Introduction and Purpose
Scope, participant agreement and organizer authority.
This rulebook governs Pakistan League Championship 2026 and applies to every participating team, player and individual involved in the tournament.
The Tournament Organizer may interpret, enforce and amend these rules when necessary to protect fair play, competitive integrity and smooth tournament operations.
By registering and participating, every participant confirms that they have read, understood and agreed to follow this rulebook.
Eligibility Requirements
One team per player and verified personal Riot accounts.
Player eligibility
- A player may compete for only one team during the tournament.
- Playing for multiple teams in the same tournament is prohibited.
Account requirements
- Players must compete on their own personal Riot Games account.
- Shared accounts, another player's smurf account, or any account not owned by the registered player are prohibited.
- Players must use the account submitted during registration unless a Tournament Administrator approves a change.
Violations may lead to penalties, game loss, match forfeiture or disqualification.
Team Composition
Roster size, captains, starting line-ups and substitutions.
Team size and structure
Each team must register at least five players and may register one substitute, for a maximum roster of six. Every player must be registered before the tournament starts.
Team captain
Each team must designate one active roster player as captain. The captain is the team's sole official contact and is responsible for:
- Submitting and confirming match results.
- Communicating scheduling or technical issues.
- Representing the team in disputes and official discussions.
A captain may not be replaced during the tournament without prior organizer approval.
Starting line-up and substitutes
- Every match requires five starting players from the registered roster.
- Failure to field five players within the preparation period may result in forfeiture.
- Substitutions may be made between games in a series, but not during an active game unless organizers approve exceptional circumstances.
- Starting line-up changes must be declared at least ten minutes before draft begins.
- Organizers may require advance notice before any substitution.
Player restrictions and team responsibility
Unregistered players and multi-team participation are prohibited. Rosters are locked once the tournament begins unless the Tournament Organizer approves a change. Teams are collectively responsible for member conduct and must cooperate with eligibility checks, investigations and rule clarifications.
Registration and Participation
Required registration details, check-in and official channels.
Team registration
Teams must register through the organizer's designated platform and provide:
- Official team name.
- Full player roster.
- Player Riot IDs and in-game accounts.
- Team captain or manager contact information.
Only registered players may compete. Organizers may verify player information and reject registrations that do not satisfy eligibility requirements.
Check-in requirements
Teams may be required to check in before the tournament or a scheduled match. Missing the communicated deadline may result in bracket removal, match forfeiture or replacement by another team.
Communication and administration
All teams must join and monitor the official communication platform designated by PLC. Match instructions, updates and administrative decisions will be issued there. Missing an announcement does not exempt a team from following it.
Tournament Administrators manage the competition, enforce the rules and may rule on situations not explicitly covered by this document. Teams must follow administrator instructions.
Competition Format
Divisions, series formats, seeding, sides and tiebreakers.
Structure
PLC is divided into three divisions: Open Division, Division 2 and Division 1. Selected teams may receive direct invitations to Division 2 or Division 1. Open qualifier teams may qualify for Division 2, and Division 2 teams may qualify for Division 1.
The organizer may adjust the format before competition begins when required for tournament operations.
Match format
- Early rounds: Best of One (Bo1).
- Quarterfinals and semifinals: Best of Three (Bo3).
- Final: Best of Five (Bo5).
Any operational format change will be communicated through official channels before play.
Bracket and seeding
Seeding may use a random draw, competitive seeding, previous tournament performance or a combination of these. The final method will be communicated before the tournament.
Side selection
For Game 1 of a Bo3 or Bo5, a coin toss winner selects Blue or Red side. In each following game, the team that lost the previous game selects its side.
Tiebreakers
- Two-way tie: seeding is determined by average game time in games won, or the teams may agree to play a tiebreaker match.
- Three-way tie: the teams play another round robin. If the tie remains, seeding is determined by game time in games won.
Match Settings
Server, patch, game configuration and drafting rules.
Game settings and server
- Game mode: Tournament Draft, or Blind Pick when an approved drafting website is used.
- Map: Summoner's Rift.
- Team size: 5v5.
- Spectators: Tournament Administrators and authorized observers only.
- Server: Middle East/North Africa (MENA), unless both teams agree to another server and administrators approve it.
Patch version
Matches use the current live server patch in effect when the tournament begins.
Tournament Draft
Teams must follow the standard League of Legends pick-and-ban process. Players must be assigned to their intended roles in the lobby. Any role change must be declared at least ten minutes before draft, and roles cannot change after drafting begins.
Fearless Draft
When Fearless Draft is active, a team cannot select a champion it has already played earlier in the same series. Organizers will communicate any additional restrictions before competition. If Fearless Draft is not used, standard Tournament Draft applies.
Match Process
Start procedure, punctuality, lobbies and result reporting.
Match start procedure
Teams must be ready at the scheduled time, join the designated communication channel and follow administrator instructions. All five players must enter the game lobby during the preparation period.
Punctuality
- A team without five ready players fifteen minutes after the scheduled start may forfeit.
- A match may be postponed when a team is still completing a previous tournament match.
- Each game is allocated one hour. Exceptional circumstances may extend that allocation to one hour and thirty minutes.
- Organizers may allow additional time at their discretion.
Lobby creation
Administrators will identify the team responsible for creating the lobby and communicate the settings. Only registered players, administrators and authorized observers may join.
Result reporting
The winning team must report the result through the designated method and may be required to provide an end-game screenshot, match ID, game link or other verification. Administrators review any disputed result and make the final decision.
Technical Issues and Pauses
Pause limits, disconnections, remakes and player equipment.
Pause rules
Players may pause for a legitimate technical issue, disconnection or other problem preventing normal play. The team must notify a Tournament Administrator immediately and resume only when instructed.
Each team receives a maximum of ten paused minutes. Administrators may grant up to five additional minutes. A team's pause time cannot exceed fifteen minutes in any circumstance; play continues once the limit is reached.
Disconnections
An affected team may pause while a player reconnects. If the player cannot return within the allowed period, administrators may require the team to continue 4v5 or forfeit, depending on the circumstances.
Remake conditions
A remake may be granted only for a critical technical failure or game-breaking bug that materially affects competitive integrity. Requests must be reported immediately and are decided by the Tournament Administrator.
Hardware and technical failures
Players are responsible for their hardware, internet connection and game client. Personal equipment or connectivity problems do not automatically grant extra pause time or a remake.
Competitive Integrity and Conduct
Cheating, account sharing, conduct, bugs and smurfing.
Cheating
Cheating is prohibited. This includes unauthorized third-party software, deliberate bug exploitation, stream sniping, ghosting and outside assistance. Penalties may include game loss, forfeiture, disqualification or suspension from future events.
Account sharing
Players must use their own registered account. Account sharing, boosting or having another person compete for a registered player may lead to team disqualification.
Unsportsmanlike conduct
Participants must behave professionally and respectfully. Harassment, abusive language, excessive toxicity, disrespect toward officials or competitors, and deliberate disruption may result in warnings, penalties or disqualification.
Bug exploitation
Known bugs may not be deliberately used for advantage. Players must immediately report any bug that could affect a match.
Smurfing
A player above the published eligibility cutoff who competes as a smurf will be disqualified, and the team may also be penalized. Organizers may give the team a defined period to arrange an eligible replacement player.
Penalties and Enforcement
Available sanctions, disqualification and administrator decisions.
Penalty types
Depending on the violation and its impact, an administrator may issue:
- A verbal or written warning.
- Game loss.
- Match forfeiture.
- Tournament disqualification.
- Suspension from future organizer events.
Disqualification
Serious violations include cheating, unauthorized software, account sharing, unregistered players, repeated unsportsmanlike conduct and refusing administrator instructions. A disqualified team may lose completed matches and be removed from the bracket.
Administrator decisions
Tournament Administrators interpret and enforce this rulebook. They may rule on situations not expressly covered when necessary to preserve fair play, competitive integrity and tournament operations. Administrative decisions are final and binding.
Communication and Disputes
Official announcements, team representatives and evidence.
Official communication channels
PLC will designate the official communication channels for each competition. At least one team representative, normally the captain or manager, must remain available there during the tournament. Teams remain responsible for instructions and announcements even when they fail to monitor the channel.
Match disputes
Teams must report a dispute to a Tournament Administrator immediately. Supporting evidence may include screenshots, match IDs, video recordings or other requested proof. Administrators review the evidence and issue a final decision.
Rule Priority and Changes
Updates, clarifications and final authority.
Rule updates
The Tournament Organizer may update, modify or clarify this rulebook to address unforeseen circumstances, improve operations or protect competitive integrity. Changes will be communicated through official tournament channels.
Final authority
The Tournament Organizer and designated Tournament Administrators hold final authority over the interpretation and enforcement of these rules. In any situation not explicitly covered, they may make the decision that best protects fair competition, tournament integrity and smooth operations.