Qualifier Rules

01

Double elimination

Every player gets a second life. Lose twice and you're out. The bracket runs on start.gg.

02

First to 3 wins

Each match is a race to 3 game wins. The winner locks their character for the match — the loser may switch.

03

Play from home

All matches are played on Fightcade. You and your opponent schedule your own match during the week of October 19–25.

Scheduling

Players arrange their own match times within the October 19–25 window. If your opponent won't respond, contact a moderator before the round deadline.

Reporting

The winner reports the score on start.gg. False reports are grounds for disqualification.

Lag & disputes

Lag disputes go to a moderator, whose call is final. Play on a wired connection and test your setup before your match.

Character rules

Winner locks character, loser may switch. Akuma is banned — he's been banned in competitive Street Fighter 2 for 30 years.

Where you go from here

Online qualifiers, bar seasons, and partner venue events all feed the regionals — played on real arcade hardware — which feed the national final, where a $25,000 prize pool is on the line.

Key dates

Registration closes October 28 at 11:59 PM EDT. The qualifier runs October 29–November 4. Entry is free.