Magic tournament/Rules
(Redirected from Participation eligibility)
Publishing Tournament Information
From the Tournament Rules (May 13, 2024—Outlaws of Thunder Junction)
- 1.2 Publishing Tournament Information
Wizards of the Coast reserves the right to publish DCI-sanctioned tournament information at any time (including during the tournament). Tournament information includes, but is not limited to, the contents of one or more players' decks, descriptions of strategies or play, transcripts, and video reproductions. Tournament Organizers are also allowed to publish this information once their tournament is complete.
Wizards of the Coast reserves the right to publish penalty and suspension information
Tournament Roles
From the Tournament Rules (May 13, 2024—Outlaws of Thunder Junction)
- 1.3 Tournament Roles
The following roles are defined for tournament purposes:
• Tournament Organizer
• Head Judge
• Floor Judge
• Scorekeeper
• Player
• Spectator
The first four roles above are considered tournament officials. The Head Judge and floor judges are collectively considered judges. A single individual may act in any combination of tournament official roles. Individuals who are not judges at a tournament are spectators in any match in which they are not playing. Members of the press are also considered spectators.
Participation Eligibility
These are the rules to participate in a DCI-sanctioned tournament
From the Tournament Rules (May 13, 2024—Outlaws of Thunder Junction)
- 1.4 Participation Eligibility
Anyone is eligible to participate as a player in a DCI-sanctioned tournament except for:
• Individuals currently suspended by the DCI. Individuals currently suspended from the DCI may not act as tournament officials;
• Other individuals specifically prohibited from participation by DCI or Wizards of the Coast policy (such determination is at Wizards of the Coast’s sole discretion);
• Individuals thirteen (13) years of age and younger who do not have their parent/guardians’ permission;
• Anyone prohibited by federal, state, or local laws, the rules of the Tournament Organizer, or by a venue’s management.
• Tournament Organizers may choose to age restrict any Regular REL events that they organize. They must clearly indicate this in their marketing for the event on the Store and Event Locator description as well as any other place they display the event information. (i.e., Tournament Organizers may advertise an age 16 and under Friday Night Magic).
Anyone is eligible to participate as a tournament official (Tournament Organizer, Head Judge, floor judge or Scorekeeper) for a tournament except for:
• Individuals currently suspended by the DCI;
• Anyone who has played in the tournament, unless it is a tournament that explicitly allows tournament officials to play while acting as a tournament official.
Tournament officials may play in a DCI-sanctioned, rated tournament for which they are a tournament official if (and only if) the tournament is of the following types:
• Friday Night Magic
• Prerelease
• Launch Parties
• Game Day
• Store Championship
• Other non-Premier Magic Tournaments
• Tournaments in which the official Wizards of the Coast tournament fact sheet specifically permits officials of that tournament to play
If one or more tournament officials play in the tournament, it must be run at Regular Rules Enforcement Level. If tournament officials play in the tournament and the tournament is not one of the allowed types listed above, the tournament will be invalidated. Tournament officials are required to officiate tournaments fairly and without regard to their own self-interest.
The owners of organizations that run Premier Events are not permitted to play in those tournaments, even if the owner is not listed as a tournament official (organizer, judge, and/or scorekeeper) for that tournament.
Premier Events include the following tournaments: Magic: The Gathering World Championship, Pro Tour, Pro Tour Qualifier, Regional Championship, Regional Championship Qualifier.
Some tournaments have additional criteria regarding player and tournament official eligibility (e.g., invitation-only tournaments, such as Pro Tour and Regional Championships).
The Premier Tournament Invitation Policy defines specific eligibility rules with regards to certain types of invitation-only Premier Tournaments (e.g., Pro Tour and Regional Championships).
Individuals with questions regarding their tournament eligibility should contact [email protected].
Registration
From the Tournament Rules (May 13, 2024—Outlaws of Thunder Junction)
- 1.5 Registration
In order to participate in Magic: The Gathering tournaments, players must be able to provide the necessary and appropriate identifying information to participate in the tournament.
For tournaments run using the EventLink tournament management software, players must provide a Wizards Account and/or a first and last name. Players without a Wizards Account should obtain one from https://myaccounts.wizards.com.
Floor Judges and Head Judge
Scorekeeper
Players
Spectators
From the Tournament Rules (May 13, 2024—Outlaws of Thunder Junction)
- 1.11 Spectators
Any person physically present at a tournament and not in any other category above is a spectator. Spectators are responsible for remaining silent and passive during matches and other official tournament sections in which players are also required to be silent. If spectators believe they have observed a rules or policy violation, they are encouraged to alert a judge as soon as possible. At Regular or Competitive Rules Enforcement Level, spectators are permitted to ask the players to pause the match while they alert a judge. At Professional Rules Enforcement Level, spectators who are not members of the official coverage team must not interfere with the match directly.
Players may request that a spectator not observe their matches. Such requests must be made through a judge. Tournament officials may also instruct a spectator not observe a match or matches.
Rules Enforcement Levels
Dropping from a Tournament
From the Tournament Rules (May 13, 2024—Outlaws of Thunder Junction)
- 2.10 Dropping from a Tournament
Players may drop from a tournament at any time. If a player drops from a tournament before the first round of play has started, they are considered to have not participated in the tournament and will not be listed in the finish order. Players choosing to drop from a tournament must inform the Scorekeeper by the means provided for that tournament before the pairings for the next round are generated. Players wanting to drop after the Scorekeeper begins pairing for the next round will be paired for that round. If a player does not show up for their match, they will be automatically dropped from the tournament unless they report to the Scorekeeper. Players that repeatedly and/or intentionally drop from tournaments without informing the scorekeepers of those tournaments may be the subject of penalties up to and including suspension.
Players who drop during limited tournaments own the cards that they correctly have in their possession at that time. This includes any unopened or partially drafted booster packs.
If a player drops from a tournament after a cut has been made, no other player is advanced as a replacement. The highest ranked remaining player receives a bye for the round instead.
Players who have dropped may reenter a tournament at the discretion of the Head Judge. Players may not reenter a portion of the tournament that requires a deck built during a construction period that the player missed. Players may not reenter a tournament after any cut has been made.
Players may not drop from a tournament in exchange for or influenced by the offer of any reward or incentive. Doing so is considered Bribery (see section 5.2).
Taking Notes
From the Tournament Rules (May 13, 2024—Outlaws of Thunder Junction)
- 2.11 Taking Notes
Players are allowed to take written notes during a match and may refer to those notes while that match is in progress. At the beginning of a match, each player’s note sheet must be empty and must remain visible throughout the match. Players do not have to explain or reveal notes to other players. Judges may ask to see a player’s notes and/or request that the player explain their notes.
Players may not refer to other notes, including notes from previous matches, during games.
Between games, players may refer to a brief set of notes made before the match. They are not required to reveal these notes to their opponents. These notes must be removed from the play area before the beginning of the next game. Excessive quantities of notes (more than a sheet or two) are not allowed and may be penalized as slow play.
In tournaments where opponents’ decklists are provided to players, players are not permitted to transcribe their opponent’s entire decklist as part of their notes for the match.
The use of electronic devices to take and refer to notes is permitted at Regular Rules Enforcement Level (see section 2.12).
Players and spectators (exception: authorized press) may not make notes while drafting. Players may not reference any outside notes during drafting, card pool registration, or deck construction.
Players may refer to Oracle text at any time. They must do so publicly and in a format which contains no other strategic information. Consulting online sources, such as gatherer.wizards.com, is allowed at Regular Rules Enforcement Level even if they contain a small amount of strategic information. If a player wishes to view Oracle text in private, they must ask a judge.
Artistic modifications to cards that indirectly provide minor strategic information are acceptable. The Head Judge is the final arbiter on what cards and notes are acceptable for a tournament.
Electronic Devices
From the Tournament Rules (May 13, 2024—Outlaws of Thunder Junction)
- 2.12 Electronic Devices
Electronic devices are permitted, but players may not use them to access information that contains substantial strategic advice. For events that use digital decklists, players may only access the decklists of other players prior to the start of a game or in between games. Digital decklists may not be referenced during games. Device use during a match other than brief personal calls must be visible to all players. Players wishing to view information privately on electronic devices during matches must request permission from a judge.
At Competitive and Professional Rules Enforcement Level during drafting and deck construction, players may not use electronic devices capable of taking and storing notes, communicating with other people, or accessing the internet.
The Head Judge or Tournament Organizer of a tournament may further restrict or forbid the use of electronic devices during matches.