Article 1: General Conditions and Registration
1.1. Registration for this competition is open to all interested individuals.
1.2. Participants who are not ranked among the top 20 in the overall individual scoreboard must register to participate in this event.
1.3. The registration process is completed by providing accurate and valid personal information and signifies acceptance of all competition rules.
1.4. Each participant will have a personal profile on the scoreboard system, which includes their name, photo, and a description of their skills (in their own words). All scores and records from previous rounds will be recorded and visible on this profile.
1.5. Attacking, sabotaging, or tampering with the competition's infrastructure is prohibited. Violation of this rule will result in the individual's elimination from the competition round.
Article 2: Overall Competition Structure
2.1. The competition is held in two main stages:
- a) Preliminary Round (Round Zero): To select the top 128 participants for the main competition.
- b) Main Competition: Consists of 7 one-hour rounds of single-elimination competition among the 128 participants.
Article 3: Preliminary Round (Round Zero)
3.1. Objective: To select the top 128 participants from all registrants.
3.2. Format: Participants will solve 10 challenges of easy to medium difficulty within a 60-minute time frame.
3.3. Selection: After this round, the 128 individuals with the highest scores will advance to the first round of the main competition.
Article 4: Main Competition (Elimination Stage)
4.1. Grouping: The top 128 participants will be ranked based on their scores from Round Zero and divided into four brackets (A, B, C, D).
4.2. Matchups: The competition is single-elimination, with matchups determined by the preliminary round rankings. The 1st ranked participant will face the 128th, the 2nd will face the 127th, and so on.
4.3. Opponent Anonymity: The identity of a participant's opponent will remain confidential until the start of each round.
4.4. Opponent Absence: If a participant fails to show up for their match, they will be considered the loser, and their opponent will win the round. The winning participant may choose to solve challenges alone during that round to increase their overall score (for prize consideration and final ranking).
Article 5: Scoring System
5.1. The score for each challenge is calculated dynamically and depends on two main factors: time to solve and the total number of solves.
5.2. Base Formula: The score for each challenge consists of a 500-point base score plus a time bonus. The time bonus is calculated using the formula:
**Score = 500 + (60 - minutes taken to solve)**
Example: If a challenge is solved after 19 minutes, its score will be 500 + (60 - 19) = 541 points
5.3. Dynamic Scoring by Difficulty: The final score of a challenge is inversely proportional to its number of solves. A challenge solved by fewer people will be worth more points. This coefficient is automatically calculated and applied by the scoreboard system.
5.4. Tie-Breaker Condition: In the event of a tie in score between two opponents in a head-to-head match, the participant who submitted their last correct flag earliest will be declared the winner.
Article 6: Disciplinary and Monitoring Rules
Violations and Cheating
6.1. Video Monitoring: Every participant is required to install and configure OBS (Open Broadcaster Software) on their computer. A complete installation and setup guide will be provided before the competition.
6.2. Each participant must stream their screen and webcam feed in real-time to the designated server throughout the entire duration of the competition.
6.3. Any interruption in this video stream will be considered a violation and will result in the immediate disqualification of the participant.
6.4. Prohibition of AI Tools: The use of any Large Language Models (LLMs) such as Gemini, ChatGPT (OpenAI), or similar tools, in any form or method, is strictly prohibited. If detected, it will lead to the immediate disqualification of the offending participant.
6.5. Prohibition of Communication: Any communication between participants or with any third party during the competition rounds is forbidden and will result in disqualification.
6.6. The participant is solely responsible for maintaining a stable internet connection and ensuring the proper functioning of their computer and the OBS software.
Article 7: Prizes and Final Rankings
7.1. Cash prizes will be awarded to the top 7 participants as follows:
- 🥇 1st Place: $1,024
- 🥈 2nd Place: $512
- 🥉 3rd Place: $256
- 4th Place: $128
- 5th Place: $64
- 6th Place: $32
- 7th Place: $16
7.2. Determining Ranks:
- 1st and 2nd Place: Determined by the final head-to-head match in the elimination bracket.
- 3rd to 7th Place: Determined by the total cumulative score earned across all rounds in which the participant competed. The scoreboard will display an overall ranking based on this metric.
Article 8: Miscellaneous
8.1. Spectators will be able to watch the ongoing matches via the live streams provided by the participants.
8.2. The competition organizing committee has the final say on any unforeseen circumstances or disputes, and their decision is final and binding.
8.3. Participation in the competition grants the organizers the right to use recorded images and video streams for promotional and informational purposes.
Last Updated: October 2025