The International 2012 Wild Card Qualifier

1. General


1.1 Tournament

The International Wild Card Qualifier is a five day tournament that includes 8 invited teams and gives the winner a ticket to The International 2012. It will be called TIWCQ in the following.

1.2 Participants & Teams

Every person who plays a match for one of these teams during the TIWCQ will be called a "participant" in the following.

1.3 Administration

1.3.1 Everybody who is authorised by Valve to administrate the TIWCQ based on its rules and regulations will be called an "admin" or “referee”in the following, the collectivity of all admins will be called the "administration".

1.3.2 A referee is allowed to ignore or overrule any of the following rules in order to make the competition as fair as possible.

1.4 Commitments

1.4.1 By attending the TIWCQ participants acknowledge without limitation to comply with the rules and regulations of TIWCQ and with the decisions made by the referees.

1.4.2 Every participant acknowledges the right for Valve to modify the rules and regulations for adjustments at any time without notice.

1.4.3 Every participant has to show the needed respect towards other participants and referees. Insults and unfair or disrespectful behaviour towards referees and other participants are not tolerated and will be punished.

1.4.4 Every participant must always have the newest version of steam and Dota 2 installed and has to check for updates in time before each match. Patching is not a valid reason to delay a match under normal circumstances.


2. Competition Format


2.1 Overview

TIWCQ is played as a double elimination bracket with eight teams. It is divided into two different brackets, the upper bracket and the lower bracket.

2.2 Team Selection

All eight teams get invited by the administration.

2.3 Elimination System

2.3.1 All 8 teams start in the upper bracket. It consists of three rounds. The teams who lose in round one enter the lower bracket in round one. The teams who lose in round two enter the lower bracket in round 2. The team who loses in round three enters the lower bracket in round 4. The winner of round 3 is called the winner of the upperbracket and reaches the grand final.

2.3.2 7 Teams enter the lower bracket during its progess (as described in 2.3.1). It consists of four rounds. Every team who loses a match in the lower bracket is immediately eliminated from TIWCQ. The winner of round 4 is called the winner of the lowerbracket and reaches the grand final.

2.3.3 The winner of the grand final is qualified for The International 2012.

2.4 Match length

2.4.1 All playoff matches except the grand final are best of three (bo3). That means: The two opposing teams play against each other until one team has two wins.

2.4.2 The grand final is a best of five (bo5). That means: The two opposing teams play against each other until one team has three wins.


3. Team Members & Standins


3.1 Team Creation

The captain of each team has to create the team in Dota 2 and invite the four other players to join.

3.2 Lineup Changes

The Lineup can not be changed during or after the qualifier. The five players who play the TIWCQ matches are the only ones allowed to play for the team at The International 2012.

3.3 Stand-ins

Stand-ins are not allowed. Nobody besides the five official players is allowed to play a match for a team.

3.4 In game Names

3.4.1 Each player has to have a clan tag as part of his steam name during all matches. What counts as a clan tag is for the administration to decide.

3.4.2 Each player has to have his common nickname or something very similar as part of his steam name during all matches to be easily identifiable for broadcasters and viewers. What counts as similar is for the administration to decide.


4. Matchtimes


4.1 General Timeline

The overall duration of TIWCQ is 5 days, from June 6th to 10th.

4.2 Matchtimes

All official matchtimes will get announced at joindota.com and can only be changed by an admin under exceptional circumstances.


5. Before a match


5.1 Availability

At least one member of both teams has to be present in skype or steam 30 minutes before the start of their match to communicate with the administration and the opponents.

5.2 Lobby Hosting

All games get hosted by a referee. The teams receive the password from this referee about ten minutes before the official starting time. The players are not allowed to pass the password on to anyone but the other members of his team.

5.3 Spectators
Only referees and approved broadcasters are allowed to join the game as a broadcaster or unassigned player. Everyone else besides those and the ten players has no permission to join the lobby.

5.4 Server Location

The server location gets chosen by a referee.

5.5 Sides & First pick

5.5.1 The team shown on top of the bracket plays Radiant in game 1 and Dire in game 2. The sides of game 3 get decided by a referee's cointoss.

5.5.2 The starting team is random in game 1 and game 3. The team who did not have the firstpick in game 1, gets it in game 2.

5.6 Game Settings

SERVER LOCATION, PASSWORD and STARTING TEAM are set according to the rules above. GAME NAME and BOTS are irrelevant. The remaining settings have to be:
  • GAME MODE: CAPTAINS MODE

  • CHEATS: No

  • SPECTATORS: Yes

  • VERSION: Tournament


6. During the match


6.1 Picks & Bans

The heropool always consists of all in Captains Mode available heroes. The game must not be paused during the draft, unless a drafter disconnects.

6.2 Pauses

Each team has the right to pause the game for an acceptable duration, if a player announces it at least three seconds in advance and calls a coherent reason (exception: not necessary, if someone disconnects). The game must not be resumed before both teams agree with it and a countdown is required. When the number or the duration of breaks becomes too high or long, the adminstration may force the continuation of the game.

6.3 Disconnects & Reconnects

If a player disconnects, the game is to be paused instantly. Everyone has up to ten minutes to reconnect to the game (if the same person disconnects more than once, all times get added up). If this time is passed, the opposing team may continue the game, unless an admin demands the opposite. The affected player is in this case still allowed to rejoin later on.

6.4 Bugs

If any heavy bugs occur, the game has to be paused and the administration decides how to continue.

6.5 Tools / Hacks

The usage of any Dota-related tool aside from Steam and Dota 2 during a match is strictly forbidden.

6.6 Ending

A game is finished, when an Ancient Fortress is destroyed, when one team obviously forfeits, when the majority of a team leaves on purpose, or when the administration decides on it.