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Quick Rules

Mortal Kombat tournaments are open to PS4 only

  • Game Settings: Tournament Mode (Default Options)
  • Timer: 90 seconds
  • Arena Select: Off
  • Stage Select (Top 8): Tournament
  • Interactables: On 
  • Variations: Tournament Mode Variations 

Match Procedure

The following steps outline the process of playing a Match:

  1. Players select their sides
  2. Players select their characters
  3. The Players play the first Game of the Match
    1. If a Mercy is performed, the Game outcome is delayed and the result afterward is official
  4. The losing Player of the preceding Game may choose to change characters
  5. The next Game is played
  6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 for all subsequent Games until the Match is complete

Game Specific

1.1 Side Selection

Players may mutually agree who plays on the left and right side, corresponding to Player 1 and Player 2 respectively. If Players cannot agree, the higher seeded player picks their side.

 

1.2 Characters

All characters already publicly released may be selected for Matches. If a new character is released, that character may only be selected if it is available at least thirty (30) days prior to the first day of the Tournament.

 

1.3 Pauses

If a Player either intentionally or accidentally pauses the Game by either pressing the start button or unplugging his controller, the Player who paused forfeits the current Game.

 

1.4 Grace Period

A participant must be in the game lobby with their opponent within 15 minutes after a match’s start time. Proof must be provided that there was an attempt to contact the missing opponent.

 

1.5 Delays

Participants may not delay the start of a match without the approval of an admin. Participants may delay a match between games for up to five minutes. If the participant does not have the minimum required players, they will forfeit the match.
 

1.6 Disconnections

If a player disconnects within the first fifteen (15) seconds, the game should be ended.  All players must leave the match to end the game. 

If a player disconnects after the first fifteen (15) seconds, they may forfeit the round/game in question.

1.7 Double Forfeit

If a match is not played and neither team contacts the admin requesting the forfeit or win, both teams will be knocked out of the tournament.

 

1.8 Seeding

Teams will be seeded according to their game ELO. The higher seed is determined by the team with the seed closest to 0. Example: Seed 4 is a higher seed than seed 10. 

 

1.9 Hosting

The host is the player that creates the custom game and ensures that the proper settings are used. The higher seeded player must host the first game. The lower seeded player will host the second game.

If the host incorrectly ends a game, their team may forfeit the game.

Players in Sub Saharan Africa that are playing outside of South Africa will forfeit host to the South African player who has a priority of host for all matches. 

 

1.10 Lag

In the event that lag occurs, the game should be completed. The player(s) that are experiencing lag should take video proof and provide it to an admin. If lag is occurring, it is recommended that multiple players provide proof of the lag. Leaving the game prematurely may result in a forfeit of the map.  Players with a ping of 150ms or higher may be forfeited.


 
1.11 Time Limit

Teams must report the match results within 10 minutes of its completion. Failure to report the match results or respond to admins may result in your team being forfeited. 


 
1.12 Report Match Score

Match results must be entered after all games/maps have been completed by going to the match page and clicking on "Enter Result" (only visible to team captains). Once a result is entered, the opposing team will have 5 minutes to respond to the result before it is automatically accepted.

 

1.13 Match Schedule

In a knockout tournament, participants that have not completed their matches before the scheduled start time of the next round of fixtures must contact an admin. Participants that do not attempt to contact an admin will have their fixtures forfeit once the 'Grace Period' of the following fixture expires.

Global Rules

By signing up to this tournament all participants agree that they have read and accept our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

 

2.1 Communication

Only communication via the ACGL Discord chat lobby, Match Chat, and ACGL Personal Messages will be accepted.

 

2.2 Rule Changes

ACGL has the right to (1) decide outside or even against the rulebook and (2) make changes to any of these rules before or during the tournament. This is to ensure fair play and the smooth progression of the tournament

 

2.3 Late Entries

Participants will not be able to sign up to tournaments once the sign-up deadline the has been reached

 

2.4 Misconduct and Unsportsmanlike Behaviour

All players are asked to behave in a respectful way towards other competitors and ACGL admins. Toxic behavior, flaming and unsportsmanlike behavior are not allowed and may be punished.

 

2.5 Conflict of interest

Participation in prize tournaments, unless otherwise explicitly permitted, is not allowed for employees of ACGL, its partners, or tournament sponsors.

 

2.6 Connections

Should we deem that your in-game connection is regularly in conflict with others or too unstable to fairly compete against others, you may be forfeited or blacklisted from our matchfinders.

The use of a VPN when connecting to our website/app is strictly prohibited and may result in you getting banned. Use of a GPN/Gaming VPN to connect to game-servers is allowed.

2.7 Prize distribution

In tournaments with a monetary payout, unless otherwise stated, payment will be made within (or by) 30 days following receipt of confirmed bank details. Please note that all prize payments must be done to a South African bank account. Any cash prizes not claimed after 3 months will be subject to forfeit.

Tournaments with a "sliding scale prize pool" have participation-dependant prizes, meaning a certain number of confirmed participants must be reached before a prize becomes valid and claimable.

 

2.8 Broadcasting

ACGL reserves the right to use any material cast or streamed by a player when participating in ACGL Tournaments. All personal streaming is allowed.

 

2.9 Spectators

Other than ACGL admins, spectators are only allowed if both participants agree. Any disputes on spectators must be made before the start of the first game.

 

2.10 Loadshedding
Standard cups: 
Standard cups will always go ahead regardless of the stage of loadshedding. As long as the tournament reaches the minimum amount of players needed for a tournament to start, it will start. 

Event Finals: 
If loadshedding is scheduled for stage 4 or above on the same day as an Event Series Finals, the dates of the finals may be moved to accommodate to all teams taking part.

 

2.11 New Characters / Maps

In the event that a new character, map, stage or additional DLC content is added to any game. That character, map, stage or additional DLC content may not be used within 14 days of the release. 
 

2.12 Event / Game Specific Rules

Any rule/s that specifically apply to any Event, Tournament or Game, will take precedence over Global Rule/s. If you are unsure regarding any rule, please be sure to contact the Tournament Administration. 

 

2.13 Following and upholding Terms of Service

Please ensure that you respect and follow both ACGL TOS and Rules, as well as the Game Publisher / Title TOS and Rules. Breaking any of these can result in a deduction of honour, or ban. 

 

2.14 Community Broadcast

Please note that for any Community Broadcast - all teams and players must agree to being on the broadcast. This should be communicated early to all participants, and agreed upon ahead of time. All community broadcasts should have at least a 2 Minute Delay (if applicable to the title), and all personalities on said broadcasts should be respectful to the players, and ACGL staff. ACGL reserves the right to request a take down of any broadcast, as well as bar any broadcast teams / peoples from running a Broadcast in the future.

 

Account Rules

3.1 In-Game ID

Players must ensure that their in-game ID (relating to the tournament) is up-to-date on their ACGL account. Per admin discretion, players may be deducted honour or forfeited from the match/tournament.

Players with profanity, vulgar text or foreign characters that cannot be typed on a standard keyboard, console, or mobile device in their ID will be requested to remove the text or risk being banned.

 

3.2 Multi accounts

Each tournament participant must only have one account. If a player cannot access their account, they must contact an admin on Discord or email admin@acgl.gg

 

3.3 Names and Logos

We reserve the right to edit user/team names or logos and deduct Honour if they resemble copyrighted content, are offensive/vulgar, or incite hatred.

 

3.4 Team Roster

A player may only play for one team in a tournament. The only players allowed to play for a team are the players listed under that team on the match page.

3.5 Account Sharing

Players are forbidden to allow others to play in tournaments in place of them by sharing game accounts.

 

3.6 Roster Changes

Changes to a team's roster may only be made before the start of a tournament and up to the end of the first round grace period. Teams may request via the admins for a roster change to be made with a player that is not a player already participating in the tournament. 

 

3.7 Substitutes

For specified tournaments, sub players will be allowed. These players are not required to check in and will also not receive any ELO or count towards team seeding. Substitutes will not be awarded trophies or embers either.

 

3.8 Country

Deliberately faking the country of residence is punishable. If a player does so and plays in a team match, the team will be punished as well.

Participants must reside in one of the following Sub Saharan African countries: Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Réunion, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Western Sahara, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Hosting rights for private matches will be given to South African players.

 

3.9 Banned players

Playing with a banned player may result in the entire team also being banned. A list of players banned from competing on the ACGL platform can be found here

Dispute Rules

4.1 Cheating

Breaking any rule and any form of cheating, hacking, abusing in-game mechanics, mods or unsportsmanlike behavior may be punished.

 

4.2 Disputes & Proof

All disputes must have evidence submitted to an ACGL admin for a ruling to be made. The burden of proof is on the accuser. In order to dispute game results, players must do so on the match page or Discord either before/during the match or no longer than 15 minutes after the end of the match.

 

4.3 Match-Fixing / Betting Fraud

Engaging in any action that improperly influences the outcome of a game or match by any means is strictly prohibited.

 

4.4 Doping

Any kind of doping is forbidden. Mild cases of doping will be punished with a warning. Severe cases (i.e. use of drugs containing performance-enhancing substances, like Adderall) will be punished.

 

4.5 Deception/Manipulation

The attempt to deceive admins or other players with wrong or fake statements, information, or data will not be tolerated. Players found bribing or attempting to bribe an ACGL admin or trying to manipulate the competition will be punished accordingly.

4.6 Game Modification

Programs that provide an unfair advantage or make changes to the game itself are forbidden. Scripts and changes to the game\'s configuration are not allowed unless otherwise stated in the tournament rules.

 

4.7 Equipment

Players may not use a Turbo/Button Macro controller. For all console tournaments, the use of a Keyboard/Mouse is strictly prohibited.

 

4.8 IP Flooding (DDoS Attacks)

Performing or assisting with a DDoS attack of your opponent or ACGL will be punished severely.

 

4.9 Lack of Cooperation

Failing to comply with a tournament admin's directions and/or requests may result in the forfeit of a game or the entire match.

 

4.10 Punishments

The following punishments for breaking rules may be enforced by an admin: Loss of Honour, a Game Forfeit, a Match Forfeit, or a ban for a specified duration. 

Penalty Rules

MINOR VIOLATIONHONOUR DEDUCTION
No show5
Incorrect game account5-15
Fake result10
Unregistered player10
Deception15
Unsportsmanlike Behaviour8-20
Abandoning Free Agent team after check-in20
3x FA team abandonsStats reset

 

Once a player reaches -20 Honour they will receive a one week ban, any subsequent violations may result in a permanent ban. 

 

MAJOR VIOLATIONBAN DURATION
Playing with a banned player1 month
5x FA team abandons1 month
Boosting1-3 months
Hostile language or Personal threats1-3 months
Smurf account3 months
Racism, hate speechPermanent

 

This list does not include violations such as cheating or use of illegal hardware as those are handled on a case by case basis. All bans are first reviewed by the ACGL admin team before they are confirmed.