REGISTRATION PROCESS

The event uses an Open Registration with a VRS-ranked Team Selection process.

Registration Open

  • Registration opens: Wednesday, October 7 at 15:00 CEST
  • Open Registration is available to all teams during the registration period.
  • Teams must register via the official Registration Form, which will be published through the official ROG Journey website and ROG Journey X account.
  • Every registration receives an automatic timestamp.
  • Submitting the Registration Form does not guarantee a tournament slot.

Team Selection

  • Initial Team Selection begins on Tuesday, November 3.
  • The official Valve Regional Standings (VRS) update published on November 2, 2026 will be used for the Team Selection.
  • The 16 highest VRS-ranked registered teams will be selected first and contacted on November 3.
  • After the initial selection, the process will continue down the VRS ranking, starting with Team #17, followed by Team #18, #19, and so on, until all available tournament slots have been filled.
  • To be included in the initial Team Selection starting on November 3, teams must have completed their registration by November 2 at 23:59 CEST at the latest.
  • Registration will remain open after the initial Team Selection. If slots remain available, additional teams may still register and be considered for participation.
  • Registration fully closes on November 15 at 23:59 CEST, 2026. After this deadline, no new teams can be accepted to participate in ROG Journey Winter.

If all tournament slots have not been filled through the Open Registration by the two-week mark, the Tournament Organizer reserves the right to extend the registration deadline by seven (7) days.

Discord Requirement

Every registered team must have at least one representative in the official ROG Journey Discord to be eligible to receive a payment link.

The representative must join the server and request their team role after registering the team. Without a valid team representative in the ROG Journey Discord, the registration may be considered incomplete.

How Does It Work?

Once the registration link is published, teams will be required to provide the requested team and contact information through the Registration Form.

Submitting the Registration Form does not confirm participation. Tournament slots are awarded through the Team Selection process described above.

Payment Confirmation

Selected teams have 24 hours to complete the payment process and confirm their participation.

If a selected team does not complete payment within the 24-hour deadline, the offer automatically expires and the next eligible team in line based on the VRS ranking will be offered the available tournament slot.

Remaining eligible teams will continue to be considered based on the VRS-ranked Team Selection process until all 16 tournament slots have been filled.

IMPORTANT DATES

  • September 30: Complete tournament, registration and financial information published
  • October 7 at 15:00 CEST: Open Registration begins
  • November 2 at 23:59 CEST: Deadline to register for inclusion in the initial Team Selection
  • November 2: Official Valve Regional Standings update used for Team Selection and VRS seeding
  • November 3: Initial Team Selection begins
  • November 15 at 23:59 CEST: Registration closes
  • November 16: Final roster submission deadline
  • November 30 – December 5: ROG Journey Winter

PRIZE STRUCTURE & ENTRY FEE

The total guaranteed prize pool for ROG Journey Winter is $30,000 USD.

Two Team Package options are available:

  • 20,000 SEK + VAT
  • 30,000 SEK + VAT

The selected Team Package includes the tournament entry fee.

Prize Distribution

1st: $10,000
2nd: $4,000
3rd–4th: $3,000 per team
5th–8th: $2,500 per team

Total: $30,000 USD

TEAM PACKAGES

20,000 SEK + VAT Team Package

Includes:

  • Tournament entry fee
  • Access to private practice rooms with gaming equipment
  • Catered food during tournament days
  • Soft drinks, snacks and fruit
  • Team media assets from Media Day

Not included:

  • Hotel accommodation
  • Local transportation

30,000 SEK + VAT Team Package

Includes:

  • Tournament entry fee
  • Hotel accommodation
  • Access to private practice rooms with gaming equipment
  • Catered food during tournament days
  • Soft drinks, snacks and fruit
  • Local transportation between the hotel and studio
  • Team media assets from Media Day

All Team Package benefits are available for as long as the team remains in the tournament.

ROSTER SUBMISSION & SEEDING

  • Once a team has been accepted and the Team Package Ticket has been paid, BME will request the team's final roster.
  • Final roster submission is required no later than two (2) weeks prior to the event.
  • Teams are required to submit their final roster by November 16, 2026.
  • From that point, the roster core of at least three (3) players cannot be changed.
  • Failure to comply may result in walkovers.
  • There are no Direct VRS Invites.
  • There are no Wildcard Invites.
  • Seeding is based on VRS → HLTV → Esplay ranking.
  • The VRS publication date used for seeding is November 2, 2026.

REFUND POLICY

  • More than 6 weeks before the first tournament day: The team will be replaced by a team from the waiting list. 75% refund of the participation fee.
  • More than 4 weeks before the first tournament day: The team will be replaced by a team from the waiting list. 50% refund of the participation fee.
  • Less than 4 weeks before the first tournament day: The team will be replaced by a team from the waiting list. No refund of the participation fee.
  • Less than 2 weeks before the first tournament day: The team will receive walkovers in their matches. No refund of the participation fee.

VRS INFORMATION IN DETAIL

A definition of the filters to the VRS (if any) that Direct VRS Invites will be based on:No filter.

The VRS rank from which Tournament Operator will begin invitations:No direct invites.

The number of Rosters subject to a Direct VRS Invite and/or Wildcard Invite, if any:None. There are no Direct VRS Invites or Wildcard Invites.

The Invitation Date:No invitations, no invitation date.

The VRS publication date from which Direct VRS Invites will be issued:No invites.

The VRS publication date which will be used for Team Selection and seeding:The official Valve Regional Standings update published on November 2, 2026.

Which Tournament stages are online or LAN:All main event matches are played on LAN.

The prize pool and the rules for its distribution:The total guaranteed prize pool is $30,000 USD.

Prize distribution:

1st: $10,000
2nd: $4,000
3rd–4th: $3,000 per team
5th–8th: $2,500 per team

Teams can select between two Team Package options priced at 20,000 SEK + VAT or 30,000 SEK + VAT.

The 20,000 SEK + VAT Team Package includes the tournament entry fee, access to private practice rooms with gaming equipment, catered food, soft drinks, snacks and fruit, and team media assets from Media Day.

The 30,000 SEK + VAT Team Package includes all of the above as well as hotel accommodation and local transportation between the hotel and studio.

Team Package benefits are available for as long as the team remains in the tournament.