THE FINALS Help Center

Last Changed: 2025-08-07

1. Introduction & Explanation

This rulebook outlines the structure, rules, and procedures specific to THE FINALS: The Grand Major 2025 (the “Event” or “The Grand Major”), the esports competition for THE FINALS, hosted by Embark Studios AB.

This event-specific rulebook supplements and works in conjunction with the THE FINALS Global Esports Rulebook. In any case of conflict between the two, the Global Rulebook takes precedence on general conduct, eligibility, and integrity standards, while this document governs all event-specific operations, formats, seeding, and procedures.

1.1 Purpose

The Grand Major is a competitive event for THE FINALS in 2025, designed to highlight the top-performing teams in a merit-based, skill-driven ecosystem. This rulebook provides all qualified players, teams, and staff with a clear understanding of the tournament structure, scheduling, advancement paths, and match procedures used during The Grand Major, including:

• Open and Closed Qualifier stages.
• Tournament match formats and game modes.
• Offline event participation standards.
• Seeding and progression logic.
• Dispute and escalation procedures.

1.2 Authority

This rulebook is issued by Embark Studios AB (hereafter referred to as "Embark," "we," "our," or "us"), the developer and publisher of THE FINALS. In cases where esports competitions are hosted by approved third-party entities ("Organizers"), this rulebook applies unless otherwise stated in an officially licensed ruleset.

1.3 Rulebook Adjustments

Embark may update, amend or supplement this rulebook from time to time; and may interpret or apply this rulebook by releasing bulletins, notices, explanatory videos, online postings, e-mail and/or other electronic communications that provide instructions and guidance to participants.

Embark also reserves the right to make judgments in its discretion concerning situations that are not explicitly outlined, or detailed, in this rulebook (and in extreme cases Embark reserves the right to make judgments that depart from this rulebook), in order to preserve fair play and sportsmanship.

1.4 Core Values

THE FINALS ecosystem for esports is built upon these core values:

• Merit Based Competition: A players success in THE FINALS will be earned through performance, not financial power or exclusive relationships.
• Transparency: All formats, seeding methods, and ranking calculations will be publicly documented and visible to everyone.
• Integrity: We will maintain a zero-tolerance policy towards cheating, match-fixing and conflicts of interest.
• Accessibility: Every team should have a path to compete, regardless of size or backing, wherever we can accommodate them.

1.5 Event Scope

This rulebook governs all competitive stages of The Grand Major 2025:

• Open Qualifiers (North America & EMEA).
• Closed Qualifiers (North America & EMEA).
• Major Event - DreamHack Stockholm.
  • For the purposes of this rulebook, “North America (NA)” includes both North and South American participants competing on North American servers.

The Asia-Pacific (APAC) region will be operated by Nexon & Tencent and may be subject to a separate tournament structure and rulesets. While general eligibility, conduct, and integrity rules from the Global Rulebook still apply, all APAC-specific qualifiers, match formats, and seeding processes will be governed by the partner’s localized event guidelines.

• Any discrepancies or disputes regarding APAC qualifiers must be directed to the designated APAC tournament organizer.

This rulebook includes specific details regarding match format, team progression, prize pool breakdown, technical rules, and event protocols. For all general conduct, cheating, eligibility, and roster rules, refer to the Global Rulebook.

Any organizer or player is expected to read, understand and follow the rules contained within this document. Failure to comply with our rules may result in disqualification, penalties, or bans as outlined in later sections.

2. Tournament Overview

This section defines the structure of THE FINALS competitive ecosystem specifically for The Grand Major 2025, outlining each stage of the tournament and the unique formats that make THE FINALS game modes.

2.1 Tournament Flow

THE FINALS will run an official tournament (”The Grand Major”) in 2025, and will outline the tournament structure and flow for that event.

2.11 Open Qualifiers

• Regions: NA and EMEA.
• Format: Single Elimination, Best of Three (Best-of-3)
• Mode: Final Round (3v3).
• Final 8 teams standing will qualify for the closed qualifier.
• Every region will receive two open qualifier chances.
• In total, 16 teams will qualify from each region (8 teams x 2 qualifying chances).

2.12 Closed Qualifiers

• Regions: NA and EMEA.
• Format: Hybrid Elimination.
• Mode: Tournament - Cashout (3v3v3v3) and Final Round (3v3).
• The 16 qualified teams from their respective regions will compete against each other to fight for invitation spots to The Grand Major.

The qualified teams to the major are determined based on our player base distribution, and will be divided as follows:

• EMEA will receive a total of six (6) slots for invitations to the major.
• NA will receive a total of seven (7) slots for invitations to the major.
• APAC will receive a total of three (3) slots for invitations to the major.

This totals 16 teams invited to participate in The Grand Major for THE FINALS in 2025.

2.13 The Grand Major - Day One

• Format: Hybrid Elimination.
• Mode: Tournament - Cashout (3v3v3v3) and Final Round (3v3).
• The 16 teams that qualified for The Grand Major will face off in a battle to advance into Day 2, where only eight teams will make it through.

2.14 The Grand Major - Day Two

• Format Stage 1: Hybrid Elimination.
• Format Stage 2: Hybrid Match Point.
• Mode: Tournament - Cashout (3v3v3v3) and Final Round (3v3).
• The eight teams advancing to Day Two of The Grand Major will compete to "Reach THE FINALS," the last phase of our event, where the champions will be determined using a "Match Point" system.

2.2 Game Mode Definitions

• Final Round (3v3): This phase generally takes place at the conclusion of a Tournament heat when only two teams are left. However, we will implement the Final Round mode to ensure a fair selection of teams advancing to the tournament under our Hybrid Elimination and Hybrid Match Point format.
• Cashout (3v3v3v3): This game mode features four teams competing in trio-based matchups, with two objectives on each map. Typically, the top two teams advance, depending on the specific format. In the cases of Hybrid Elimination and Hybrid Match Point, our Ranked Tournament rules will allow the leading two teams in Cashout to move forward.

2.3 Regional Fairness

• Online qualifiers may be region-locked to ensure fair server latency.
• Regions are determined based on ping pools.
• Majors are offline-based (In Person) and provide a neutral setting for global competition.

2.4 Annual Format

The Grand Major 2025 represents the launch of our annual competitive structure. Depending on feedback and competitive performance, this event serves as our inaugural benchmark for seasonal structure, open access, and format testing.

2.5 Invitations & Seeding Teams

For our inaugural event, we will not be using invitation-only placements. This decision is made to ensure that as many of our players as possible have the opportunity to qualify for the major tournament in a competitive manner.

Team seeding in The Grand Major is determined differently depending on each stage.

• Open Qualifiers: Random initial seeding phase, into performance based seeding (W/L).
• Closed Qualifiers: Seeding based on performance (W/L) in Open Qualifiers. Performance will be scored on the individual match results combined from Final Round ($25,000 vs $50,000 or $0 vs $50,000) as a total.
• The Grand Major - Day One: Seeding based on both region mix and performance (W/L) in Closed Qualifiers.
• The Grand Major - Day Two: Seeding determined based on advancement position during The Grand Major - Day One.

3. Format Advancement

This section outlines the progression guidelines through our formats that are currently implemented for The Grand Major.

3.1 Open Qualifier - Phase 1 (Seeding Phase)

The Open Qualifiers begin with a seeding phase, where teams are randomly matched in the Final Round (3v3) mode. This stage consists of three heats, with each heat played as a Best-of-3 match. Teams will be paired based on identical win/loss records. The purpose of this phase is to establish the initial seeding for teams in the Single Elimination Bracket for Phase 2.

3.2 Open Qualifier - Phase 2 (Elimination Phase)

After Phase 1, teams are seeded into a Single Elimination Bracket, where stronger teams are matched against weaker ones and uncertain teams are consolidated. The bracket begins with a Final Round (3v3) format, played as a Best-of-3 series. Winning teams advance, while losing teams are eliminated from the Open Qualifier.

Once only eight teams remain, they will receive invitations to participate in the Closed Qualifier.

Each region (NA and EMEA) will have two Open Qualifier opportunities. If a team is eliminated in the first, they may compete in the second using the same format and structure.

3.3 Closed Qualifier - Introduction

We are excited to introduce our “Hybrid Elimination” format for the upcoming major. This format aims to blend our unique game flow tournament style, transitioning from Cashout to the Final Round, while ensuring fair treatment for all participating teams.

Managing quadrants in THE FINALS can be tricky, especially when starting with four teams and only one can emerge as the winner, leaving three teams behind. Through our research, we found that competitive players believe the “Quick Cash” (3v3v3) format isn't ideal. We’ve experimented with various formats internally, including trials for points systems and alternative advancement methods. However, we encountered some issues where certain teams could clinch a place early in the heats without having to compete further, which prevented other teams from earning a spot through the overall event rather than one match. Furthermore, it also worked the other way around; once teams were deemed “out” of the tournament, they lacked the motivation to keep playing.

The Hybrid Elimination format strikes a balance between “winning and losing” and ensures that fans enjoy the familiar experience of THE FINALS tournament flow. We’ll be monitoring how this format performs throughout The Grand Major and are committed to making adjustments based on your feedback.

After Phase 1, teams are seeded into a Single Elimination Bracket, where stronger teams are matched against weaker ones and uncertain teams are consolidated. The bracket begins with a Final Round (3v3) format, played as a Best-of-3 series. Winning teams advance, while losing teams are eliminated from the Open Qualifier.

Once only eight teams remain, they will receive invitations to participate in the Closed Qualifier.

Each region (NA and EMEA) will have two Open Qualifier opportunities. If a team is eliminated in the first, they may compete in the second using the same format and structure.

3.4 Closed Qualifier - Phase 1 (NA & EMEA)

The closed qualifiers will see 8 teams emerge from Open Qualifier #1 and 8 teams from Open Qualifier #2, creating a total of 16 teams.

In the first phase, these teams will compete in a Cashout match (3v3v3v3). The top two teams from each group advance to a Best-of-3 Final Round match (3v3). Winners of this match will earn invitations to The Grand Major. Teams who lose the Final Round avoid elimination and continue to Phase 2.

In the second round, the teams that did not place top 2 in their initial Cashout match will be grouped into a “Second Chance” Cashout match. The top two teams from this round will face off in a Best-of-1 Final Round match (3v3). Winners move on to Phase 2, while the losers drop to the Elimination Zone.

In the Elimination Zone, the teams that lost their “Second Chance” Cashout match will now face off in a Best-of-3 Final Round elimination match. Winners advance to the Sudden Death round, while losers are eliminated from the Closed Qualifier.

The Sudden Death round will consist of the last four teams, all of whom have already suffered at least two losses. In this high-stakes final opportunity, the top two teams will advance to Phase 2 of the closed qualifiers, and the bottom two will be eliminated.

3.5 Closed Qualifier - Phase 2 (NA)

So far, four teams have successfully qualified, and now we need to determine the final teams for invitations based on the region allowance [2.12 Closed Qualifiers].

In this phase, two groups of four teams will each play a Cashout match (3v3v3v3). In each group, the top two teams advance to a Best-of-3 Final Round match (3v3). The winners of each Final Round earn the final two invitations to The Grand Major.

The teams that lose the initial Cashout match will then go head-to-head in a sudden death Cashout matchup, where two teams will advance while two will be eliminated. From this, we will narrow down to the final two teams, setting the stage for an exciting Final Round (3v3) Best-of-3 matchup, where the winners of the last match receive the invitation, and the defeated leads to elimination.

3.6 Closed Qualifier - Phase 2 (EMEA)

The second phase of the Closed Qualifiers is in full swing. So far, four teams have successfully qualified, and now we need to determine the final teams for invitations based on the region allowance [2.12 Closed Qualifiers].

In this phase, two groups of four teams will each compete in a Cashout match (3v3v3v3). In each group, the top two teams from the Cashout will advance to a Final Round match (3v3). The winners of these Final Round matches will then face off in a head-to-head Final Round Best-of-3 to determine who secures an invitation to The Grand Major, where the losing team will have a second chance in a Final Round Best-of-3.

The losing team from the initial Cashout matches will face off in a sudden death Cashout match, leading into the final cycle of Cashout and Final Round. This will narrow the field down to the final two teams, who will compete in one last Best-of-3 Final Round match.

The winner of this last match will earn the final invitation to The Grand Major, and the losing team will be eliminated.

3.7 The Grand Major - Day One

The first day of The Grand Major utilizes the same Hybrid Elimination format as the Closed Qualifiers, featuring Cashout into Final Rounds and progressive advancement. Players who are familiar with this setup will feel comfortable, although for many, this competition is taking place on a stage far from home, at DreamHack Stockholm, Sweden.

3.8 The Grand Major - Day Two

The second day of The Grand Major is all about “Reaching THE FINALS.” This round will follow a Hybrid Elimination format, narrowing us down to the final four teams.

“THE FINALS” is the ultimate challenge for the top teams, focusing on consistency. These teams will first compete in a Cashout match, with the top two teams advancing to a Best-of-2 Final Round. Each match win in the Final Round earns one point. After each Final Round, all four teams return to the next Cashout match, and the cycle repeats. The first team to reach five points will be crowned The Grand Major Champion.

4. Roster Rules

This section outlines roster policies and tournament-specific requirements for THE FINALS: The Grand Major 2025. All general eligibility, region-locking, substitution, and ownership rules are defined in the Global Esports Rulebook and apply fully to this event.

4.1 Team Composition

• Each team must consist of three (3) starting players.
• Teams may register one (1) substitute player for each tournament.
• One (1) optional coach may be registered, though coaching privileges are subject to venue and broadcast limitations.
• Each team must include at least two (2) players who reside in the same primary region, which defines the region the team will compete from, at all times.

4.2 Major Travel Support

• For the event at DreamHack Stockholm, Embark will provide travel and accommodation for each team’s three (3) starting players.
• Teams must finalize their starting players by 28th October 2025 to secure logistics.
• Substitutes and coaches may attend at their own expense unless otherwise arranged.
• In the event that a qualified team is unable to attend physical presence due to visa issues, travel disruption, disqualification, or other unforeseen circumstances, Embark reserves the right to invite the most recently eliminated team from EMEA, provided that team can confirm full attendance and roster compliance within a defined time window.

4.3 Roster Lock Deadlines Rosters are temporarily locked at the start of the Open Qualifiers. After the final match of the Open Qualifiers concludes, teams are allowed to modify their rosters within a 48-hour window prior to the start of the Closed Qualifiers under the following conditions;

• The team must retain at least two (2) of the original starting players who qualified.
• The team must maintain its original regional designation, as defined in [Section 4.1].
• All roster changes must be submitted to tournament admins before the roster lock deadline for the Closed Qualifier.
• Once the Closed Qualifier begins, all rosters are fully locked for the remainder of The Grand Major tournament cycle.

During this period, a player who participated in the Open Qualifiers but did not qualify may be added to a team that did, provided the above conditions are met.

Once a player is added to a new team’s active roster, they are considered locked for the remainder of the event cycle and may not return to their former team or transfer to another.

5. Eligibility

Participation in THE FINALS: The Grand Major 2025 is governed by the player, coach, and staff eligibility rules outlined in the THE FINALS Global Esports Rulebook [Section 2]. All competitors must meet the following baseline requirements in addition to those defined globally.

5.1 Event-Specific Eligibility Requirements To participate in The Grand Major, all players must:

• Have earned qualification through an officially sanctioned Open or Closed Qualifier in NA, EMEA, or APAC.
• Hold a valid passport and be legally able to travel to Sweden for DreamHack Stockholm.
• Submit full travel documentation by the deadline, specified by tournament staff.
• Be available for all scheduled matches, media days, and check-in windows.
• Not be subject to a current ban or suspension by FACEIT/ESL services.

5.2 Attendance Compliance

• Teams must confirm travel readiness by 28th October 2025.
• Failure to comply may result in disqualification and replacement [Section 4.2].
• Substitute players must also meet all eligibility and travel requirements if fielded.

5.3 Administrative Discretion

• Embark reserves the right to deny participation to any individual or team that fails to meet integrity, travel, or safety standards, even if otherwise eligible.
• Eligibility disputes or last-minute issues will be evaluated case-by-case by the tournament administration.

6. Code of Conduct & Enforcement

All participants in THE FINALS: The Grand Major 2025 are bound by the Code of Conduct and Enforcement policies outlined in the THE FINALS Global Esports Rulebook [Section 3]. These standards cover:

• Cheating and match manipulation
• Player behavior and communication
• Harassment and discrimination
• Legal compliance and brand integrity
• Disciplinary action, appeals, and investigation process

6.1 Event-Specific Guidelines

The following policies apply specifically to The Grand Major 2025:

• On-Site Behavior: Players, coaches, and staff attending DreamHack Stockholm must adhere to venue rules and remain professional at all times, including during media obligations, warm-up sessions, and travel.
• Matchroom Conduct: No coaching or communication with off-stage personnel is allowed during matches unless explicitly permitted.
• Live Broadcast & Interviews: All participants must avoid inflammatory or inappropriate language during live content. Violations will result in warnings, fines, or removal from media segments.
• Stage Conduct: No props, signage, or conduct designed to antagonize or disrespect opponents or the audience will be permitted. Showmanship is encouraged; disrespect is not.

6.2 Appeals & Reporting

Appeals must be submitted to tournament administration within 48 hours of any ruling, using the designated reporting form. Final rulings are made at the sole discretion of Embark Studios or its appointed admins.

7. Prize Distribution & Entry Fees

This section defines the prize pool structure, eligibility requirements, and payout procedures for THE FINALS: The Grand Major 2025. These rules apply exclusively to this tournament and supersede general community tournament prize policies outlined in the Global Rulebook.

7.1 Prize Pool Overview

The total prize pool for The Grand Major 2025 is $100,000. Prizes will be distributed to participating teams based on final placement at the conclusion of the event.

• The full allocation of the prize pool is as follows;
  • 1st Place - $37,500
  • 2nd Place - $17,500
  • 3rd Place - $10,500
  • 4th Place - $6,500
  • 5th-8th Place - $3,750
  • 9th-12th Place - $2,000
  • 13th-16th Place - $1,250

The prize distribution for the top 4 teams standing will be based on;

• Total Match Points.
• Placements of Matches.
• Total Amount cashed out.

7.2 Prize Eligibility

To be eligible to receive any portion of the prize pool, a team must:

• Qualify for and compete in The Grand Major 2025.
• Complete all required matches and media obligations.
• Comply with all roster, conduct, and eligibility rules.
• Submit valid payout and tax documentation within 14 days of request.
• Any team disqualified for code of conduct violations or eligibility breaches forfeits their prize earnings, which may be reallocated at Embark’s discretion.

7.3 Payout Process

• Prizes will be distributed within 30 days of receiving valid payout and tax documentation.
• Payouts will be made to the registered team representative or legal entity listed at the time of qualifier entry.
• Embark is not responsible for internal team disputes over prize division.

7.4 Entry Fees

There are no entry fees to participate in The Grand Major 2025 or any associated qualifier.

7.5 Tax & Compliance

All prize recipients are responsible for complying with local tax regulations. Embark may withhold taxes or require additional documentation to ensure compliance with applicable laws in Sweden, the EU, or the player’s country of residence.

8. Sponsorship & Partner Rules

This section outlines sponsorship, branding, and partner display guidelines for THE FINALS: The Grand Major 2025. All participants must comply with the standards outlined in the Global Esports Rulebook [Section 5], in addition to the event-specific rules below.

8.1 Team & Player Branding

• Teams may display approved sponsor logos on jerseys, gear, overlays, and digital content during The Grand Major.
• Logos and visuals must comply with the standards of the event venue, Embark Studios, and regional age rating authorities (e.g. ESRB, PEGI).

8.1.1 Team Apparel Requirements

• All teams must wear matching apparel when appearing on stage. Jerseys or tops must be clean, non-offensive, and may include approved sponsor logos if submitted in advance.
• Teams without their own branded apparel will be provided with standard tournament shirts to wear on stage.
• Apparel that violates venue, sponsor, or broadcast guidelines may be disallowed at the discretion of tournament staff.

8.2 Prohibited Sponsors

The following sponsor categories are strictly prohibited at The Grand Major, including on team jerseys, booths, giveaways, social content, and livestream overlays:

• Alcohol, tobacco, vaping, or recreational drug products
• Pornographic or adult entertainment services
• Political parties, campaigns, or lobbying organizations
• Weapons, firearms, or ammunition brands
• Anything in violation of THE FINALS' ESRB/PEGI ratings
• Any brand under active public controversy or investigation

Gambling, wagering, fantasy sports, and betting platforms may be permitted if they are legal under Swedish law and comply with all venue, broadcast, and Embark Studios restrictions.

8.3 Sponsorship Conflicts

• Sponsors must not influence a team's operations, match strategy, or competitive conduct.
• No sponsor may fund, control, or materially influence multiple teams in the same tournament unless explicitly approved by Embark.
• Sponsorships must be purely commercial in nature (e.g. hardware, apparel, energy drinks) and free from performance incentives across teams.

9. Tournament Operations

This section defines the technical, procedural, and competitive standards that govern how tournaments are ran. This includes matchmaking, server settings, admin escalation and general logistics.

9.1 Server Selection & Fair Play (Online Events)

• To ensure competitive integrity, server selection is based on:
  • Majority ping averages.
  • Geographical region declaration during registration.
  • Tournament host location preferences (where applicable).
• Players may not use VPNs, or falsify location to manipulate server selection. Doing so will result in match forfeits or disqualification.

9.2 Technical Pauses

Due to the continuous-flow of THE FINALS matches (not being round-based), technical pauses must follow strict timing rules to ensure consistent play, unaffecting other teams.

9.2.1 Technical Pause Limits & Disconnection Enforcement

• Each team is allowed one (1) technical pause per match, each team will also be allocated one (1) lobby remake if the admin deems appropriate.
• If a player is unable to load into a match, the match may be restarted without penalty and will not count toward the team’s technical pause limit.
• The maximum duration of technical pauses/technical issues allocated to a player within a series (Best-of-3) shall not exceed 8 minutes in total.
  • This 8-minute duration shall commence upon reporting the issue to the tournament operator or initiating the pause, whichever occurs first.
• Exceeding this duration will grant the tournament administrators sole discretion regarding any further pauses, which will only be considered in situations of equipment or connection failure, should a match require restarting.
• Pause requests made in bad faith or without legitimate cause may result in loss of pause privileges, map forfeiture, or disqualification, at admin discretion.
• Teams not checked-in prior to their match will be replaced/forfeit.
• A team that does not communicate its presence via the tournament operator’s lobby chat shall be considered disqualified if a match between the teams has not yet commenced.

9.2.2 How to request a pause or flag an issue:

1. Notify the opposing team via the in-game lobby chat.
2. Contact the FACEIT administrators through the designated lobby chat.
3. Await resolution of the issue and re-connection by the player, or seek an agreement to restart the match/lobby.
4. If further complications arise, a request shall be made for an administrator to be present, via the FACEIT lobby chat.

9.2.3 Flagging Technical Issues in the Open Qualifiers

Due to technical and admin limitations, pausing will not be available during the Open Qualifiers.

If a technical issue arises, please see [Section 9.2.2].

• In-game pauses may only be instituted by approved observers connected in the spectator slot.
• In the event of a technical issue occurring during a Final Round match, players shall have the right to flag an issue, provided that no objective (Cashout station) is active.
• Should a technical issue lead to a server restart during an ongoing Final Round match, players are required to honor the existing objective score of each team, and return to that state prior to the restart to continue the match.
• It is advisable for teams to capture a screenshot or video of the scoreboard prior to the server restart to validate the objective count.
  • For instance, if a team has accrued $25,000 during the Final Round, and a technical issue prompts a restart of the lobby/server, it is required upon the opposing team to acknowledge and verify each team’s respective objective scores prior to the restart. Play shall recommence only after all reward states have been honored and a wipe has occurred.
• If a server/match is required to restart, all players shall use the same loadouts they played prior to the restart.

9.2.4 Pausing in Closed Qualifiers (Cashout)

• If the match within the Closed Qualifiers is a Cashout match, requests for a pause shall not be permitted if a team is interacting with an active Cashout station.
• Remakes/Lobby restarts will not be permitted once the first Cashout has started from any team, unless one (1) player from at least three (3) teams are also having issues.
• Pause requests must be accompanied by a summary submitted through the tournament operator’s designated lobby chat.
• If a server/match is required to restart, all players shall use the same loadouts they played prior to the restart.

9.2.5 Pausing in Closed Qualifiers (Final Round)

• If the match within the Closed Qualifiers is a Final Round, players shall have the right to request a pause, provided that no objective (Cashout station) is being interacted with (Stolen).
• Should a technical issue lead to a server restart during an ongoing Final Round match, players are required to honor the existing objective score of each team, and return to that state prior to the restart to continue the match.
• If a server/match is required to restart, all players shall use the same loadouts they played prior to the restart.

9.2.6 Offline Event Pause Protocol

• In cases of offline event pauses, players must immediately notify stage referees verbally or via pre-approved signals (raising hand or pressing pause request button on desk if supplied).
• All issues must be logged with time of occurrence and nature of the problem.
• Technical pauses or issues that arise will follow familiar rules to [9.2.3 and 9.2.4 Closed Qualifiers] but be up to the admin discretion.

What teams/staff must not do during a pause at the offline event:

• No communication with coaches or external staff unless explicitly allowed by the referee.
• Players must not communicate with each other during the pause.
• Players may not leave their stations, remove headsets, or access mobile devices.
• Coaches whom may be present on-stage must remain silent, and not signal or indicate to players in any form.

If a technical pause exceeds 5 consecutive minutes, players may speak freely with each other only, but not with coaches or external staff, unless explicitly approved by a tournament administrator. Tournament officials will notify players when this threshold is reached.

Admin Discretion:

• Admins may deny a pause if abuse is suspected (e.g. intentional pausing during disadvantages such as an unfavoured spawn).
• Repeated false or frivolous pause requests may lead to penalties such as loss of pause privileges, match restarts, or disqualification.

9.3 Competitive Arena Pool

For The Grand Major 2025, the competitive pool of arenas are as follows;

• Bernal (Any Variation).
• Fortune Stadium (Standard).
• Las Vegas Stadium (Standard).
• Monaco (Any Variation).
• NOZOMI/CITADEL (Standard).
• Seoul (Under Construction).
• Skyway Stadium (Any Variation).
• SYS$HORIZON (Standard).

(All events for each map will be disabled).

We are aware of some scenarios where the condition of the maps can effect outfit visibility, and will update this section once we’ve evaluated the impact.

9.3.1 Map Bans

For the Open Qualifiers, an initial coin-flip will decide the first team to initiate the banning system;

• Team A is allowed to ban one (1) map from the arena pool.
• Team B is allowed to ban two (2) maps from the arena pool.
• Team A is allowed to ban one (1) map from the arena pool.
• Team B selects the first map that will be played.
• Team A selects the second map that will be played.
• The third map will be randomly selected from the remaining pool.

For the Closed Qualifiers initial Cashout match, we will allocate the pick order based on the teams objective performance during the Open Qualifier seeding.

For example: If a team (Team A) wins every match in the Open Qualifiers, and scores all objectives $0 vs $50,000 they will be first seed, and last choice to ban the remaining map.

• Team D selects first, and is allowed to ban one (1) map from the arena pool.
• Team C selects second, and is allowed to ban one (1) map from the arena pool.
• Team B selects third, and is allowed to ban one (1) map from the arena pool.
• Team A selects fourth, and is allowed to ban one (1) map from the arena pool.
• The map played will be randomly selected from the remaining pool.
• If the map selected in [Section 9.3] contains “Any Variation”, the initial cashout match will have a randomized “Any” variant.

For the Closed Qualifiers, Final Round matches that are subsequent from a Cashout match will always have the same first map and variant for consistency. Teams will pick their subsequent maps based on the standings from the Cashout map.

• Team A is allowed to ban one (1) map from the arena pool.
• Team B is allowed to ban two (2) maps from the arena pool.
• Team A is allowed to ban one (1) map from the arena pool.
• Team A picks the first map, played as map two of the series.
• Team B picks the second map, played as map three of the series.

For the Closed Qualifiers subsequent Cashout matches, we will allocate the pick order based on the teams finishing position and total amount cashed out in their last Cashout match. For example, a team that finishes third (Team A) in their last Cashout match with $15,000 will be allocated the final map ban against a team that also finishes third (Team B) in their last Cashout match, but finished with $12,000 cashed out.

• Team D selects first, and is allowed to ban one (1) map from the arena pool.
• Team C selects second, and is allowed to ban one (1) map from the arena pool.
• Team B selects third, and is allowed to ban one (1) map from the arena pool.
• Team A selects fourth, and is allowed to ban one (1) map from the arena pool.
• The map played will be randomly selected from the remaining pool.
• If the map selected in [Section 9.3] contains “Any Variation”, the initial cashout match will have a randomized variant.

For Final Round Best-Of-3 matches that are not subsequent from a Cashout match, the team that finishes with the highest cash from the teams most recent Cashout match will be allocated the first pick.

• Team A is allowed to ban one (1) map from the arena pool.
• Team B is allowed to ban two (2) maps from the arena pool.
• Team A is allowed to ban one (1) map from the arena pool.
• Team A selects the first map that will be played.
• Team B selects the second map that will be played.
• The third map will be randomly selected from the remaining pool.

On the second day, during the “THE FINALS” phase when only four teams are left, we will utilize the following process to decide the map selection:

• Each map will be played, with the order of the maps for each heat being determined live on stage.
• If the map selected in [Section 9.3] contains “Any Variation”, the initial cashout match will have a randomized variant, with the subsequent Final Round matches cycling through the un-played variants.

For example: After the match order has been determined via the on-stage raffle, if the first map chosen is Seoul, we will adhere to the rules outlined in [Section 9.3] and proceed to play Seoul - Under Construction. The subsequent matches leading into the Best-Of-2 Final Round will also be Seoul - Under Construction. For the following heat, if Bernal is drawn, we will randomize and select the variants to be played first in the Cashout match, followed by a variant for both Match 1 and Match 2 of the Final Round Best-Of-2, all within the overall heat.

9.3.4 Weapon, Specializations and Gadget Bans

For The Grand Major 2025, there will be no systems in place for players to ban opponents loadouts.

10. Anti-Corruption & Conflicts of Interest

The Grand Major enforces strict rules to prevent conflicts of interest, competitive manipulation, and multi-team control within its ecosystem. These policies are grounded in the global standards outlined in Section 11 of the THE FINALS Global Esports Rulebook.

10.1 Ownership and Team Affiliation Restrictions

• An organization may only field one team in each Major event cycle (including all qualifier stages). This includes teams with shared owners, managers, coaches, branding, social media, facilities, financial support or legal contracts.
• In rare cases, a second roster affiliated with an organization may still compete in a tournament, provided the team is released temporarily, or loaned to a separate entity or competes without organizational backing (known as org-less).
• To be eligible, the second team must meet the following criteria;
  • No shared staff, funding, infrastructure, or performance incentives may remain tied to the original organization.
  • The team must not use the original organization’s branding, resources, or public affiliations in any form.
  • The arrangement must be submitted to Embark for review and receive written approval before registration.

This ensures that players are not excluded due to prior contracts or affiliations, while maintaining competitive integrity and eliminating potential conflicts of interest.

10.2 Penalties

Violations of this policy may result in:

• Team disqualification
• Forfeiture of prize earnings
• Future eligibility restrictions
• Public disclosure of the conflict

11. Transparency & Rankings

This section covers how teams are ranked, how results are recorded, and how competitive fairness is maintained throughout The Grand Major tournament cycle.

11.1 Merit-Based Qualification

• All teams must earn their place in tournaments through performance.
• No direct invites with be issued for The Grand Major in 2025.
• Performance in official events is the only pathway to advancement.

These rules ensure that there is equal opportunity for all teams, regardless of reputation or backing, to feel that they have a fair chance at playing in THE FINALS esports, where we can provide the opportunity.

11.2 Rankings & Seeding

• Team seeding throughout the event is determined by match results, including win/loss records and group placements during earlier stages.
• Seeding structures for each tournament phase are outlined in [Section 2.5].
• Rankings and match histories will be made publicly available during each stage of the event.

11.3 Competitive Transparency

• All match results, advancement criteria, and tiebreaker procedures will be published to official channels.
• Teams may request access to their own match statistics or admin decisions in writing.
• Embark is committed to transparency in rules enforcement, ranking methodology, and tournament decisions.