Published
- Published: July 22, 2026
- Last Updated: August 22, 2026
Tournament Operator
- Tournament Operator: DFRAG Media Group Pty Ltd
Tournament Dates
Announcement
- Published: July 22, 2026
Direct VRS Invites
- Invitation Date: August 21, 2026
- VRS publication date used for invites: August 3, 2026
Online Open Qualifier
- Qualifier Registration Opens: August 7, 2026
- Qualifier Registration Closes: August 30, 2026
- Qualifier Start: August 31, 2026
Online Closed Qualifier
- Closed Qualifier: September 7–8, 2026
- Closed Qualifier Roster Lock: After Online Open Qualifier results are confirmed, and before September 7, 2026
Offline LAN Main Event
- LAN Group Stage: October 26–28, 2026
- LAN Playoffs: October 30 – November 1, 2026
- Grand Final: November 1, 2026 (Best-of-5)
- LAN Withdrawal Cutoff: September 26, 2026, 23:59 AEST
Tournament Format
Summary
- Total teams at LAN: 8
- Ranked stages: Online Closed Qualifier, Offline LAN Group Stage, and Offline LAN Playoffs
- Online stages: Stage 1 Online Open Qualifier and Stage 2 Online Closed Qualifier
- LAN stages: Stage 3 Offline LAN Group Stage and Stage 4 Offline LAN Playoffs
Stage 1 - Online Open Qualifier
- Stage type: Online
- Teams: Eligible Asia registered rosters
- Format: Double-elimination
- Match format: Best-of-1 until qualification matches; Best-of-3 qualification matches
- Advancement: Top 8 eligible rosters advance to the Online Closed Qualifier
- LAN: The Online Open Qualifier does not award Offline LAN Main Event slots directly
Stage 2 - Online Closed Qualifier
- Stage type: Online
- Teams: 8
- Composition: Top 8 eligible rosters from the Online Open Qualifier
- Seeding: August 2026 VRS publication date specified in this Additional Information
- Format: Double-elimination
- Match format: As set out in the official ruleset
- Advancement: Top 2 rosters advance to the Offline LAN Main Event by default; additional LAN slots may be awarded if Asia Direct VRS Invite LAN slots cannot be filled
Stage 3 - Offline LAN Group Stage
- Stage type: LAN
- Teams: 8
- Dates: October 26–28, 2026
- Format: Double-elimination group stage, 2 groups of 4
- Match format: As set out in the official ruleset
- Advancement: Playoff berths as set out in the official ruleset
Stage 4 - Offline LAN Playoffs
- Stage type: LAN
- Teams: 4
- Dates: October 30 – November 1, 2026
- Format: Double-elimination playoff with a third-place match
- Grand Final: Best-of-5 on November 1, 2026
- Match format: As set out in the official ruleset
Platform and venue
- Online platform: FACEIT
- Online anti-cheat: FACEIT Anti-Cheat
- Online server location: Sydney, Australia
- Offline venue: DFRAG STUDIOS
- Offline location: Australia
Qualification Pathways
| Pathway | Slots | Scope | Leads To | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Direct VRS Invite (Oceania) | 4 | Oceania | Offline LAN Main Event | Direct VRS Invite |
| Direct VRS Invite (Asia) | 2 | Asia | Offline LAN Main Event | Direct VRS Invite |
| Online Open Qualifier | 8 | Asia | Online Closed Qualifier | FACEIT; does not lead directly to LAN |
| Online Closed Qualifier | 2 | From Open Qualifier top 8 | Offline LAN Main Event | Top 2 advance to LAN; VRS seeded |
Pathway A - Direct VRS Invites to Offline LAN Main Event
Slots
- 4 Oceania Direct VRS Invites enter the Offline LAN Main Event directly.
- 2 Asia Direct VRS Invites enter the Offline LAN Main Event directly.
- All Direct VRS Invites enter the Offline LAN Main Event at the same stage.
Invitation timing and VRS source
- Invitations are issued on the Invitation Date of August 21, 2026.
- Invitations use the August 2026 official VRS publication current as of the Invitation Date.
- Oceania Direct VRS Invites to LAN are issued sequentially from the Oceania VRS list, starting with the highest-ranked eligible roster.
- Asia Direct VRS Invites to LAN are issued sequentially from the Asia VRS list, starting with the highest-ranked eligible roster.
- Invited Rosters must be ranked lower than 12 on the Global VRS at the Invitation Date.
Acknowledgement and acceptance
- Invited Rosters have 48 hours from invite issue to acknowledge the invite, and a further 48 hours after acknowledgement to accept the invite (4 days total from invite issue).
- If an Invited Roster does not acknowledge within 48 hours, does not accept within the further 48 hours after acknowledgement, cannot accept, or declines, the vacant slot will be offered to the next highest-ranked eligible roster on the same announced VRS list, proceeding sequentially down the list.
- Direct VRS Invited Rosters may only accept if at least three Athletes from the Invited Roster will play each match, the Participating Roster satisfies the invite criteria, and the roster has not previously declined an invitation to the same tournament.
- All Direct VRS Invited Rosters to LAN must be able to attend the Offline LAN Main Event in person at DFRAG STUDIOS from October 26 – November 1, 2026.
Unfilled Asia LAN slots
- If either or both of the 2 Asia Direct VRS Invite LAN slots cannot be filled from the Asia VRS list under the acknowledgement and acceptance process above, each unfilled Asia LAN slot will be converted into an additional Offline LAN Main Event slot awarded through the Online Closed Qualifier.
- The Online Closed Qualifier will then award more than 2 Offline LAN Main Event slots equal to the number of unfilled Asia slots (for example, 1 unfilled Asia slot means 3 Closed Qualifier LAN slots; 2 unfilled Asia slots means 4 Closed Qualifier LAN slots).
Pathway B - Online Open Qualifier
- The Online Open Qualifier awards 8 Online Closed Qualifier slots.
- The Online Open Qualifier does not award Offline LAN Main Event slots directly.
- The Online Open Qualifier is restricted to eligible Asia rosters.
- The Online Open Qualifier is not a global qualifier.
- Full Online Open Qualifier rules are set out in Open Qualifier below.
Pathway C - Online Closed Qualifier to LAN
- The Online Closed Qualifier contains no Direct VRS Invites.
- The Online Closed Qualifier field is 8 teams: the top 8 eligible rosters from the Online Open Qualifier.
- The Online Closed Qualifier is seeded using the August 2026 VRS publication date specified in this Additional Information.
- The Online Closed Qualifier awards 2 Offline LAN Main Event slots by default.
- If one or both Asia Direct VRS Invite LAN slots cannot be filled, the Online Closed Qualifier will award additional Offline LAN Main Event slots under Pathway A.
- The top finishing eligible rosters from the Online Closed Qualifier advance to the Offline LAN Main Event according to the number of LAN slots awarded through this pathway.
- Full Closed Qualifier rules are set out in Closed Qualifier below.
Open Qualifier
- The Online Open Qualifier is restricted to eligible registered rosters from Asia.
- It awards Closed Qualifier slots only.
Registration and schedule
- Online Open Qualifier registration opens on August 7, 2026.
- Online Open Qualifier registration closes on August 30, 2026.
- The Online Open Qualifier will begin on August 31, 2026.
- Online Open Qualifier registration is hosted via FACEIT.
- FACEIT championship URL: TBC.
- Entry into the Online Open Qualifier is free.
- 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.
- Sydney is the online server location only and does not define Open Qualifier eligibility.
- 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 registered rosters based in Asia, or whose participating players are physically able to compete from Asia for all Online Open Qualifier matches.
- For this event, the Tournament Organiser applies an Asia regional filter within the Asia VRS parent region framework.
- Merely connecting to Sydney servers from outside Asia 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 Closed Qualifier 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 Closed Qualifier confirmation.
- If an ineligible roster is mistakenly entered into the Online Open Qualifier bracket, that roster will be removed from Closed Qualifier slot contention once identified.
- If an ineligible roster finishes in a Closed Qualifier qualification position, the slot will pass to the next highest-placing eligible Asia roster from the Online Open Qualifier according to the published standings and tiebreaker procedure.
- This is an objective eligibility procedure. See VRS Information for invite method.
Closed Qualifier qualification
- The top 8 eligible rosters from the Online Open Qualifier will advance to the Online Closed Qualifier.
- The Online Open Qualifier does not award Offline LAN Main Event slots directly.
Closed Qualifier
- The Online Closed Qualifier is an 8-team online stage that awards 2 Offline LAN Main Event slots by default.
- The Online Closed Qualifier contains no Direct VRS Invites.
Composition
- 8 Online Open Qualifier teams
Schedule and format
- The Online Closed Qualifier will be held on September 7–8, 2026.
- Closed Qualifier roster lock occurs after Online Open Qualifier results are confirmed, and before September 7, 2026.
- Online Closed Qualifier matches are hosted on FACEIT using FACEIT Anti-Cheat, on servers in Sydney, Australia.
- The Online Closed Qualifier will be double-elimination.
- The Online Closed Qualifier will be seeded using the August 2026 VRS publication date specified in this Additional Information.
- Rosters without a Global VRS rank cannot be seeded above VRS-ranked rosters.
- Match format is as set out in the official ruleset.
- No roster-specific or discretionary selection criteria will be used.
LAN qualification
- The top 2 rosters from the Online Closed Qualifier will advance to the Offline LAN Main Event by default.
- If one or both Asia Direct VRS Invite LAN slots cannot be filled, additional Offline LAN Main Event slots will be awarded from the Online Closed Qualifier under Pathway A and Vacancies & Replacements.
- Rosters that qualify through the Online Closed Qualifier must be able to attend the Offline LAN Main Event in person at DFRAG STUDIOS from October 26 – November 1, 2026.
VRS Information
Classification
- Tournament Tier: Tier 2
- Tournament classification: Ranked Tournament
- Ranked Stages: Online Closed Qualifier, Offline LAN Group Stage, and Offline LAN Playoffs
- Wildcard Tournament: No
Invites
- Direct VRS Invites: 6 (4 Oceania to LAN, 2 Asia to LAN)
- Wildcard Invites: None
- Invitation Date: August 21, 2026
- VRS publication date used for invites: August 2026
Seeding and region
- VRS publication date used for seeding: August 2026
- VRS parent region/list: Asia (Oceania and Asia lists as applicable per pathway)
- VRS subdivision used: Oceania (for Oceania LAN Direct VRS Invites); None for Asia list invites
- Eligible location filter (Online Open Qualifier only): Asia
- Visa region: Australia
VRS starting ranks
- VRS rank from which Oceania LAN Direct VRS Invites begin: Highest-ranked eligible roster on the Oceania VRS list (August 2026)
- VRS rank from which Asia LAN Direct VRS Invites begin: Highest-ranked eligible roster on the Asia VRS list (August 2026)
Seeding and Slot Allocation
- Direct VRS Invites are issued on August 21, 2026 using the August 2026 official VRS publication current as of the Invitation Date.
- Invitations proceed sequentially down each announced VRS list until all announced Direct VRS Invite slots are filled.
- Oceania LAN Direct VRS Invites are filled from the Oceania list.
- Asia LAN Direct VRS Invites are filled from the Asia list.
- All Direct VRS Invites enter the Offline LAN Main Event at the same stage.
- Open Qualifier and Closed Qualifier Rosters enter at or before the first stage featuring a Direct VRS Invite.
- A Directly Invited VRS Roster cannot start at a later stage than another Directly Invited VRS Roster with a higher VRS rank.
- Initial seeding for the Online Closed Qualifier and Offline LAN Main Event will use the August 2026 VRS publication date specified in this Additional Information.
- Rosters without a Global VRS rank cannot be seeded above VRS-ranked rosters.
- The VRS seeding snapshot used for seeding will be published or linked before seeding is locked.
- All rosters that receive a confirmed Offline LAN Main Event slot must be able to attend the LAN at DFRAG STUDIOS from October 26 – November 1, 2026.
Vacancies & Replacements
Invite acknowledgement and acceptance
- Direct VRS Invited Rosters have 48 hours from invite issue to acknowledge the invite, and a further 48 hours after acknowledgement to accept the invite (4 days total from invite issue).
- If a Direct VRS Invited Roster does not acknowledge within 48 hours, does not accept within the further 48 hours after acknowledgement, declines, cannot accept, fails eligibility checks, or fails roster validation, the vacant invite slot will be offered to the next highest-ranked eligible roster on the same announced VRS list, proceeding sequentially down the list.
Slot supplementation
- If either or both of the 2 Asia Direct VRS Invite LAN slots cannot be filled after proceeding sequentially down the Asia VRS list under the acknowledgement and acceptance process, each unfilled Asia LAN slot will be converted into an additional Offline LAN Main Event slot awarded through the Online Closed Qualifier.
Qualifier withdrawals
- If a roster qualified through the Online Open Qualifier withdraws prior to the start of the Online Closed Qualifier, the vacant Closed Qualifier 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 a roster qualified through the Online Closed Qualifier withdraws prior to the start of the Offline LAN Main Event, the vacant LAN slot will be filled by the next highest-placing eligible roster from the Online Closed Qualifier, as determined by final standings and predefined tiebreakers.
Replacement metrics
- If no eligible roster is available from the relevant qualifier standings, the Tournament Organiser will select a replacement based on the highest-performing non-qualified roster from that qualifier 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.
- Withdrawals on or after the LAN Withdrawal Cutoff are governed by LAN Withdrawal Cutoff below.
Last Chance Qualifier
- DFRAG may run a Last Chance Qualifier to fill a vacant Direct VRS Invite slot at the Offline LAN Main Event.
- This applies only to Oceania and Asia Direct VRS Invite LAN slots that become vacant on or after the LAN Withdrawal Cutoff (September 26, 2026, 23:59 AEST).
- A Last Chance Qualifier may be used only after a replacement cannot be confirmed in time under Invite acknowledgement and acceptance, Slot supplementation, Qualifier withdrawals, and Replacement metrics, or when the replacement roster must be determined on short notice before the Offline LAN Main Event.
- The Last Chance Qualifier fills only that vacant Direct VRS Invite LAN slot. It does not award any other LAN slot.
- Online Closed Qualifier LAN slots are not filled through a Last Chance Qualifier.
- Format: Single Elim BO1, BO3 Grand Final
- A roster that receives the LAN slot through the Last Chance Qualifier must be able to attend the Offline LAN Main Event in person at DFRAG STUDIOS from October 26 – November 1, 2026.
- This is not a Direct VRS Invite process.
- If a Last Chance Qualifier is not run, or does not confirm a replacement before the Offline LAN Main Event, the vacancy follows LAN Withdrawal Cutoff.
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 Closed Qualifier qualification position, that roster will not receive an Online Closed Qualifier slot through the Online Open Qualifier pathway.
- The affected Closed Qualifier slot will be allocated to the next highest-placing eligible Asia 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.
LAN Withdrawal Cutoff
- Withdrawal cutoff: September 26, 2026, 23:59 AEST
- Measured from: First play day of the Offline LAN Main Event (October 26, 2026)
Before the withdrawal cutoff
- Confirmed Offline LAN Main Event rosters may withdraw without automatic match forfeits or an automatic VRS forfeit record arising from this cutoff rule.
- Vacant slots will be filled under Vacancies & Replacements.
On or after the withdrawal cutoff
- Late withdrawals after the cutoff affect competitive integrity, broadcast coverage, sponsorship obligations, and DFRAG Media Group Pty Ltd’s ability to host the event.
- The Tournament Organiser will attempt to replace the roster under Vacancies & Replacements.
- For a vacant Direct VRS Invite LAN slot, the Tournament Operator may run a Last Chance Qualifier under Vacancies & Replacements before the forfeit outcome below applies.
- If a suitable replacement cannot be confirmed in time, the roster remains in the Offline LAN Main Event field.
- That roster’s matches will be automatically forfeited.
- Those results are official tournament results and will count for VRS purposes accordingly.
This rule applies to all confirmed Offline LAN Main Event slots, regardless of qualification pathway.
Prize Pool and Compensation
Total Prize Pool: $40,000 AUD
- 1st: $20,000 AUD
- 2nd: $10,000 AUD
- 3rd: $6,000 AUD
- 4th: $4,000 AUD
- A third-place match will be played during the Offline LAN Playoffs.
Non-prize compensation
- Compensation beyond prize pool: None
- 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: None
Visa / Location
LAN venue
- Visa region: Australia
- Offline venue: DFRAG STUDIOS
- Offline location: Australia
- LAN dates: October 26 – November 1, 2026
- LAN attendance: Required for all rosters that receive a confirmed Offline LAN Main Event slot. Withdrawals on or after the LAN Withdrawal Cutoff are governed by LAN Withdrawal Cutoff.
Asia VRS invite travel scope
- Direct VRS Invites for this event are drawn from the official Asia Valve Regional Standings.
- Under Valve Tournament Operation Requirements, Asia VRS invitations may use the Asia parent region and, where subdivided, the Asia subdivisions of Oceania, West Asia, and East Asia.
- Rosters invited from the Asia VRS list (including Oceania and Asia Direct VRS Invite pathways) may include athletes whose citizenship or residence is anywhere represented on the official Asia VRS invitation standings for the VRS publication date used for invites.
- Official Asia VRS invitation standings: https://github.com/ValveSoftware/counter-strike_regional_standings/tree/main/invitation
- Athletes travelling from outside Australia must be able to enter Australia lawfully for the Offline LAN Main Event, including obtaining any required Australian visa.
- Inability to obtain a required Australian visa does not create a discretionary invite. Replacement follows Vacancies & Replacements.
Travel and accommodation
- 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 invited, qualified, or seeded roster athletes for the entirety of the match, in accordance with the official ruleset and Valve Tournament Operation Requirements.
Conflict of Interest Disclosure
Christopher “dexter” Nong is an active player competing for Thunder Downunder and is also employed by HP Inc.
HP Inc. is the parent company of OMEN and HyperX, both of which are sponsors of the DFRAG INVITATIONAL LAN 2026 event.
To mitigate any real or perceived conflict of interest:
- Christopher “dexter” Nong holds no decision-making authority over tournament operations, invitations, seeding, match administration, rule enforcement, or disciplinary actions.
- All competitive, administrative, and integrity-related decisions are made independently by the Tournament Operator, DFRAG Media Group Pty Ltd, in accordance with Valve Tournament Operation Requirements.
- Sponsorship relationships do not influence competitive outcomes, invitations, seeding, or rulings.
- Any future conflicts identified will be disclosed publicly and managed in line with the official ruleset and Valve requirements.
This disclosure is provided in the interest of transparency and competitive integrity.
Official Ruleset
Verifiability
- This Additional Information is published on a platform that preserves version history.
- Online Open Qualifier registration order and timestamps are publicly inspectable via FACEIT.
- The VRS publication used for Direct VRS Invites and seeding will be published or linked before the Invitation Date and seed lock.
- Any updates to this Additional Information will be preserved through version history.
