Tournament Official Rules

Scope of Rules. These Tournament Official Rules (“Rules”) govern all tournaments hosted on the Zovian platform (“Platform”) and apply to every user who registers for, hosts, moderates, or participates in any tournament. Individual tournament hosts may add game-specific or tournament-specific rules, but no host-added rule may conflict with or override these Rules. If there is a conflict, these Rules control. Reports (flags), reviews, penalties, disputes, escalations, and appeals are governed by Zovian’s Moderation and Penalty Process, available at zovian.com/moderation, which is incorporated into these Rules.

Platform Owner. Zovian Games LLC (“Zovian”) is the owner of the Platform and sponsor of all platform-level prizes. Individual tournament hosts are responsible for administering their own tournaments in accordance with these Rules. Zovian is not responsible for a host’s failure to administer a tournament properly, except as expressly stated in these Rules.

Updates. Zovian may update these Rules at any time. The version in effect when a user registers for a tournament governs that tournament.

Who May Participate. To register for or host a tournament, a user must be:

• a legal resident of the 50 United States or the District of Columbia;
• at least the age of majority in their state of residence at the time of registration; and
• the holder of a valid Zovian account in good standing. Accounts are free, but Zovian may issue them by invitation only (you can join the waitlist for a free Zovian account here).

One Account Per Person. Each person may hold only one Zovian account. Registering multiple accounts to gain additional tournament entries is prohibited and will result in disqualification from all affected tournaments and may result in account suspension.

Ineligible Persons. Employees, officers, and directors of Zovian are not eligible to participate in any tournament for prizes.

Identity. A user may not assume another person’s identity or use another person’s account to enter a tournament. Zovian may require verification of identity at any time. If a user’s identity cannot be verified, Zovian may disqualify that user.

What Tickets Are. “Tickets” are the Platform’s digital currency, purchased through a third-party payment processor in exchange for real money. Tickets are used to register for tournaments, create tournaments, donate to tournaments, and purchase platform features or cosmetics.

Ticket Terms. Tickets are non-refundable and non-redeemable for cash except as expressly stated in these Rules. Tickets do not expire. The specific value/purchase price of Tickets may be modified from time to time by Zovian, at their sole discretion.

Entry Methods. A user may register for a tournament by either:

• paying the entry fee directly from their Ticket wallet; or
• pre-authorizing a charge through a third-party payment processor for the real-money equivalent of the Ticket cost at the time of registration, where Zovian offers this option.

Failed Payments. If a pre-authorized charge fails for any reason when the registration window closes, Zovian will pass over that user’s entry and select the next eligible entrant from the registration pool. The user will be notified through their Zovian account. If a single team member’s payment fails, the entire team will be passed over.

How to Register. Users must visit the tournament details page during the open registration window and agree to all applicable rules before completing registration for that tournament. The tournament details page sets out:

• the tournament entry registration window;
• the game and game mode being played in the tournament;
• scoring criteria;
• prize pool and payout structure; and
• special rules and any verification requirements.

These details cannot be changed after the tournament is created.

Individual and Team Entry. Tournaments may be structured for individual participants or teams, at the tournament host’s discretion. For team tournaments, the team leader registers the team and invites its members. Either the team leader may pay the entire entry fee, or each team member may pay individually. If a team member withdraws before participants are selected, the team leader may invite a replacement. A team is eligible for selection only if it is complete when participants are selected and each participant’s entry fee is paid. If the team leader withdraws, the entire team is withdrawn.

Participant Selection. When the registration window closes, Zovian’s algorithm selects participants from the registered pool. The algorithm is meant to ensure that:

• no user is scheduled for 2 simultaneous tournaments;
• users who have been passed over for prior tournaments are prioritized; and
• other fairness and integrity criteria are applied, with remaining selections made randomly.

If any team member is ineligible for selection under the algorithm (for example, because that member is already scheduled for a simultaneous tournament), the entire team is passed over. Every user who registers for a tournament but is not selected as a participant, including a user on the waitlist who is never added to the tournament, has all Tickets paid returned to their wallet in full, and any pre-authorization is cancelled.

Waitlist. A user may join a tournament’s waitlist when registering for the tournament, so that the user moves to the waitlist automatically if not selected as a participant. A user may also join the waitlist after participants are selected. Waitlist entries are subject to the following:

• Automatic join: the user agrees to be added to the tournament automatically if selected from the waitlist, based on their pre-set join priority.
• Manual join: the user receives a notification and must accept within the stated window to enter.

Automatic-join users are prioritized over manual-join users on the waitlist. A waitlisted user who is a participant in another tournament scheduled at the same time will not be selected from the waitlist.

Participant List and Prize Pool Finalization. The participant list and prize pool are finalized at the later of either:

• 6 hours before the tournament starts, or
• when the stated registration window closes.

The final prize pool will be displayed on the tournament details page before finalization. After finalization, no further withdrawals are permitted except as described in Section 5.3 (Post-Finalization Forfeiture).

Tournament Cancellation. A host may cancel a tournament at any time before the registration window closes. If a tournament is cancelled, all Tickets are returned to participants’ wallets and all pre-authorizations are cancelled.

A tournament is also automatically cancelled if the number of registered participants does not meet the required minimum when the registration window closes. If a host accumulates too many cancelled tournaments within a given period, Zovian may limit that host’s ability to create tournaments or suspend their hosting privileges.

Pre-Registration-Close Withdrawal. A user may withdraw at any time before the registration window closes, with no penalty. Any Tickets paid are returned in full, and any pre-authorization is cancelled.

Post-Registration-Close Withdrawal (Before Finalization). A user selected as a participant may withdraw up to 6 hours before the tournament starts, as long as the participant list has not yet been finalized. If a selected participant withdraws during this window:

• 80% of their paid Tickets are returned to their wallet; and
• users who pre-authorized a charge receive an 80% refund, minus any applicable processing fees.

If the registration window closes less than 6 hours before the tournament starts, there is no withdrawal window.

If a team member withdraws, the team may: (a) continue with one fewer player (as long as the team still meets any tournament-specific minimum requirements); (b) find a replacement who pays the full entry cost; or (c) withdraw as a full team for the 80% refund. The team must make this election before the participant list is finalized.

A user on the waitlist who has not been added to the tournament may leave the waitlist at any time, with no penalty. Any Tickets paid are returned in full, and any pre-authorization is cancelled.

Post-Finalization Forfeiture. After the participant list and prize pool are finalized, a user may not withdraw. A user who does not participate is considered to have forfeited and receives no refund or Ticket return.

A team with a forfeiting member may: (a) continue with one fewer player (as long as the team still meets any tournament-specific minimum requirements); (b) find a replacement who pays the full entry cost; or (c) forfeit as a full team. If a team member is missing, the team will be notified on the Platform when the issue arises and must make its election within the timeframe stated in the notice. If no election is made within that timeframe, the team forfeits by default.

If a forfeit or withdrawal reduces a tournament below the minimum required participants, the prize pool is automatically distributed to the remaining participants.

Livestream Tab. For tournaments with a livestream, the livestream tab opens 1 hour before the tournament’s scheduled start time, or 30 minutes before if the tournament was created less than 3 hours before its scheduled start. A tournament cannot be created less than 1 hour before its scheduled start. Hosts, moderators, and participants use this tab to prepare for the tournament.

Required Verifications. Before the tournament begins, participants must complete any verifications specified in the tournament details. Verifications may include:

• showing the game’s install folder structure to confirm the game is unmodified
• confirming the game version to ensure all participants are running the same version;
• showing their gaming setup, including hands and input device, on stream;
• completing a live action randomly determined by the Platform to confirm footage is not pre-recorded; and
• showing their face on stream to confirm a live human is playing.

Failure to complete required verifications before the tournament starts may result in disqualification.

Host and Moderator Check-In. If the host has not arrived in the livestream tab at least 15 minutes before the scheduled start, participants may request an emergency host. If a moderator has not arrived by that time, the host may request an emergency moderator. An emergency host or moderator may receive part or all of the original host’s or moderator’s share of the tournament proceeds, depending on how much of the original’s work they complete.

Streaming Requirements. Where the tournament requires participants to stream, participants must link their approved streaming platform (e.g., YouTube) to the Platform and keep the stream active for as long as they are competing in the tournament. In formats where participants compete at different times or can be eliminated, such as asynchronous or bracket elimination tournaments, a participant may stop streaming when their run ends or they are eliminated. Pre-recorded footage may not be submitted in place of a live run. Participants are responsible for ensuring their stream remains accessible for the full score validation period described in Section 8 (Score Validation and Leaderboard Finalization).

Start and Scoring Window. The tournament begins at the start time stated in the tournament details. Participants have until the stated tournament end to compete according to the stated scoring criteria.

End-of-Run Validation. When a participant completes their run or the tournament duration ends, they must complete any end-of-run validations specified in the tournament details. These may include a visible timestamp in their stream chat or a display of the real-world time in their stream.

Score Submission. After the tournament ends, a 24-hour score submission window opens. During this window, participants must follow the score submission specifics detailed in the tournament page, which may include submission of the following:

• Their final score or scores based on the scoring criteria;
• a link to the recording of their live tournament run;
• the start and end time of their run; and
• direct links to key moments and verifications within the recording.

A participant may edit their score submission at any time during the 24-hour window. When the window closes, all score submissions are locked and published, so that participants can view them and the host and moderators can validate them. Submitting a score that does not match the livestream recording is grounds for disqualification. Each participant may make only one score submission, which may include more than one score if the tournament details require it.

Bugs and Glitches. If a participant intentionally triggers a known bug or glitch that provides an unfair advantage or prevents normal play, the host may, at their sole discretion, penalize that participant up to and including disqualification. If a participant unintentionally encounters a bug or glitch, no penalty will be issued. The determination of whether a bug or glitch was intentional is at the sole discretion of the host, or Zovian if the host is unavailable or the issue is escalated. Zovian’s determination on any escalated bug or glitch ruling is final.

Technical Issues. Disconnects, hardware failures, or connection problems during a tournament are the participant’s responsibility. Zovian is not obligated to replay or reschedule tournaments due to individual technical issues. If Zovian determines that a platform-wide technical failure significantly affected a tournament’s integrity, it may apply the remedies described in Section 11 (Platform Suspension and Cancellation).

Review Process. When the score submission window closes, submitted scores appear on both the public leaderboard and the score validation page. Any registered user may review submitted scores and flag issues for review.

Host and Moderator Obligations. The host and the score validation moderators must review all submitted scores and confirm that:

• the submitted score matches the livestream recording;
• all required verifications were completed correctly; and
• no cheating or unsportsmanlike behavior is apparent in the recording.

Hosts and moderators who fail to complete their review obligations may be replaced by an emergency moderator to complete score validation. An emergency moderator receives a portion of the original host’s or moderator’s share of the proceeds, based on the amount of work left undone, up to the entire share.

Leaderboard Finalization. A tournament’s leaderboard is finalized once all of the following conditions are met:

• the score validation period stated in the tournament details has ended;
• the host or moderators have reviewed all submitted scores; and
• there are no open flags or disputes on any participant in the tournament.

Moderation and Penalty Process. Any registered user may flag a submitted score or participant conduct during a tournament or during the score validation period. Flags, reviews, penalties, disputes, escalations, appeals, and moderation rewards are governed by the Moderation and Penalty Process.

Prize Pool. The prize pool for each tournament is calculated based on the tournament’s details, including its entry cost, number of registered participants, and the services provided for the tournament. The prize pool will be displayed on the tournament details page and made available to all participants before the tournament starts.

Points Redemption. “Points” are the Platform’s reward currency for tournaments. A user’s Points remain in their account until redeemed. Users may redeem Points for:

• additional Tickets; or
• real-world value through a third-party redemption service.

Points do not expire as long as the user’s account remains in good standing.

Participant Payouts. Participants earn Points based on their final leaderboard position. Tournament prize Points are distributed across the top 30–75% of leaderboard positions on a decay from first place downward. The percentage of positions rewarded is stated in the tournament details.

Host, Co-Host, and Moderator Payouts. Hosts earn a share of the tournament proceeds as set out in the tournament details. Co-hosts and moderators receive a share of the host’s payout as agreed during tournament creation and accepted by each co-host or moderator when they accept the role. Alternatively, a host may pay co-hosts, special guests, or moderators a flat rate when creating the tournament, in which case the host keeps the entire host share of the tournament proceeds.

Viewer Donations. Viewers may voluntarily donate Tickets to a specific participant, the prize pool, tournament host, or other available donation target during the livestream. The specific donation target receives 80% of donated Tickets, converted to Points at Zovian’s current conversion rate as detailed on the Platform. The remaining 20% is retained by Zovian.

No Warranty on Prizes. All prizes and Points are awarded “as is” and without warranty of any kind, express or implied, including any implied warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. Points are not money. The rate at which Points redeem for real-world value may change as described in the Terms of Use. Points may not be transferred or sold to any third party other than Zovian or as otherwise allowed by Zovian through Platform functionality.

Winner Notification and Prize Claim. Potential winners will be notified through the notification method they have selected in their account settings within 2 business days of leaderboard finalization. To claim a prize, a potential winner may be required to confirm that they comply with these Rules and are responsible for all taxes related to the prize, grant Zovian a license to use their username and likeness, and release Zovian from liability (together, the “Affidavit”). If a potential winner: (a) is found to be ineligible; (b) fails to complete a required Affidavit; (c) declines the prize; or (d) fails to comply with these Rules, Zovian may award the prize to an alternate winner.

Zovian’s Rights. Zovian may modify, suspend, or terminate any tournament, or the Platform itself, at any time if it determines in its reasonable discretion that:

• a technical failure, platform outage, or security breach has materially impaired the integrity of the tournament;
• fraud, collusion, or other bad-faith conduct has undermined fair competition;
• a Force Majeure Event (defined in Section 11.3) has made it impossible or unreasonable to continue; or
• continuing the tournament would violate any applicable law or regulation or Platform policies.

Remedies on Mid-Tournament Cancellation. If Zovian cancels a tournament after it has started, Zovian will, in its sole discretion:

• pause and reschedule: suspend play and resume the tournament at a later time;
• distribute based on progress: distribute the prize pool based on each participant’s progress as of the time of cancellation, using a method Zovian determines is fair under the circumstances, which may differ from the tournament’s standard payout structure (for example, by shifting part of the prize pool toward lower-ranked participants who did not have the full tournament to improve their standing); or
• void and refund: cancel the tournament entirely and return all entry fees to participants.

Zovian’s election of one of the above remedies is final. Participation in whatever resolution process Zovian selects is each participant’s sole and exclusive remedy for a mid-tournament cancellation.

Force Majeure. “Force Majeure Event” means any event beyond Zovian’s reasonable control, including fire, flood, earthquake, natural disaster, epidemic or pandemic, labor dispute, act of God, act of war or terrorism, government order, court order, infrastructure failure, or any other cause that makes continued operation of the Platform or a tournament impossible or unreasonable.

General Standards. All users, including participants, hosts, moderators, and viewers, must conduct themselves with sportsmanship and respect. Zovian is committed to maintaining a competitive environment that is fair, inclusive, and free from abuse.

Prohibited Conduct. The following conduct is prohibited:

• Cheating and exploits: using unauthorized software, hardware modifications, exploits, or any method that confers an unfair in-game advantage.
• Collusion and match-fixing: agreeing with another participant to manipulate the outcome of a tournament or intentionally underperforming to affect standings.
• Betting: wagering real money, virtual currency, or any items of value on the outcome of any Zovian tournament between participants.
• Fraud: misrepresenting identity, submitting fabricated scores, submitting pre-recorded footage as a live run, or any other fraudulent act.
• Harassment and abuse: harassment, hate speech, threats, or discrimination directed at any other user based on any characteristic.
• Stream misconduct: using vulgar language, taunting, or engaging in unsportsmanlike behavior during a live or recorded tournament stream.
• Inappropriate names: using vulgar, offensive, or inappropriate usernames, team names, or in-game handles.

Consequences. Penalties are issued, and can be disputed and appealed, under the Moderation and Penalty Process. Depending on the severity and frequency of the violation, penalties may include:

• a warning on the user’s account;
• a reduction or loss of Experience;
• restrictions on chat or livestream participation, such as a mute or removal;
• a financial penalty against tournament prizes;
• disqualification from a specific tournament (with no refund);
• a temporary suspension from the Platform or a Platform feature; or
• a permanent ban from the Platform or a Platform feature.

Disqualified participants are not entitled to a refund of entry fees or any portion of the prize pool.

Host Obligations. Tournament hosts are responsible for:

• creating accurate and complete tournament details before publishing;
• for tournaments with a livestream, arriving in the livestream tab at least 15 minutes before the scheduled start;
• for tournaments with a livestream, opening the livestream to viewers at the appropriate time;
• reviewing all submitted scores within the validation period;
• reviewing and resolving flags as required by the Moderation and Penalty Process; and
• otherwise acting in good faith to ensure a fair tournament.

Moderator Obligations. A moderator’s obligations depend on the type of moderator:

• Chat moderators are chosen by the host or assigned at the host’s request. Chat moderators are responsible for arriving in the livestream tab at least 15 minutes before the scheduled start, keeping the livestream chat in line with these Rules and the host’s chat rules, reviewing flags raised during the tournament, and issuing temporary penalties to keep chat fair, inclusive, and free from abuse.
• Score validation moderators are selected by Zovian, or assigned by Zovian at the host’s request. A host may not select their own score validation moderators. Score validation moderators are responsible for reviewing submitted scores under Section 8.2.

All moderators must act in good faith and in accordance with these Rules and the Moderation and Penalty Process.

Consequences for Host or Moderator Inaction. If a host or moderator fails to fulfill their obligations, Zovian may:

• bring in an emergency host or moderator, who may receive part or all of the original host’s or moderator’s share of the tournament proceeds, depending on how much of the original’s work they complete;
• issue a warning or penalty to the host or moderator; or
• restrict or suspend that user’s hosting or moderating privileges.

Disclaimer of Liability. Zovian is not responsible for: (a) technical malfunctions of any kind; (b) lost, late, or misdirected entries or submissions; (c) errors in tournament details caused by a host; or (d) changes to the Points redemption rate made in accordance with the Terms of Use.

Taxes. Winners are solely responsible for all applicable federal, state, and local taxes on any prize or payout. Zovian will issue a Form 1099 for prizes and payouts that meet the IRS reporting threshold, as required by law.

Publicity. By accepting a prize, a winner grants Zovian the right to use their username, likeness, and prize information for promotional purposes without further compensation, except where prohibited by law.

Limitation of Liability. In no event will Zovian’s total liability to any participant exceed the amount of entry fees that participant paid for the tournament giving rise to the claim. Zovian is not liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages.

Dispute Resolution. Any dispute arising from a tournament or these Rules is resolved under Section 19 (Dispute Resolution) of the Terms of Use, including its informal resolution, binding arbitration, opt-out, and governing law provisions.

Severability. If any provision of these Rules is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue in full force.

Entire Agreement. These Rules, together with Zovian’s Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, and Moderation and Penalty Process, constitute the entire agreement between Zovian and participants with respect to tournaments on the Platform.

Winner’s List and Rules. The winner’s list for each tournament is posted on that tournament’s leaderboard page. These Rules are available on the Platform at zovian.com/rules. To request a copy of a winner’s list or these Rules, email contact@zovian.com.