RULES SUMMARY

This is a quick summary of rules that most players need to know. Click here to download the full rulebook.

• All players must be current students from the same university. 
• Teams must have at least 5 players. 
• If teams are more than 20 minutes late they will forfeit a map.
• Check-in deadline is 18:30pm. Teams who don't check-in will not get games for that evening.
• Offensive player and team names are not allowed.
• Verbal abuse is not allowed. In particular any use of racist, sexist, homophobic or any other discriminatory language will lead to disqualification of players involved.

In addition to NSE rules all players must comply with VALORANT terms of service at all times including, but not limited to, any account sharing policies.

Players are expected to uphold the NSE Code of Conduct whilst competing in this tournament.

GAME SETTINGS

• Mode : Standard
• Cheats : Off
• Competitive/Tournament mode : On
• Win by two: On

PAUSE RULES

• Teams are allowed 2 tactical timeouts each game, 2 per team (1 on each half).
• This can be done by typing /timeout in the chat, a timeout will be queued for the next buy phase.
• Teams may pause to resolve technical issues during the buy phase to try and fix it.
• This can be done by using "Pause Match Timer" in the start menu via the cheats tab
• With tournament mode on all cheats will be disabled except Pause Match Timer.
• Using pause during a round is forbidden (freezetime and once a round has been concluded does not count as during).

MAP POOL

• Abyss
• Bind
• Fracture
• Haven
• Lotus
• Pearl
• Split

From week 4, the map pool will be adjusted with the following changes: -Icebox -Lotus +Pearl +Split

MAP VETO - BEST OF ONE 

The home team (left team) can elect to be Team A or Team B within the following process:

1. Team A bans 1 map
2. Team B bans 2 maps
3. Team A bans 1 map
4. Team B bans 1 map
5. Team A picks map out of 2 remaining maps and Team B has side choice

MAP VETO - BEST OF THREE

The home team (left team) can elect to be Team A or Team B within the following process:

1. Team A bans 1 map
2. Team B bans 1 map
3. Team A picks the map for game 1 and Team B has side choice
4. Team B picks the map for game 2 and Team A has side choice
5. Team B bans 1 map
6. Team A picks the third map and Team B has side choice

SUBSTITUTION RULES

• Teams may add/remove players from the team between weeks.
• Teams may play with any players listed on their roster.
• In a bo3 match, teams may substitute players between games.
• Players may be added to teams at any point as long as it does not cause a delay to round starting.
• Players may not play for more than one team in a single tournament night.
• If a team does not have a match during a round, the students on that team are not allowed to compete on a different team.
• For example, if the first team does not have a match but the second team does, no players who would normally represent the first team are eligible to play for the second team.

This competition is not affiliated with or sponsored by Riot Games, Inc. or VALORANT Esports.

All decisions regarding the interpretation and enforcement of these rules are at the sole discretion of the NSE Admin Team, whose decisions are final.
These rules may be amended, changed or supplemented when required by the NSE Admin Team to ensure fair play and competitive integrity.