THE FINALS Help Center

Last Changed: 2026-01-30

What is a Tier 2 Event?

Tier 2 events are Embark-sanctioned community-run tournaments that contribute points to the Regional Fame Index (RFI). These events form the backbone of THE FINALS competitive ecosystem throughout the year, allowing teams to:

• Earn RFI points.
• Improve seeding and invitations.
• Qualify toward Closed Qualifiers and The Grand Major.

Tier 2 events are operated by third-party approved tournament organizers (TO’s), but must meet a defined set of competitive, operational, and integrity standards to be eligible for sanctioning.

Sanctioned events must take place within the RFI earning window of February through August each year. Events held outside this window will not be eligible for RFI point distribution.

What Organizers Receive

Approved Tier 2 organizers receive:

• Official Embark sanctioning for their event.
• Eligibility to award RFI points.
• Listing on THE FINALS esports website and calendar.
• Recognition as an official pathway toward The Grand Major.
• Optional operational support or promotion at Embark’s discretion.

Sanctioning does not imply Embark is responsible for tournament operations, prize payouts, or staffing.

There is no minimum prize pool requirement for Tier 2 sanctioned events. Organizers are free to determine their own prize structure. If a prize pool is advertised, the organizer is solely responsible for its full distribution to eligible participants.

Tier 2 Event Requirements (Non-Negotiable)

To qualify for Tier 2 sanctioning, an event must meet all of the following:

Event Size

• Minimum of 16 total teams in the event or its qualification process.
• If fewer than sixteen (16) teams register for the event, the event will be automatically classified as Tier 2B regardless of the competitive strength of participating teams.
• If team withdrawals after registration closes reduce the Main Stage below eight (8) teams, the organizer must notify Embark immediately. Embark will determine whether the event retains sanctioning on a case-by-case basis.

Open Access

• At least 30% of all teams (rounded up) must enter via Open Qualifiers.
• Open Qualifiers must be publicly accessible and announced in advance.
• Open Qualifier slots are fixed and may not be reduced, replaced, or reclassified by invitations or wildcard selections.

Invitations

• A maximum of four (4) Wildcard slots may be used.

  • Organizers are required to demonstrate a good-faith attempt to invite eligible RFI-ranked teams prior to issuing wildcard invitations.
  • Wildcard slots are separate from regional ranking invitations.
  • Wildcard invitations may not be used to reduce or replace the minimum RFI invitation requirements.

• All wildcard selections must be:

  • Merit-based.
  • Logically justified.
  • Publicly stated prior to the event.

  Examples of valid justification include recent strong performance at sanctioned or non-sanctioned events.

• All non-wildcard, non-qualifier slots must be filled by invitation to:

  • Highest-ranked eligible teams from the declared region.

• Invitations must be offered strictly in ranking order.

  • Eligible teams are those listed on the official regional RFI standings at the time invitations are issued.
  • If a team declines, the invitation passes to the next eligible team.
  • If no eligible ranked teams remain, the slot must be filled via open qualifiers.

Example: For a 24-team Main Stage event:

• Minimum 8 teams via Open Qualifiers (30% of 24, rounded up).
• Up to 4 Wildcard slots allowed.
• Remaining 12 slots filled by RFI-ranked invitations in ranking order.

If only 6 RFI-ranked teams accept invitations, and no teams remain, the remaining 6 slots are filled via additional open qualifier spots.

Region & Servers

• Organizers must declare the event region:
  • EMEA - Europe, Middle East & Africa.
  • AMERICAS - North America & South America.
  • APAC - Asia-Pacific, including Oceania and China.
• Events must be operated entirely within the declared region for competitive integrity and regional server consistency.

Transparency

The following must be published before registration opens:

• Event format and rulebook.
• Seeding logic.
• Qualification pathways.
• Wildcard team(s) (if used).
• Region and Server Details.
• Events must be publicly announced a minimum of four (4) weeks before Open Qualifiers begin (apart from events starting in February/March).
• Reference to THE FINALS Esports Global Rulebook, which governs player eligibility, team composition, and code of conduct for all participants.

Tier 2 Point Distributions

Tier 2 events may award RFI points under one of two classifications; Tier 2A represents the standard RFI distribution for compliant events whereas Tier 2B is an adjusted distribution used when competitive depth is limited, despite correctly complying with all structural requirements.

Tier 2A - Standard Distribution (650 Points)

Tier 2A applies when:

• All Tier 2 Event Requirements (listed above) are met, and;
• At least four (4) teams ranked within the Top 8 of the regional RFI leaderboard are participating.

If the above conditions are met, then the RFI Points Distribution will be as follows;

• 1st Place: 250 Points
• 2nd Place: 150 Points
• 3rd Place: 100 Points
• 4th Place: 50 Points
• 5th-8th Place: 25 Points

These point values assume a format that produces distinct 1st through 4th placements. If a format such as the "Hybrid Match Point" system is used where placements are grouped (e.g. 2nd-4th tied), the same proportional share of the total point pool applies, distributed equally among tied teams.

Tier 2B - Adjusted Distribution (500 Points)

Tier 2B applies when:

• All Tier 2 Event Requirements are met, and;
• Fewer than four (4) teams within the Top 8 of the regional RFI rankings are participating, despite attempts to invite them.

If the above conditions are met, then the RFI Points Distribution will be as follows;

• 1st Place: 190 Points
• 2nd Place: 115 Points
• 3rd Place: 75 Points
• 4th Place: 40 Points
• 5th-8th Place: 20 Points

This alternative points distribution will be given to organizers running events where the top teams within the RFI are not present. We want to balance between allowing regions to run events and also protect against “point-farming” wherever we can.

Point Awarding & Verification

• RFI points are awarded only after the event concludes.
• No provisional or interim points are granted.
• Final standings must be verified by Embark before points are published.
• Points are tied to the core roster (minimum 2/3 starting players).

Embark reserves the right to withhold or revoke points in cases of:

• Rule violations.
• Ineligible players.
• Match/Tournament integrity issues.
• Administrative failure or misrepresentation.

Organizer Reporting Obligations

Within 72 hours of event completion, organizers must submit:

• Final standings.
• Team rosters used in the event.
• Completed Embark Esports Competitive Register Form for all point-eligible teams.
• Match results or broadcast links.
• Confirmation of no unresolved disputes.

Embark may request post-event feedback from organizers to help improve the sanctioning process and competitive standards for future events.

Failure to report accurately or on time may result in:

• Loss of RFI eligibility for the event.
• Probation or revocation of future sanctioning.

Integrity & Conflicts of Interest

Organizers must proactively disclose any business relationships, financial arrangements, or personnel overlaps with teams, players, or other tournament organizers at the time of their sanctioning application. In addition, organizers must confirm the following is not present:

• Any ownership or operational ties to participating teams.
• Multiple teams with shared ownership, management, or financial control participating in the same event.
• Shared staff, casters, or admins with teams.
• Sponsorships that may pose conflicts.

Broadcast talent (casters, analysts, desk hosts) with team ownership or management ties may not participate in event coverage where their team competes. Broadcast talent affiliated with an organization as contracted content creators must disclose the relationship to the tournament organizer prior to the event and may not cover matches involving that organization.

Organizers may not:

• Operate a Tier 2 event where they control a participating team during any competitive event.
• Influence competitive outcomes.
• Modify formats or invitations after registration closes.

Violations may result in:

• Immediate sanction revocation.
• Removal of awarded points.
• Suspension from future sanctioning.

Sanctioning Process

1. Organizer submits a Tier 2 sanctioning request.
2. Embark reviews format, standards and calendar placement.
3. Embark coordinates calendar placement to avoid scheduling conflicts with other sanctioned events in the same region. Where conflicts arise, priority is given on a first-come, first-served basis determined by the date of sanctioning application submission.
4. Tier classification (2A or 2B) is provisionally assigned at the time of sanctioning approval, and confirmed no later than one (1) week before the event's Main Stage begins, based on accepted invitations and regional ranking presence at that time.
5. Event is listed publicly as sanctioned.
6. Event runs.
7. Results verified and points awarded.

Sanctioning may be revoked at any stage if requirements are not met.

Sanctioning Limitations

• Each approved organizer may run up to three (3) sanctioned events per calendar year, per region, subject to change as interest and ecosystem growth allows. Organizers are still required to apply for each event they intend to run.
• Organizers seeking to run additional events beyond this limit may contact Embark to discuss exceptions.
• Embark will coordinate scheduling across organizers to avoid calendar conflicts within the same region and timeframe.

Organization Compliance

Embark enforces compliance through a structured escalation process. The severity and nature of the violation determines the response:

Standard Escalation

For major operational failures, reporting delays, or minor rule breaches:

• Written Warning - The organizer is formally notified of the issue and required to confirm corrective measures.
• Probation - The organizer's future sanctioning applications are subject to review. Probation lasts for a minimum of six (6) months.
• Sanctioning Revocation - The organizer is removed from the sanctioning program and may not apply for sanctioned events for the foreseeable future.

Immediate Action

The following violations may result in immediate sanctioning revocation without prior warning:

• Failure to pay advertised prize pools to eligible participants.
• Confirmed match-fixing, result manipulation, or facilitating competitive integrity violations.
• Fraudulent or materially misleading sanctioning applications.
• Undisclosed conflicts of interest discovered after sanctioning approval.
• Operating under a proxy or shell arrangement to circumvent a previous revocation.

Where immediate action is taken, the organizer retains the right to appeal under the process outlined in the Final Authority section of this document.

Embark does not guarantee or underwrite prize pools for Tier 2 events. However, organizers who fail to honour their advertised prize commitments undermine the integrity of the sanctioned ecosystem and will be treated accordingly.

Gameplay Integrity

Organizers may not impose rules that restrict how players engage with core game mechanics, including but not limited to:

• Forcing contestant build restrictions.
• Banning or restricting specific gadgets, weapons, specializations, or abilities.
• Prohibiting the use of intended game mechanics (e.g. cashout station manipulation, environmental destruction).
• Requiring players to adopt specific playstyles or limiting strategic choices.

The competitive game is defined by Embark. Organizers define the format, schedule, and structure, not the gameplay itself.

In the event of a verified major bug or exploit, Embark may issue approval for a temporary restriction for problematic gameplay integrity mechanics. Only Embark may authorize gameplay restrictions, organizers may not impose them. If an organizer identifies a potential issue, they are encouraged to report it to Embark, and await guidance before enforcing any restriction.

Final Authority

Embark retains final authority over:

• Event sanctioning.
• RFI point allocation.
• Ranking adjustments.
• Integrity enforcement.

Appeals may be submitted in writing to esports@embark-studios.com within fourteen (14) days of the decision. Embark will review and respond within thirty (30) days of receiving the appeal.

Where sanctions, point revocations, or penalties are applied, Embark will provide a written explanation of the reasoning to the affected organizer.

Contact

For Tier 2 sanctioning inquiries:

Please contact: esports@embark-studios.com