Last Updated: 2026-01-30
Last Changed: 2026-01-28
The Regional Fame Index (RFI) is an official regional ranking system for competitive play in THE FINALS. Starting in 2026, teams will earn RFI points by competing in officially recognized tournaments within their region. These points determine:
At its core, RFI exists to reward consistent performance, fair competition and dedication over time, while keeping the ecosystem open and accessible to everyone, where we can provide it.
The RFI earning window runs from February through August each year. In September, regional leaderboards are locked and used to determine qualification paths for The Grand Major.
Our successful first year of competitive events in 2025 proved our philosophy on esports; THE FINALS thrives when competition is open, merit-based and community-engaged.
However, we learned that when you want to commit long-term, these ecosystems need:
We believe that the RFI system is the answer to those challenges. It creates a shared competitive language across all regions, where teams earn their place through results.
RFI rankings are tracked per region, ensuring fair competition.
In 2026, the RFI regions are:
Each region has its own leaderboard, its own events and qualification paths into The Grand Major.
While the RFI points system is not the only way to qualify for The Grand Major, it is the most direct.
We’ve taken in feedback and suggestions from players and organizers across multiple regions, and we are excited to officially introduce APAC into our ecosystem.
The following structure applies to all three regions (EMEA, AMERICAS and APAC) via the RFI system:
Teams opting to not participate in the RFI season are of course welcome to still compete in the Open Qualifier for a chance to qualify to The Grand Major.
The following structure confirms the regional allocation (slots) for The Grand Major 2026:
We are committed to supporting the growth of competitive play in South America and are providing this sub-region with a dedicated pathway into the AMERICAS Closed Qualifiers.
The top four (4) South American teams ranked within the AMERICAS RFI system will be invited to an exclusive South American RFI qualifier, running mid/late Q3 2026. South American teams that have already earned a place in The Grand Major - Closed Qualifiers through their RFI standings are not eligible, and their slot passes to the next highest-ranked South American team. The winner of this qualifier earns a direct invitation to The Grand Major - Closed Qualifiers.
Teams can earn RFI points by competing in events that are “officially sanctioned tournaments” ran by Embark-approved organizers.
The full list of current Embark-approved organizers, including the upcoming events for teams to participate, are available to view on our website at; reachthefinals.com/esports
These events come with responsibilities and standards that we set, but simply put; the path to earn RFI points for a player is as follows:
All RFI points are awarded based on final placement, at the end of an event as long as your team completes all required documentation.
Not all events for the RFI system award equal points, and that’s intentional. RFI events are evaluated based on either the tier of the event or, the strength of participants. Strength of participants mean the number of RFI listed teams participating.
RFI listed teams are not obligated to participate in every invited RFI event. Organizers are required to provide the opportunity for teams to join, and if a team decides to decline, they can extend the invitation to the next team in the ranking.
The ‘Tier 1’ distribution is specifically for events which are of large-scale and officially ran. The clear example would be “The Grand Major” in which points from TGM25 carry over as a kick-starter into the 2026 season. Due to the “Match Point” format, we distribute points grouped by stage.
Tier 2 events are community-run tournaments operated by Embark-approved organizers. To be eligible for RFI points, these events must meet all structural requirements outlined in the Running Sanctioned Events document, including minimum team counts, open qualifier access, regional declaration, and invitation procedures.
Tier 2 events are classified into two sub-tiers based on the competitive strength of participating teams:
Tier 2A applies when all event requirements are met and at least four (4) teams ranked within the Top 8 of the regional RFI leaderboard are participating.
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 applies when all event requirements are met but fewer than four (4) teams from the Top 8 of the regional RFI rankings are participating, despite attempts to invite them. This reduced distribution protects ranking integrity while still rewarding competition.
This alternative points distribution will be given to organizers running events where there isn’t enough presence of the top teams within the RFI participating. We want to balance between allowing regions to run events and also protect against “point-farming” wherever we can.
RFI points belong to the players, not to a team name, brand, or organization. Points are tied to the core roster of players who earned them together. If a roster breaks apart, the points stay with the core. If the core dissolves, the points dissolve with it.
For full details on core roster definitions, roster locks, substitute rules, and how roster changes affect point ownership, see the Roster Rules for Sanctioned Events section below.
Starting from The Grand Major 2025, points accumulated over the year will be subject to a decay system. Decay is calculated from the date the event concludes, not from when points are published on the leaderboard. The specifics of the point decay system is outlined below:
For example, if we take the points earned from The Grand Major 2025:
They would filter down to the following points based on the months passed:
When we depreciate points, if there are decimals such as 292.5, then we round them up for simplicity sake (293).
In the event that two or more teams share the same RFI points total, the following tiebreakers will be applied in order:
If all tiebreakers are exhausted, Embark reserves the right to make a final determination.
If a team is disqualified from a sanctioned event, whether during the event or retroactively, their RFI points are revoked and the standings for that event are adjusted as follows:
For the purposes of point decay, redistributed points are calculated from the original event conclusion date, not from the date the disqualification was issued.
Example: A team finishes 2nd at a Tier 2A event and is later disqualified for using an ineligible or suspended player. The team originally in 3rd moves to 2nd (150 points), the team in 4th moves to 3rd (100 points), and so on. All adjusted points decay from the original event date.
Teams competing in sanctioned events must declare their roster via the Embark Esports Competitive Register if they are eligible for points from an event.
The annual RFI roster lock takes effect on August 31st each year. After this date, no roster changes may be made that affect RFI point ownership for the current competitive year.
A team’s core roster consists of the players whose participation determines RFI point ownership (minimum 2 of 3 starters). A new player becomes part of the core roster after competing in three (3) RFI-sanctioned events with the team. Until that threshold is met, the player is considered a non-core member and the team’s RFI points remain tied to the existing core.
If fewer than two (2) original core members remain in a roster, accumulated RFI points are dissolved.
Substitutes are not part of a team's core roster. A substitute may be used during any sanctioned event in place of a starter, subject to the following:
If a substitute transitions to a permanent starter role, their three-event core roster clock begins from the first sanctioned event in which they compete as a starter. The departing player is removed from the core roster. If this causes the team to fall below the 2/3 core minimum, accumulated RFI points are dissolved.