Published
- Published: August 17, 2026
- Last Updated: August 17, 2026
Tournament Operator
- Tournament Operator: DFRAG Media Group Pty Ltd
Tournament Dates
Announcement and registration
- Published: August 17, 2026
- High Seed Registration Opens: August 24, 2026
- Open Qualifier Registration Opens: August 24, 2026
- Registration Closes: August 30, 2026, 23:59 AEST
Seeding and slot allocation
- VRS Seed Lock: August 30, 2026, 23:59 AEST
- High Seed LAN Slot Allocation: August 30, 2026, after Registration Closes
Online Open Qualifier
- Qualifier Registration Opens: August 24, 2026
- Qualifier Registration Closes: August 30, 2026, 23:59 AEST
- Qualifier Day 1: August 31, 2026, 11:00 AEST
- Qualifier Day 2: September 1, 2026
- Overflow Date: September 2, 2026, if required
Offline LAN Main Event
- LAN Main Event: October 10–11, 2026
- Offline location: Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Tournament Format
Summary
- Total teams: 8
- Ranked stages: Stage 1 Online Open Qualifier and Stage 2 Offline LAN Main Event
- Online stages: Stage 1 Online Open Qualifier
- LAN stages: Stage 2 Offline LAN Main Event
Stage 1 - Online Open Qualifier
- Stage type: Online
- Teams: Eligible confirmed registered rosters not allocated a High Seed LAN slot
- Format: Double-elimination
- Match format: Best-of-1 until qualification matches; Best-of-3 qualification matches
- Advancement: Top 4 eligible rosters advance to the Offline LAN Main Event
Stage 2 - Offline LAN Main Event
- Stage type: LAN
- Teams: 8
- Format: Group Stage then Finals, as set out below
- Match format: As set out below and in the official ruleset
Stage 2A - Group Stage (LAN)
- Date: October 10, 2026
- Teams: 8 (2 groups of 4)
- Format: GSL
- Match format: Opening matches Best-of-1; all following matches Best-of-3
- Advancement: Top 2 teams from each group advance to Finals
Stage 2B - Finals (LAN)
- Date: October 11, 2026
- Teams: 4
- Format: Double-elimination bracket
- Match format: Opening matches Best-of-1; all following matches Best-of-3
Platform and venue
- Online platform: FACEIT
- Online anti-cheat: FACEIT Anti-Cheat
- Online server location: Sydney, Australia
- Offline venue: The DFRAG Studio
- Offline location: Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Qualification Pathways
All teams must complete High Seed Registration (official tournament registration).
There are no Direct VRS Invites and no Wildcard Invites for this tournament.
Pathway | Slots | Scope | Leads To | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
High Seed Registration + VRS Seeding | 4 | Global | Offline LAN Main Event | Not a Direct VRS Invite |
Online Open Qualifier | 4 | Oceania (Australia and New Zealand) | Offline LAN Main Event | FACEIT platform entry |
Pathway A - High Seed Registration + VRS Seeding
High Seed Registration is the official tournament registration pathway.
- High Seed Registration opens on August 24, 2026 and closes on August 30, 2026, 23:59 AEST.
- High Seed Registration is available globally to all eligible rosters.
- High Seed Registration is hosted via GOOGLE FORMS.
- High Seed Registration is free to enter.
- High Seed Registration is first-come-first-served for registration order, subject to eligibility, roster validation, published capacity limits, and the published tournament rules.
- High Seed Registration order and timestamps are publicly inspectable via GOOGLE SHEETS.
- All teams enter through the same global High Seed Registration process via Google Forms.
- High Seed Registration is only valid once the roster has completed all required registration steps and has been confirmed by the Tournament Organiser.
- Completing High Seed Registration does not complete Online Open Qualifier registration on FACEIT.
- Confirmed registered Oceania-eligible rosters that are not allocated a High Seed LAN slot must separately complete Online Open Qualifier registration on FACEIT (qualifier platform entry; not official tournament registration) to enter the Online Open Qualifier.
- Online Open Qualifier registration on FACEIT opens on the same date as High Seed Registration; a roster must complete and be confirmed through High Seed Registration before FACEIT qualifier registration is valid.
After Registration Closes, confirmed registered rosters are ranked using the published VRS seeding snapshot. The top 4 confirmed registered rosters globally by VRS seeding will be seeded directly into the Offline LAN Main Event through High Seed Registration using the published VRS seeding snapshot.
This is not a Direct VRS Invite process. Teams are not selected by Direct VRS Invite. High Seed LAN slots are allocated only to confirmed registered rosters.
Pathway B - Online Open Qualifier
- The Online Open Qualifier awards 4 Offline LAN Main Event slots.
- Full Online Open Qualifier rules are set out in Open Qualifier below.
- The Online Open Qualifier is not a global qualifier.
Open Qualifier
The Online Open Qualifier is restricted to eligible confirmed registered rosters from the Oceania subdivision (Australia and New Zealand) that are not allocated a High Seed LAN slot through High Seed Registration and global VRS seeding.
Registration and schedule
- Online Open Qualifier registration opens on August 24, 2026.
- Online Open Qualifier registration closes on August 30, 2026, 23:59 AEST.
- Online Open Qualifier Day 1 begins on August 31, 2026, 11:00 AEST.
- Online Open Qualifier Day 2 is September 1, 2026.
- An overflow date of September 2, 2026 may be used if required.
- Online Open Qualifier registration is hosted via FACEIT.
- Online Open Qualifier registration is qualifier platform entry only and does not replace High Seed Registration.
- Entry into the Online Open Qualifier is free, but requires confirmed High Seed Registration.
- Online Open Qualifier registration order and timestamps are publicly inspectable via FACEIT.
Platform and format
- Online Open Qualifier matches are hosted on FACEIT using FACEIT Anti-Cheat, on servers in Sydney, Australia.
- The Online Open Qualifier will be double-elimination.
- Matches will be Best-of-1 until qualification matches.
- Qualification matches will be Best-of-3.
- No roster-specific or discretionary selection criteria will be used.
Eligibility
- The Online Open Qualifier is open only to confirmed registered rosters based in Australia and New Zealand, or whose participating players are physically able to compete from Australia and New Zealand for all Online Open Qualifier matches.
- For this event, the Tournament Organiser applies an Oceania regional filter within the Asia VRS region / Oceania subdivision framework.
- Merely connecting to Sydney servers from another country does not satisfy the Online Open Qualifier eligibility requirements.
- A roster that does not satisfy the Online Open Qualifier regional eligibility requirements is not eligible to enter, be seeded into, advance from, or receive a LAN slot through the Online Open Qualifier pathway.
- Roster eligibility for the Online Open Qualifier may be checked before seeding, during the qualifier, after the qualifier, and before final LAN slot confirmation.
- If an ineligible roster is mistakenly entered into the Online Open Qualifier bracket, that roster will be removed from LAN slot contention once identified.
- If an ineligible roster finishes in a LAN qualification position, the LAN slot will pass to the next highest-placing eligible Oceania roster from the Online Open Qualifier according to the published standings and tiebreaker procedure.
LAN qualification
- The top 4 eligible rosters from the Online Open Qualifier will advance to the Offline LAN Main Event.
- Rosters that qualify through the Online Open Qualifier must be able to attend the Offline LAN Main Event in person at The DFRAG Studio, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, from October 10–11, 2026.
- The complete eight-team Offline LAN Main Event field is intended to be known by the end of September 1, 2026, subject to eligibility checks, fee confirmation, and published vacancy procedures.
VRS Information
- Tournament Tier: Tier 2
- Tournament classification: Ranked Tournament
- Ranked Stages: Stage 1 Online Open Qualifier and Stage 2 Offline LAN Main Event
- Direct VRS Invites: None
- Wildcard Invites: None
- Wildcard Tournament: No
- Invitation Date: Not applicable
- VRS publication date used for invites: Not applicable
- VRS publication date used for seeding: August 2026
- VRS parent region/list: Asia
- VRS subdivision used: Oceania (Online Open Qualifier eligibility filter only; not applied to High Seed Registration LAN allocation)
- Eligible location filter (Online Open Qualifier only): Australia and New Zealand
- Visa region: Australia
High Seed Registration uses VRS only as an objective ranking method for confirmed registered rosters. This is not a Direct VRS Invite process.
Seeding and Slot Allocation
- After High Seed Registration closes on August 30, 2026, 23:59 AEST, the Tournament Organiser will determine High Seed LAN slot allocation and Online Open Qualifier seeding using the published VRS seeding snapshot.
- VRS Seed Lock / High Seed LAN Slot Allocation will occur on August 30, 2026, after Registration Closes.
- The VRS seeding snapshot used for High Seed LAN slot allocation and Online Open Qualifier seeding will be published or linked before the VRS Seed Lock.
- The High Seed Registration LAN allocation pathway is open globally. No regional filter applies to the High Seed Registration LAN allocation pathway.
- The top 4 confirmed registered rosters globally by VRS seeding will be seeded directly into the Offline LAN Main Event through High Seed Registration using the published VRS seeding snapshot. This is not a Direct VRS Invite process.
- Any confirmed registered roster not allocated a High Seed LAN slot will be assessed for Online Open Qualifier eligibility.
- Unsuccessful High Seed Registration applicants that satisfy Online Open Qualifier regional eligibility requirements remain eligible to compete in the Online Open Qualifier, subject to confirmed High Seed Registration and FACEIT qualifier registration.
- Only confirmed registered rosters that satisfy the Online Open Qualifier regional eligibility requirements will be seeded into the Online Open Qualifier for the remaining 4 LAN slots.
- Global rosters that are not allocated a High Seed LAN slot and do not satisfy the Online Open Qualifier regional eligibility requirements are not eligible to compete in the Online Open Qualifier.
- Rosters without a Global VRS rank cannot be seeded above VRS-ranked rosters.
- All rosters allocated a High Seed LAN slot must be able to attend the LAN at The DFRAG Studio, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, from October 10–11, 2026.
Vacancies & Replacements
If a roster allocated a High Seed LAN slot through High Seed Registration and VRS seeding withdraws, fails eligibility checks, fails roster validation, or fails to complete the LAN participation fee by the required deadline, the vacant slot will be offered to the next highest-seeded eligible registered roster globally using the same published VRS seeding snapshot.
If no eligible registered roster is available through the High Seed Registration allocation pathway before the Online Open Qualifier begins, the vacant slot may be added to the Online Open Qualifier.
If a roster qualified through the Online Open Qualifier withdraws prior to the start of the LAN Main Event, the vacant slot will be filled by the next highest-placing eligible roster from the Online Open Qualifier, as determined by final standings and predefined tiebreakers.
If no eligible roster is available from the Online Open Qualifier standings, the Tournament Organiser will select a replacement based on the highest-performing non-qualified roster using objective performance metrics, including:
- final qualifier placement
- match record
- map differential
- round differential
- head-to-head result, where applicable
All replacement decisions will be made using transparent and pre-defined criteria. No discretionary invites will be issued.
Online Open Qualifier Ineligible Roster Procedure
If a roster that does not satisfy the Online Open Qualifier regional eligibility requirements enters the Online Open Qualifier, advances through the bracket, or finishes in a LAN qualification position, that roster will not receive an Offline LAN Main Event slot through the Online Open Qualifier pathway.
The affected LAN slot will be allocated to the next highest-placing eligible Oceania roster from the Online Open Qualifier using the following objective order:
- final qualifier placement
- match record
- map differential
- round differential
- head-to-head result, where applicable
- any further tiebreaker defined in the official ruleset
The same replacement ordering applies if a roster is removed by the Tournament Organiser before the start of the relevant stage. The full procedure is set out in Vacancies & Replacements in the official ruleset.
Prize Pool and Compensation
Total Prize Pool: $10,000 AUD
- 1st: $5,000 AUD
- 2nd: $2,500 AUD
- 3rd: $1,500 AUD
- 4th: $1,000 AUD
Non-prize compensation
- Compensation beyond prize pool: MVP Hardware, awarded according to an objective MVP criterion applied equally to eligible athletes in the Offline LAN Main Event. Details of the MVP award will be published before the Offline LAN Main Event.
- Travel support: None. Teams are responsible for their own travel to and from the LAN.
- Accommodation support: None. Teams are responsible for their own accommodation unless otherwise stated in a published update.
- Hardware or other support: MVP Hardware only, as disclosed above
Visa / Location
- Visa region: Australia
- Offline venue: The DFRAG Studio
- Offline location: Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- LAN dates: October 10–11, 2026
- LAN attendance: Required for all rosters that receive a confirmed Offline LAN Main Event slot
- Travel responsibility: Teams are responsible for arranging and paying for their own travel unless travel support is explicitly listed under Prize Pool and Compensation.
- Accommodation responsibility: Teams are responsible for arranging and paying for their own accommodation unless accommodation support is explicitly listed under Prize Pool and Compensation.
Integrity and Disqualification
- Integrity, eligibility, and conduct rules are defined in the official ruleset.
- Disqualification decisions will be based solely on objective criteria defined in the ruleset and will be published at the time of enforcement.
- Any disqualification decisions will be published at the time of enforcement.
- Rules are transparent and applied equally to all participating rosters.
Roster Continuity
- A forfeit will be declared in any match where a roster does not field at least three of the originally qualified or seeded roster athletes for the entirety of the match, in accordance with the official ruleset.
LAN Participation Fee
- High Seed Registration fee: Free
- Online Open Qualifier fee: Free (requires confirmed High Seed Registration)
- LAN participation fee: Amount, payment method, and refund policy (if any) will be clearly stated at the time of Offline LAN Main Event slot confirmation or in a published update to this Additional Information
- Applies to: All teams that receive a confirmed Offline LAN Main Event slot
- Payment deadline: As provided by the Tournament Organiser after LAN slot confirmation
- Failure to pay: Slot may be forfeited and reallocated under Vacancies & Replacements
The LAN participation fee is not prize compensation and does not alter the prize distribution.
The LAN participation fee does not include travel or accommodation unless explicitly stated under Prize Pool and Compensation.
Official Ruleset
Verifiability
- This Additional Information is published on a platform that preserves version history.
- High Seed Registration order and timestamps are publicly inspectable via GOOGLE SHEETS.
- Online Open Qualifier registration order and timestamps are publicly inspectable via FACEIT.
- The VRS seeding snapshot used for High Seed LAN slot allocation and Online Open Qualifier seeding will be published or linked before the VRS Seed Lock.
- Any updates to this Additional Information will be preserved through version history.
