This VRML Championship is a competitive esports gaming tournament featuring the game Onward developed and published by Downpour Interactive. As set forth more fully in the Championship information page, the Championship consists of a series of stages.

These Official Championship Rules govern the Championship and are in addition to the VRML Regular Season rules that govern how the League is played during the Season.

Each person who participates in the Championship is referred to as a "Player". Each Player unconditionally accepts and agrees to comply with and abide by these Official Championship Rules and the decisions that VRML make about the Championship, including without limitation decisions about how to interpret or implement both these Official Championship Rules and Regular Season Rules and administer the Championship, and such decisions shall be final and binding in all respects and not subject to challenge or appeal. Any aspects of the Championship or incidents that affect the Championship that are not outlined in these Official Championship Rules may be addressed and resolved by VRML and the Championship Organizers at the time of the incident and their decisions on such matters shall be final and binding and not subject to challenge or appeal.

These Official Championship Rules are subject to change, as determined by the Championship Organizers in their sole discretion. The most recent version of these Official Championship Rules is on https://vrmasterleague.com/Onward/Championships/Season14/Rules, and the Championship Organizers may also use other means to communicate with those Players who have registered for the Championship using the contact information associated with their account. If a change would affect a Team's place or standing in the Championship if they were applied retroactively, that change will be applied only prospectively unless the Championship Organizers determine in their sole discretion that such changes must be applied retroactively for legal or other reasons.

Teams already qualified for the Championship via the VRML Season 14 Worlwide Standings need only to confirm their participation to a VRML representative.

To participate in the Challenger Cup, Players must confirm their Team participation by checking the box in that effect in their "My Teams" web page. The Team must meet the requirements as detailed on the Challenger Cup page.

Best-of-X - means a Match that has X number of Maps, and the Team that wins a majority of the Maps is declared the winner. Once a Team wins the number of Maps needed to reach the requisite majority, then that Team will be declared the winner of the Match, and any Maps that have not been played at that point will not be played. For example, in a Best-of-Three Match, once a Team wins 2 Maps, that Team will immediately be declared the winner of that Match.

Championship Organizers - Any VRML designated entity or representative involved in implementing, producing or managing the Championship, in whole or in part.

HMD - A head-mounted display is a display device, worn on the head or as part of a helmet, that has a small display optic in front of one (monocular HMD) or each eye (binocular HMD).

Map-round - a cumulative set of Rounds happening on a single, particular Map.

Match - championship play between two Teams that may involve multiple Map-rounds, as described in the Championship information page.

Round - a spawning event being played on a particular Map-round. From the moment the teams spawn-in to the moment the objective is captured, the time runs out or a Team has lost all its Players.

Round Robin - means a phase of the Championship where each Team plays against every other Team in their round-robin group.

Swiss-system Tournament - means a phase of the Championship where each Team plays an unprepared selection of other Teams according to each Teams' performance.

Team - a group of Players who compete in the Championship together as a unit. A description of Team requirements is provided in Section entitled "General Eligibility and Player Equipment Requirements".

VRML - VR Master League.

Participants must abide by the Website terms of use and be 13 years old or older. In addition to this, participants must be of legal age or have authorization from parent or guardian. Note that potential Winners will ultimately need to provide their names and addresses, in all confidentiality, to receive their prizes. Each Player will be known publicly by his or her User Name, rather than his or her real name. Each Player represents and warrants that their User Name and Team Name and logo will not violate or infringe upon the trademark, copyright, publicity rights or other intellectual property or other rights of any other person or entity. If the Player is under the age of majority in his or her state or country of residence ("Minor"), such Minor Player represents and warrants that he or she has received permission from his or her parent or legal guardian to register for and participate in the Tournament, and all references to "Player" shall include that Minor Player's parent or legal guardian.

The Championship Organizers, and each of their immediate family members (spouses and siblings, parents and children and their spouses), and governmental officials are not eligible to participate in the Championship without express written permission from VRML. Players must have access to the Internet and supply their own equipment needed to participate in the Championship, including, without limitation, PCs, monitors, HMDs, controllers, headphones and headsets, cables and a copy of or authorized access to Onward and valid access to the game servers that will be used, as applicable (collectively, "Player Equipment").

The Championship is comprised entirely of Teams. Players must combine to form a Team consisting of at least five (5) individual Players and no more than eight (8) individual Players. Players may participate on only one (1) Team at a time throughout the Championship.

Each Player on a Team must satisfy all eligibility requirements set forth herein for Players, and each such Team Player must be registered on the VRML Website in order to be considered a member of the applicable Team. In the event a Team progresses to further stages of the Championship, the Championship Organizers will attempt to notify the Team through its Team Captain (as defined in GAME PLAY RULES - Team Roster section).

Each member of the Team, including the Team Captain, shall be deemed to have jointly and severally made and entered into all of the representations, warranties and agreements contained herein and shall be jointly and severally obligated and bound thereby. Except as otherwise expressly set forth herein, all of the Championship Organizers' rights pursuant to these Official Championship Rules relate to and are exercisable against the Team as a whole and each individual member of the Team. If any right of disqualification arises as to any individual member of the Team, then the right of disqualification may be exercised either as to such individual member of the Team, or to the Team as a whole, as the Championship Organizers may elect in their sole discretion.

For clarification and the removal of doubt, these Official Championship Rules do not govern Team relationships. The terms of the relationship between Players and their respective Teams are left to each of the Teams and their Players. But please note that disputes between Team members may be grounds for disqualifying the applicable Team or any of its Team members, as determined by the Championship Organizers in their sole discretion.

Teams that VRML, in its sole discretion, determines are directly or indirectly owned or controlled by a person or entity that operates sports (including esports) gambling, wagering, bookmaking, or betting sites or platforms are not eligible to participate in the Championship.

All Players are expected to exhibit good sportsmanship and maintain respect for one another and for all Championship Organizers and spectators. Players must follow all instructions of the Championship Organizers. Players are expected to play at their best at all times within the Championship and to avoid any behavior inconsistent with the principles of good sportsmanship, honesty, or fair play. Any Player behaving inappropriately, or not competing in compliance with these Official Championship Rules, as determined by the Championship Organizers in their sole discretion, may be immediately disqualified from the Championship and forfeit all potential prizes. Further, the Championship Organizers reserve the right, in their sole discretion, to ban disqualified Players from any future championship or tournament or event organized by VRML, if deemed necessary. Behavior that is considered to be inappropriate and in violation of the Code of Conduct includes, but is not limited to, the following:

1. Interfering with the operation of the Championship or the VRML Website;
2. Acting in an unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner, or with the intent to disrupt or undermine the legitimate operation of the Championship, or to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any other person;
3. Engaging in collusion (e.g., any agreement between two (2) or more Teams or Players on different Teams to pre-determine the outcome of a Round, Map-round or Match, or to premeditatedly act in an unsportsmanlike manner);
4. Cheating of any sort through any means (as detailed in the regular Season rules);
5. Intentionally delaying or slowing gameplay or tampering with gameplay in any other known or unknown manner;
6. Offensive, vulgar or obscene User Names, avatars or Team names;
7. Sexism, ageism, racism or any other form of prejudice or bigotry;
8. Engaging in violence or any activity which is deemed in the judgment of the Championship Organizers to be immoral, unethical, disgraceful, or contrary to common standards of decency;
9. Engaging in any activity that is illegal in the jurisdiction where the affected Player is located;
10. Offering any gift or reward to a Player or Championship Organizer for assistance designed to provide a competitive advantage to the person offering the gift or reward or designed to impose a competitive disadvantage on any opponent;
11. Betting or gambling on your own performance, the performance of your Team or the results of the Championship or any phase of the Championship;
12. Using any language that is obscene, foul, vulgar, insulting, threatening, abusive, libelous, slanderous, defamatory or otherwise offensive or objectionable, or promotes or incites hatred or discriminatory conduct;
13. Taking any action or performing any gesture directed at an opposing Player or Team, official or spectator, or inciting any other individuals to do the same, which is insulting, mocking, disruptive or unsportsmanlike;
14. Engaging in any other type of behavior or conduct deemed inappropriate by the Championship Organizers in their sole discretion; or
15. Otherwise violating these Official Championship Rules.

Match Settings

Match Procedures

Team Rosters

Match Obligations

Penalties

Prizes are detailed here: https://vrmasterleague.com/Onward/Championships/Season14

To simplify transactions, cash/coupons/gift-cards prizes will be given to Team Captains. Products will be shipped directly to the Players.

To receive a product, the Player needs to live in a country that is supported by the manufacturer or sponsor. If the manufacturer or sponsor cannot ship at the player's location, the player shall not expect to receive their prize nor any monetary compensation.

The Championship Entities of VRML make no warranties, and hereby disclaim any and all warranties, express or implied, concerning any prize furnished in connection with the Championship. WITHOUT IN ANY WAY LIMITING THE GENERALITY OF THE FOREGOING AND WITHOUT ABROGATING THE VRML POLICIES OR THE END USER LICENSE AGREEMENT FOR ONWARD OR OTHER AGREEMENTS THAT APPLY TO ONWARD, THE CHAMPIONSHIP ENTITIES OF VRML HEREBY DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES AND CONDITIONS, WHETHER EXPRESS, IMPLIED, STATUTORY OR OTHERWISE, WITH REGARD TO ONWARD SOFTWARE, EQUIPMENT AND THE OPERATION OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE, NONINFRINGEMENT, AND THEIR EQUIVALENTS, UNDER THE LAWS OF ANY JURISDICTION.

Each Player knowingly consents to participate in any or all Championship activities under his or her own free will and without duress or undue influence of any third party. BY ENTERING AND/OR OTHERWISE PARTICIPATING IN THE TOURNAMENT, EACH PLAYER, ON BEHALF OF HIMSELF OR HERSELF AND HIS OR HER HEIRS, HEREBY RELEASES, DISCHARGES AND HOLDS THE CHAMPIONSHIP ENTITIES OF VRML HARMLESS FROM AND AGAINST ANY AND ALL ACTUAL AND POTENTIAL, KNOWN OR UNKNOWN, SUSPECTED AND UNSUSPECTED CLAIMS, DEMANDS, CAUSES OF ACTION, COSTS, LOSSES, INJURIES, LIABILITIES AND DAMAGES OF ANY KIND OR NATURE, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION MENTAL AND/OR PHYSICAL INJURIES OR DEATH AND DAMAGES TO OR LOSS OF PERSONAL PROPERTY, DUE IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, TO PARTICIPATING IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP, ATTENDING OR PARTICIPATING IN ANY CHAMPIONSHIP-RELATED EVENT OR ACTIVITY AND/OR THE USE OR MISUSE OF ANY PRIZE. The Championship Organizers are not responsible for any incorrect or inaccurate information or other materials, on, associated with or utilized as part of the VRML Website, and the Championship Organizers assume no responsibility for any error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operation or transmission, communications line failure, theft, destruction, or unauthorized access to the VRML Website or the field of play in Onward. Although the Championship Organizers attempt to ensure the integrity of the Championship, the Championship Organizers are not responsible for the actions of Players in connection with the Championship, including a Player's attempt to circumvent the Official Championship Rules or otherwise interfere with the administration, security, fairness, integrity, or proper conduct of the Championship. Without in any way limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Player agrees that the Championship Entities of VRML shall not be responsible or liable for, and are hereby released from, any and all claims, costs, injuries, losses or damages of any kind.

Each Player hereby agrees to indemnify and hold the Championship Entities harmless from and against any and all third party claims, actions or proceedings of any kind and from any and all third party damages, liabilities, costs and expenses, including reasonable outside legal fees and costs (collectively, "Third Party Claims") relating to or arising out of any breach of any of the warranties, representations, covenants, obligations or agreements of the Player under these Official Championship Rules. Except for matters for which Player is obligated to indemnify the Championship Entities hereunder, VRML will indemnify and hold each Player harmless from and against any Third Party Claims arising from production, distribution and exploitation of the Championship.

VRML reserves the right to modify, suspend, extend or terminate the Championship or any part thereof if it determines, in its sole discretion, that the Championship is technically impaired or corrupted or that fraud or technical problems, failures, malfunctions or other causes have destroyed, corrupted or undermined the administration, security, fairness, integrity, proper play or feasibility of the Championship or any portion thereof as contemplated herein. In the event VRML is prevented from continuing with the Championship by any event beyond its control, including but not limited to fire, flood, epidemic, earthquake, explosion, labor dispute or strike, act of God or public enemy, satellite or equipment failure, riot or civil disturbance, terrorist threat or activity, war (declared or undeclared) or any federal state or local government law, order, or regulation, order of any court or jurisdiction, or other cause not reasonably within the Championship Organizers' control (each a "Force Majeure" event or occurrence), VRML shall have the right to modify, suspend, extend or terminate the Championship. The Championship Organizers, in their sole discretion, may require the replaying of any Round, Map-round or Match, or declare any Round, Map-round or Match or other phase of the Championship null and void by reason of any of the foregoing. In the event the Championship Organizers determine, in their sole discretion, that any individual Round, Map-round or Match or other phase of the Championship, has been tampered with or that the validity of any Round, Map-round, Match or other phase of the Championship has been compromised for any reason, it may eliminate that Round, Map-round, Match or other phase of the Championship, and may conduct the Championship on the basis of the remaining Round, Map-round, Match and/or other phases of the Championship.

Any dispute or claim relating in any way to these Official Rules, the terms thereof, or the Tournament will be resolved by binding arbitration, rather than in court. The Parties agree that any dispute resolution proceedings will be conducted only on an individual basis and not in a class, consolidated or representative action. If for any reason a claim proceeds in court rather than in arbitration, the Parties each waive any right to a jury trial.

These Official Championship Rules and the other agreements referenced herein constitute the full and complete agreement and understanding between each Player and the Championship Organizers in connection with the Championship and replace and supersede all prior negotiations, agreements or understandings that may have been entered into between such Player and such Championship Organizer(s) with respect to the subject matter hereof. These Official Championship Rules cannot be modified or amended in any way except by VRML. The waiver of any term, condition, or breach of these Official Championship Rules shall not be deemed to be a waiver of that breach or any other term or condition in the future. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision in these Official Championship Rules shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision. In the event that any provision is determined to be invalid or otherwise unenforceable or illegal, these Official Championship Rules shall otherwise remain in effect and shall be construed in accordance with their terms as if the invalid or illegal provision were not contained herein. Headings and captions are used in these Official Championship Rules solely for convenience and ease of reference, and shall not be deemed to affect in any manner the meaning or intent of these Official Championship Rules or any provision hereof.