Skip to content
SEA

The Planned Tournament Structure

(If/When Event is Confirmed)

View BracketAdvancement Rules

Projected Prize Pool (Subject to Confirmation)

If the live stadium event is confirmed at the planned scale, we are currently projecting a total prize pool of up to $60,000,000, with a target of $20,000,000 allocated to the championship-winning team.

The final prize pool, payout structure, and number of awarded places will be confirmed and published in the Official Tournament Rules once all sponsors and partners are locked. All amounts are estimates only and subject to change, and all prizing remains subject to final legal review and approval.

Team Format

5-player teams

  • 1 Team Leader playing live in the stadium
  • 4 Teammates playing remotely over the internet

Every team gets a unique Team Invite Code + link that tracks:

  • Player sign-ups
  • Merch / ticket sales
  • Other SEA purchases tied to that team

These invite code stats power our Influencer Wildcards at every stage except the Final.

Team Earnings

Teams earn 10% commission on all sales made using their Team Invite Code.

This includes purchases of Backer Pass NFTs, merch, tickets, and other SEA products. Teams can use their invite code to build a community, support the event, and earn rewards based on their influence and reach.

Advancement Logic (Core Rule)

In every stage before the Final, for each big match:

Top 30,000 teams by in-game score advance automatically.

From the remaining teams in that same match, the Top 2,500 "Influencer Wildcard" teams (based on invite code-driven sign-ups and sales) also advance.

A Wildcard can be dead last on the scoreboard and still move on if their invite code performance ranks in the top 2,500 of the non-qualifiers. That's where social reach and community-building matter.

Each big match starts with 65,000 teams, and 32,500 advance (30,000 by score + 2,500 by influence).

Preliminary Event Schedule

All dates, venues, session counts, travel windows, advancement rules, ProStatus rules, and live-event programming remain subject to partner, venue, city, sponsor, broadcast, safety, and regulatory approvals.

July 15, 2026 – July 28, 2029

Team Signups, Team Store Creation & ProStatus Build Period

Teams begin forming, registering, selecting sponsor tracks, creating team stores, launching co-branded merchandise, producing content, building fan communities, driving sales, and increasing ProStatus. This period runs from the opening of team signups through the Stadium Finals, allowing teams to build momentum before qualifying begins and continue earning status, visibility, sponsorship consideration, and wildcard strength throughout the tournament.

May 10–20, 2029

Round of 64 / Global Qualifying Phase

64 global qualifying sessions across 650 linked venues. Each team has one Team Leader physically present at an approved venue, with four remote teammates connected online. Teams may enter up to 32 qualifying sessions. The top 50% advance.

May 21–24, 2029

Advancement Review & Seeding Window

SEA confirms scores, ProStatus activity, wildcard positions, sponsor-track performance, city rankings, and Round of 32 seeding.

May 25, 2029

Round of 32 — Surviving 32 Opens

Advancing teams enter the next global competition window.

June 8, 2029

Round of 16 — Breakaway 16

The field narrows again through city-based competition, with advancement based on points, ProStatus review, sponsor-track performance, and wildcard rules.

June 16, 2029

Round of 8 — Ultimate 8

The remaining teams compete for placement into the final pre-travel round.

June 23, 2029

Round of 4 — Fortunate 4 / Quarterfinals

The final four advancing teams qualify for the host-city championship phase.

June 24 – July 24, 2029

One-Month Travel & Host-City Build Window

Advancing teams, families, sponsors, media, production crews, exhibitors, and event partners use this window for passports, travel, lodging, equipment declarations, sponsor inventory, media scheduling, player village credentialing, and host-city build-out.

July 24, 2029

Host-City Check-In

July 25, 2029

Opening Ceremony

July 26, 2029

Stadium Semifinal A — Traveling 2

July 27, 2029

Stadium Semifinal B — Traveling 2

July 28, 2029

Stadium Finals — Fascinating Finals

July 29, 2029

Closing Ceremony

Championship Week

Includes the SEA Conference & Expo, sponsor activations, creator programming, LAN RAVE / BYOC Center, interactive concerts, Infinite Stadium experiences, and the 24-hour meditation and reset area.

Everything is subject to change based on what we can get approved