A Guide for First-Time Tournament Entrants: Registration, Rules and Preparation

Entering your first tournament is exciting but a little confusing. We have hosted hundreds of new teams over the years at Zerdava Open and our amateur cups. This guide summarises the most common questions and the mistakes we see.

1. Pick the right tournament

Every tournament on the calendar is designed for a level: open amateur, semi-professional or invitational. For your first one we recommend the 'open amateur' format, which uses double elimination so a team that loses its first match gets a second chance.

2. Complete registration and documents

Team registration is online; the captain enters players' in-game names and contact details. A parental consent form is required for players under 18. Once the entry fee is paid the team is automatically added to the draw list; unpaid registrations are deleted after 48 hours.

3. Read the rules

The rules document spells out the game version, map selection, break rights, technical pause durations and banned software. The most common mistake is misusing a technical pause and giving the opposing team grounds for protest.

4. Network and hardware test

If you play at the arena, the hardware is ours, though you may bring your own peripherals. We offer free practice hours at the arena the day before the match. In online tournaments, use a wired connection, close background apps and install game updates in advance.

5. Match-day routine

Arrive at the arena 45 minutes before the match, complete identity verification and hold a short briefing with the referee. Eat lightly, remember to drink water and, as captain, give the team a clear goal: not 'let's win the first round', but 'let's stick to the plan for the first five rounds'.

After the match

Even if you lose, ask the referee for the match report and watch the replay with your team. What you learn from a first tournament is often worth more than a trophy. Write down in one sentence what you will change at the next tournament and send it to the team before registration closes.

Five common mistakes

• Misspelling player names at registration, which leads to ID mismatches on match day.
• Forgetting the time zone and start time; a team more than 10 minutes late is counted as a forfeit.
• Not registering a substitute, leaving the team short if someone falls ill.
• Trying to solve technical problems during the match instead of testing beforehand.
• Not setting team comms rules; who makes the calls should be clear from the start.

You can use this list as a checklist during registration. For questions, you can reach our tournament director Yiğit Bozdağ and his team through the contact form; replies usually arrive the same day.

A well-prepared first tournament builds a strong base for the ones that follow. We welcome every new team warmly.