Update to Major handbook introduces closed qualifiers for RMRs

Valve updated the Major rulebook ahead of the BLAST.tv Paris Major 2023 cycle, changing the qualification system for the RMRs with a new closed qualifier step and adding regional ranking. Additionally, the Asia RMR will double the number of attending teams from the previous four to eight.

Changes to the qualification structure were announced after the conclusion of the IEM Rio Major in November as Valve confirmed their intentions to rework the RMR invitation system.

Previously the only way for a team to qualify for the RMRs was to tackle the unforgiving world of open qualifiers. Now, a closed qualifier will be the main road into the regional events, with several teams allowed to start their journey directly from this step, avoiding the unpredictable online brackets.

Invitations to the closed qualifiers will be decided by an official “Regional Standing” which will be determined by the teams’ performances at both Valve-sanctioned and third-party tournaments. Valve has not yet revealed details about the new ranking system.

At least half of the teams attending the closed qualifiers must be invited through their positions in the Regional Standing and will join the teams that made it through the open bracket.

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Valve also confirmed that the closed bracket must follow the RMR format, with the number of attending teams being twice the number of RMR spots available from the event:

The closed qualifier format will follow the RMR format for the corresponding number of teams. The number of participating regional teams will be, at minimum, twice the number of teams who will advance to the RMR.

Each region (Europe, America, Asia) must hold one closed qualifier, but could be allowed to split in order to accommodate the ping of participating teams. In the eventuality that the event has to split, the qualifying spots must be evenly divided between the regions.

If invitations cannot be evenly split, the remaining invitation(s) will be granted to the subdivided qualifier featuring the team with the highest Regional Standing.

There were also changes to the format of the smallest RMR, increasing the minimum amount of teams attending the event from four to eight. This change concerns the Asia RMR as it will double the number of teams participating and means that the eight squads will compete in a double-elimination bracket.