the “Competition T+Cs”)..

Additionally, EFG and the participating team may have entered into the following agreements relating to the team’s participation in EFG events:

• A ‘Team Participation Agreement’ (the “TPA”); and/or
• A ‘CS2 Ecosystem Agreement’ (the “Ecosystem Agreement”).

The Ruleset, TPA and Ecosystem Agreement shall be collectively referred to as the “Competition Documents”.

In case of inconsistency, contradiction, conflict in terms, or any other such issue between the individual documents within the Competition Documents, the Competition Documents shall be interpreted with the following order, with the first document(s) having precedent and binding power over those that follow:

1. The EFG CS2 Competition Terms and ConditionsCompetition T+Cs; then
2. The Ecosystem Agreement (where applicable); then
3. The TPA; then
4. This EPT Counter-Strike Rulebook General Rules; then
5. The EPT Counter-Strike Game Specific Rules; then
6. The EPT Counter-Strike Roster Restrictions.

For the avoidance of doubt, to the extent that there is any inconsistency, contradiction, conflict in terms, or any other such issue between: (i) these EPT Counter-Strike General Rules; (ii) the EPT Counter-Strike Game Specific Rules; and (iii) the EPT Counter-Strike Roster Restrictions, and the terms of the equivalent rules for ESL Impact, then the relevant rules for Impact shall be disregarded in full.

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 winnings prize money earned from an event, an invoice will be sent to the team and/or participant to clear the remaining amount.

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/ESL’s reputation are not allowed in connection with ESL. Sponsors that violate Valve’s IP, including companies that interact with players’ Valve game inventories, are also prohibited.

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. For the avoidance of doubt, teams may not adopt or rebrand using the logo or visual identity of a sponsor unless that sponsor is the team's official name and such use complies with this rulebook.

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 ESL Pro Tour Counter-Strike Code of Conduct. ESL may reject team logos that include political, religious or offensive matters or sentiments, as judged by ESL.

2.10.4 Alternative team branding

Where applicable law, regulations, or platform requirements prohibit the display of a team's name, logo, or branding (e.g. gambling-related branding), the team must provide an alternative name and/or logo for use during the event. Any such alternative branding must be clearly distinguishable from the original branding and must not imitate or closely resemble the prohibited name, logo, typography, colour scheme, visual identity, or other distinctive branding associated with the prohibited brand. Where a team's official branding incorporates the branding of a prohibited sponsor, the team must also provide an alternative version that complies with this rule. Approval of any alternative branding is subject to ESL's sole discretion.

2.13 Total winnings

All total winnings should ideally be paid out ninety (90) days after the ESL event in question has been completed, but it may take as long as one hundred eighty (180) days for the payment to be completed.

If a participant fails to provide accurate payment information, an invoice or other required documentation (e.g. tax documents) within eighteen (18) months of the competition's end date, the total winnings will not be paid out until a reasonable time after this has been rectified. the participant's entitlement to the payment shall be deemed irrevocably forfeited.

2.13.2 Prize money Total winnings deductions due to fines

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

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 participants will forfeit all prize money accumulated for the event.

For offline events, participants will additionally be ineligible to receive an invitation to the next event of the same tier will be penalised with a ban from receiving an invitation to the next event of the same tier (for example, withdrawal from a Tier 1 event will result in ineligibility for the next Tier 1 event for which the participant would otherwise have been invited). This ban applies only to invitations that have not yet been awarded. If a participant is already confirmed for a future event, the ban will take effect from the subsequent event. If a team becomes ineligible for an invitation, it will also be prohibited from participating in any qualifying stages, where applicable. In addition, the ban applies only to invitations issued via the VRS and does not affect wildcard invitations.

The team that withdraws will be fined to cover the cost of their replacement (including, but not limited to, flight expenses for the replacement team and any additional costs incurred).

Additionally, in exceptional cases, tournament administration will waive penalties (excluding the cost of replacement) in the event of a medical emergency or visa complications. To qualify for an exemption:

For medical emergencies, the team must provide a letter from a licensed doctor explicitly stating that the participant is unable to travel to the event.

For visa complications, the team must provide official documentation confirming that the visa was denied for reasons outside the participant’s control (e.g., not due to an incorrectly submitted or incomplete application).

For online events (e.g. ESL Challenger League or closed qualifiers for Tier 1 events), invitations will specify a withdrawal deadline. Teams that withdraw after this deadline will be ineligible to participate in the next equivalent competition (e.g. withdrawal from a closed qualifier will result in ineligibility for the next closed qualifier for which participants have not yet been determined).

In all competitions, whether held online or offline, if ESL is unable to find a replacement, the original matches assigned to the team will be forfeited.

Any ban from receiving an invitation under this rule shall remain in effect for a maximum of eighteen (18) months from the date it takes effect. If no event to which the ban would otherwise apply has taken place within that period, the ban shall expire automatically. Invitation bans apply to the team's invited roster at the time the ban takes effect. Where three (3) or more players from a team subject to an invitation ban subsequently join the same new team before the ban has been fulfilled or expired, that new team shall inherit the invitation ban.

2.24 ESL Pro Tour Counter-Strike wildcard slot transfer protocol

Only the winning team of an ESL Pro Tour Counter-Strike competition, affiliate event, or any other event with an allocated slot is eligible to receive a direct invitation. If the winning team has already secured a direct invitation or declines the invitation to the ESL Pro Tour Counter-Strike competition, the slot will be transferred to the Global Valve Regional Standings pool for global events or to the relevant Regional Valve Regional Standings pool for regional events. The slot does not pass down to the second-place team from the qualifying tournament.

2.28 ESL Challenger League Regional Final rules

Each ESL Challenger League Season consists of four standalone cups. The winners of these cups will be invited to the Regional Final, where they will compete for one slot in the ESL Pro League. A team may participate and even win multiple cups within the same season. The following conditions apply to the Regional Finals in Europe, North America, and South America with respect to multiple cup victories:

● If a team wins 2 cups - they will advance directly to the Grand Final of the Regional Finals

● If a team wins 3 cups - Semifinals will be cancelled, and the team will be granted a 1 map advantage in the Grand Final

● If a team wins 4 cups - Regional Finals will be cancelled, and the team will qualify directly to ESL Pro League

By default, seeding for the Regional Final will be determined by the Global VRS. However, where a team has won multiple cups, the conditions specified above will determine bracket placement. For the purposes of the map veto, the Global VRS will continue to determine which team is considered the higher seed.

If a team that has won a cup chooses not to accept its invitation to the Regional Final, their slot will not be replaced, instead - the total number of participants in the Regional Final will be reduced accordingly.
The winners of each ESL Challenger League Season cup will be invited to the Regional Final, where they will compete for one slot in the ESL Pro League. A team may participate and even win multiple cups within the same season. In the event a team holds multiple cup victories, priority will be given to inviting the respective runners-ups. If those teams have already qualified, invitations may be extended to additional teams based on VRS rankings.

2.30 Internal team communications during a live match

Communications between members of the same team during a live match remain subject to this rulebook. The private nature of team communications does not exempt participants from the standards of conduct set out herein. Hate speech or discriminatory language of any kind is strictly prohibited in internal team communications. Participants who engage in such conduct may be subject to penalties at the discretion of tournament officials, including warnings, fines, or further disciplinary action.

2.31 Absences from playing area

Toilet breaks and any other non-emergency absences from the playing area are not permitted unless an exemption has been requested and approved by the tournament team via email prior to the event, or in the case of an unforeseen medical emergency. During live matches, players must remain seated for the duration of each map.

3.3.5 ESL Challenger League registration slots

For European Cups, teams will confirm participation through an open registration. Registrations will close seventy two (72) hours before the start of each cup. From the registered teams, the sixteen (16) highest-ranked VRS teams (on the seeding date), as determined by the majority of the lineup displayed in the relevant VRS publication, will be selected to participate. Selected teams will have twenty four (24) hours to confirm participation. If a team fails to confirm within that timeframe, the next eligible team from the registration list will receive the slot.

4.7 Arrival day

Participants must arrive at the player hotel by the date designated as the Arrival Date by ESL. Failure to do so will result in the same penalties that a team would receive if it withdrew from the competition. No penalties will be imposed where delayed travel is caused by circumstances beyond the participant’s control (e.g. cancelled flight) or where a participant resides locally and is therefore not required to stay at the player hotel.

Participants may request an exception via email to arrive on Media Day instead, if their scheduled participation in another Tier 1 LAN event conflicts with the designated Arrival Date. However, such exceptions will only be granted if the overall number of requests does not compromise the integrity of the event. ESL will book flights based on the designated Arrival Date, while participants will be responsible for arranging travel for any approved alternative arrival date. If a participant does not take the flight booked by ESL, the airline may also cancel the participant's return flight in accordance with its policies, in which case the participant will be responsible for arranging and covering the cost of a replacement return flight. Participants approved for an alternative arrival date will be responsible for any additional travel costs resulting from the change. All requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis, and teams must provide valid, booked flight tickets demonstrating timely arrival at the event to be granted the exemption.

Participants may also request an exception via email for one or more individual players to arrive on Media Day where those players are unable to arrive on the designated Arrival Date due to exceptional circumstances beyond their reasonable control. Examples of circumstances that may justify such an exception include birth of a child, the serious illness, hospitalisation, or passing of an immediate family member, attendance at a funeral, unforeseen visa or immigration complications, or other exceptional circumstances of comparable significance. All requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and must be supported by reasonable evidence where requested by ESL.

Participants granted an exception, or otherwise arriving after the designated Arrival Date, will remain subject to any applicable penalties for missed Media Day obligations. Any outstanding Media Day obligations designated by ESL must be completed before the affected participant is permitted to compete in the tournament.

4.16 Additional team personnel

Any additional team personnel granted access to the tournament area or other non-public event areas by ESL are bound by this rulebook and must comply with all applicable rules and requirements. This includes, but is not limited to, standards of conduct, apparel requirements and sponsorship restrictions. For the avoidance of doubt, additional team personnel may not wear clothing or apparel displaying sponsors that are prohibited under these rules. Any additional team personnel granted access to the tournament area during a match (e.g. content team personnel) must wear all-black attire unless otherwise approved by ESL.

4.17 Offline match scheduling

For Group Stage scheduling, where the following day’s schedule contains three (3) or more Best-of-Three (Bo3) matches, a team that played the final match of the previous day shall not be scheduled to play the first match of the following day. Where the following day’s schedule contains two (2) or fewer Bo3 matches, this restriction shall not apply.

For six (6) team playoff brackets, the team scheduled to play the first Quarterfinal on Day 1 shall be scheduled to play the first Semifinal on the following day.

For eight (8) team playoff brackets using a four (4) day format, Quarterfinal winners from the first Quarterfinal day shall be assigned to the earlier Semifinal timeslot, while Quarterfinal winners from the second Quarterfinal day shall be assigned to the later Semifinal timeslot.

For eight (8) team playoff brackets using a three (3) day format, winners of the first two Quarterfinal matches played shall be assigned to the earlier Semifinal timeslot, while winners of the final two Quarterfinal matches played shall be assigned to the later Semifinal timeslot.

4.18 Seating order

Participants are allowed to change their seating order on a per match basis, if they wish to. In order for any changes to be made, the participant must notify the Tournament Manager via email no less than 4 hours prior to the scheduled start time of the match where they wish to make the change detailing the new seating plan for that match. Where no notification has been made, the seating plan will be assumed to be that which was registered on the Media Day. In situations where a change notification cannot be sent 4 hours prior to the scheduled match start time, for example when the opponent in the match has not yet been determined, seating plan changes must be notified no later than 10 minutes after the end of the match that will determine the opponent. Outside of the above mentioned scenarios, no seating plan changes will be accepted within 4 hours of a match's scheduled start time. Any notifications not sent via email will not be considered or permitted.

5.9 Publisher or ESIC bans

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

Any ESIC bans will be honoured and translated into ESL bans.

Counter-Strike VAC bans are specifically honoured, but only for two (2) five (5) years after they have been issued.

6.2.1.1 ESL Challenger League lineup changes

Each ESL Challenger League cup is treated as a standalone event, with its own roster submission deadline. All participating teams must submit their final roster by this deadline.

For the duration of a single cup, no lineup changes are permitted after the roster submission

deadline has passed . During each event, participants can make two (2) player additions. Any player additions must be made no later than two (2) hours before the participant’s next scheduled match start time. The only exception to this is outlined in 2.2.2 Emergency additions. Teams are required to retain the majority of their invited or registered roster in each match. Teams that qualify for the Regional Final are required to retain the majority of the roster that secured qualification. This requirement applies both to the Regional Final itself and to any additional ESL Challenger cups within the same season that the team chooses to participate in. Failure to retain the core roster will result in forfeiture of the Regional Final slot.

6.2.1.3 Roster submission deadline

The final roster that will be used at the event has to be reported before the deadline given by the tournament administration for that event (usually 14 days before the start of the first match of the event). The roster must contain five (5) starters, up to five (5) substitute players if applicable, and one (1) coach if applicable. ESL considers contracts or agreements between players and teams to commence two (2) days before their first tournament match.

During the qualifiers, players can be added to the roster any time before the check-in deadline, but not at all once it has started, unless there is a period of at least 24 hours without matches.

For ESL Challenger League, failure to submit a roster by the specified deadline will result in the team being required registered to use the originally invited players, regardless of whether those players remain active. For clarity, this does not include any coaches or substitutes.

Emergencies (e.g. medical ones) will be handled outside this rule on a case-by-case basis. Where an emergency results in an addition after the roster submission deadline has passed, a $1,000 fine will be given.

7.3.1 Map pool

The competition will be played on the current competitive map pool (Valve Active Duty Map Group) which consists of the following maps:

● Overpass Cache

● Inferno

● Mirage

● Nuke

● Dust2

● Ancient

● Anubis

7.9.2 Warmup maps

Only the Steam workshop maps ‘CSStats Training Map (CSGOHUB)’ and ‘Aim Botz - Aim Training (CS2)’ are available on the tournament image.

The following Steam Workshop maps are available in the tournament environment:

• CSStats
• Aim Botz
• 5e_aimhub
• DHL Skills Lab
• DHL A Sites CT Defense Training Map – Hold A Better

No other maps will be added upon player request.