Tournament Policy

Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc.
Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG World Championship 2024
This policy applies to Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG World Championship 2024 Only!
Effective date: September 7th-8th, 2024 (2 Days)

Table of Contents
I.

Participation Eligibility .................................................................................................................. 3

II.

Special Rules ................................................................................................................................ 3

A.

Card Sleeves and Game Mat...................................................................................................... 3

B.

Conceding Games ................................................................................................................. 3

C.

Dropping from The Tournament................................................................................................ 4

D.

Clothing ................................................................................................................................... 4

III.

Required Items......................................................................................................................... 4A.

Mandatory Items...................................................................................................................... 4

B.

Items Required for Effect Resolution.......................................................................................... 5C.

Optional Items.......................................................................................................................... 5D.

Restricted Items ....................................................................................................................... 5

IV.

Tournament Rules .................................................................................................................... 6

A.

Tournament Format ................................................................................................................. 6C.

Time Limit ................................................................................................................................ 6

D.

Slow Play.................................................................................................................................. 6E.

End of Match Procedure - Swiss Rounds..................................................................................... 7

F.

End of Match Procedure - Single-Elimination.............................................................................. 7G.

Dueling Procedures................................................................................................................... 8H.

Duelist Responsibilities ............................................................................................................. 9

I.

Hygiene.................................................................................................................................. 10

V.

Card Limits ................................................................................................................................. 10
A.

Card Requirements ................................................................................................................ 10

B.

Deck Sizes .............................................................................................................................. 10

C.

Card Sleeves........................................................................................................................... 10

VI.

Duelist Conduct During the Tournament .................................................................................. 10A.

The Role of the Judge.............................................................................................................. 11

B.

Duelist Conduct During the Trip............................................................................................... 11C.

Duelist Conduct During the Tournament .................................................................................. 11
Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG World Championship 2024 Tournament Policy1

D.

Post-Match Use of Live Stream Footage ............................................................................... 13

VII.

Penalties and Infractions ........................................................................................................ 13

A.

Applying Penalties .................................................................................................................. 13

B.

Types of Penalties................................................................................................................... 13

C.

Types of Infractions ................................................................................................................ 14

D.

Deck and Deck List Errors ........................................................................................................ 14

E.

Procedural Errors.................................................................................................................... 15F.

Drawing Extra Cards................................................................................................................ 15

G.

Tardiness ............................................................................................................................... 16

H.

Marked Cards......................................................................................................................... 16

I.

Slow Play................................................................................................................................ 16

J.

Unsporting Conduct................................................................................................................ 16

K.

Unsporting Conduct – Cheating ............................................................................................... 17

VIII.

Duelist Understanding of Rules and Policy............................................................................... 17

Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG World Championship 2024 Tournament Policy

2

I.

Participation Eligibility

This tournament is an invite-only event. Participants (Duelists) who have not qualified may not participate
in the Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG World Championship 2024 tournament.
During this event, a unique Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG World Championship 2024 Forbidden & Limited List is applied.
This list will only be used at the Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG World Championship 2024 tournament.
By participating in the Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG World Championship 2024, each Duelist agrees that they will abideby this Tournament Policy Document, Penalty Infractions, and Forbidden & Limited List.
Some Matches during the Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG World Championship 2024 will be recorded. Videos of Matches
will not be used to determine a Match result but may be used to check any irregularities that may haveoccurred.
Participants agree that all records of the tournament and all information written on the “Deck List”
submitted during registration can be presented to the public by Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc., and its
affiliates and partners.

II.
A.

Special Rules

Card Sleeves and Game Mat

Only card sleeves handed out by KONAMI beginning on Thursday, September 5th, 2024, may be used during
this tournament.
All cards in a Duelist’s Deck, including the Extra Deck and Side Deck, must be sleeved identically.
Duelists may use an additional clear sleeve along with the card sleeves provided by KONAMI if they wish
to double-sleeve their Deck. The additional clear sleeve must be clear on both sides and can be used either
inside or outside the card sleeves provided by KONAMI.
• KONAMI will not provide the additional clear sleeves.
• If a Duelist wishes to double-sleeve their Deck, they are responsible for providing the additional
clear sleeves.
Only one card is permitted per sleeve/double sleeve.
Game Mats will be provided at each table. Only those Game Mats may be used. Game Mats will have zones
marked on them, so Duelists will not be permitted to use their own Field Center markers.

B.

Conceding Games

Duelists may concede a Game in the interest of time. Duelists who wish to concede must call a Floor Judge
to inform the Judge of the concession.
Duelists may concede Game 1, Game 2, and/or Game 3. However, they may not choose to concede an
entire Match during the Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG World Championship.
Duelists will be required to follow a specific procedure if they wish to concede a Duel while featured on
the Live Stream. This procedure will be explained to Duelists prior to the Live Stream Match.
Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG World Championship 2024 Tournament Policy

3

C.

Dropping from The Tournament

Duelists may not choose to drop from the Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG World Championship 2024. It is an honor to attend
the Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG World Championship 2024, and Duelists are expected to represent their territories bycompleting the event.

D.

Clothing

Duelists will be provided a Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG World Championship 2024 jersey. All Duelists are required towear this jersey during the tournament.
Duelists must ensure that all clothing worn during the tournament, including baseball caps, are nonbranded.
During the tournament, Duelists must wear closed-toe shoes and long pants.
If a Duelist wants to wear a long sleeve shirt under their Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG World Championship 2024 jersey,
the shirt must have plain sleeves.

III.
A.

Required Items

Mandatory Items

1. A Main Deck consisting of a minimum of 40 cards and a maximum of 60 cards.
a. Only 遊戯王 オフィシャルカードゲーム/TRADING CARD GAME cards can be used for
Deck Construction
2. Deck List (a list of cards being used in the Deck, Extra Deck, and Side Deck)a. Duelists will submit their Deck and Deck Lists on Friday, September 6th
i. The specific time and place will be announced later.
b. Duelists must sleeve their Decks using the Card Sleeves provided by KONAMI, prior to
submitting their Decksc. If Duelists will be using clear Card Sleeves in addition to the Card sleeves provided by
KONAMI, the clear Card sleeves must be added prior to submitting their Decks
d. Decks and Deck lists cannot be altered after they have been submitted
e. Decks will not be returned to Duelists until the start of Day 1
f. Deck checks will be performed randomly throughout the course of the tournamentg. Duelists may be required to replace damaged copies of cards if the card is deemed by atournament official to be marked
3. Writing Materials for tracking Life Point changes.
a. Duelists must use pen and paper to track changes in Life Points
i. Duelists may use a calculator to assist their Life Point calculation, but the record
must be kept on paperb. Duelists may take notes only for the following
i. Changes in Life Points
ii. Tracking mandatory effectsiii. Maintaining a proper Game State
Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG World Championship 2024 Tournament Policy44. “Randomized/Not Randomized” Deck indicatora. This will be provided to each Duelist along with their Deck at the start of Round 1
b. Use of this card is covered under (G) Dueling Procedures in (IV) Tournament Rules below

B.

Items Required for Effect Resolution••••

Coins that can be clearly distinguished between Heads and Tails - must not be weighted,
marked, or otherwise modified
Counters and Zone markers
Any items used must be either Yu-Gi-Oh! branded, or non-branded
If World Championship tournament materials are provided by KONAMI, Duelists are
required to use them during the tournament.

KONAMI will provide the following items, and Duelists may not use their own in place of the provided items.
•
Dice with 6 sides•
Token cards

C.

Optional Items
•

•

D.

An Extra Deck consisting of 15 or fewer Fusion Monster Cards, Synchro Monster Cards, Xyz
Monster Cards, and/or Link Monster Cards
A Side Deck consisting of 15 or fewer cards
o Duelists can include Fusion Monster Cards, Synchro Monster Cards, Xyz Monster Cards,
and/or Link Monster Cards in their Side Deck in addition to cards normally found in theMain Deck, such as Normal Monster Cards, Spell Cards, and Trap Cards

Restricted Items
•
•
•
•
•
•

Any device with an internet connection must have that connection disabled, such as
through airplane mode, during a Duel
Upon agreement from both Duelists, Duelists may use Yu-Gi-Oh! NEURON (NEURON)
during the Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG World Championship 2024 if the device has its internet
connection disabled
Duelists are responsible for providing their own power banks, charging cords, etc. if theywish to use their device for NEURON
Upon agreement from both Duelists, Duelists may use NEURON or call for a judge for cardtranslations during the tournament
Duelists may not use “デュエリスト・デバイス (DUELIST DEVICE)” in the Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG
World Championship 2024
If a Duelist uses a restricted item, they will be penalized, beginning with a Warning

Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG World Championship 2024 Tournament Policy

5

IV.
A.

Tournament Format

B.

Deck & Deck List

•
•
•

•
•
•
•

C.

Each round consists of one (1) Match (first Duelist to win/lose 2 out of 3 Duels)
After the Swiss Rounds are complete, there will be a cut to the Top 8
Day 1 of the Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG World Championship 2024 will consist of seven (7) rounds of
Swiss tournament play plus the Quarter Final round – eight (8) rounds in total
Day 2 will consist of the remaining two (2) rounds of Single-Elimination play featuring theremaining Top 4 Duelists from Day 1

Duelists may only use the Deck which they registered for the Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG WorldChampionship 2024
Cards that are not listed on the submitted Deck List cannot be used
Cards switched from the Side Deck to Main Deck or vice versa must be returned to theoriginal Deck as written on the Deck List, prior to the beginning of each Match
Duelists are not allowed to swap cards in their Main Deck from the Side Deck in the 1stDuel of a Match

Time Limit

•
•
•
•
•

•

D.

Tournament Rules

The Time Limit for each Swiss Round is 45 minutes
The Time Limit for the Quarter-Finals is 55 minutes.
The Time Limit for the Semi-Finals is 55 minutes
The Championship Match does not have a time limit, but Duelists are expected to play at
the proper pace and slow play penalties will be enforced as neededThis includes intervals between Duels (time used for Side Decking and shuffling), and thetime that it takes a judge to make a ruling or for translators to translate Duelists’ questionsoDepending on the situation, the Judge may opt to extend time, but this is notguaranteed
Both Duelists are responsible for playing at an acceptable pace so that the Round ends
before the Time Limit

Slow Play
•
•
•
•
•
•

•
•

Duelists will be penalized for delaying the gameDuelists who repeatedly delay the game are subject to upgraded penalties
Duelists who take excessive time to perform actions, or make repetitive actions, may
receive penalties, even if the delay is unintentional
Penalties are given by a judge, usually beginning with a Warning
Duelists must inform a judge if they feel their opponent is causing a delayThis includes intervals between Duels (time used for Side Decking and shuffling), and thetime taken by Duelists to ask questions, and time taken to resolve any issuesoDepending on the situation, the Head Judge may opt to extend time, but this is notguaranteed
Both Duelists are responsible for playing at an acceptable pace so that the Round ends
before the Time Limit
Slow Play penalties come with a minimum time extension of three (3) minutes unless the
Match is already in the End of Match procedure
Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG World Championship 2024 Tournament Policy

6

E.

End of Match Procedure - Swiss Rounds

If the Match does not finish within 45 minutes, the result will be decided by the following End of Matchprocedures:
Swiss Round End of Match procedures should follow these three (3) rules:
Rule #1: If time is called while Duelists are in the middle of a Game, the current Game must have adecision (Win, Loss, or Draw)
Rule #2: Once the current Game has concluded with a decision, determine the winner of the Match bydetermining the number of Game Wins (or Game Losses) each Duelist has for the current Match. The
Duelist with the most Game Wins will win the Match.
If both Duelists have the same number of Game Wins, or if time was called in between games of a Matchwhen both Duelists had the same number of Game Wins, then the Match is a Draw.
Rule #3: If a win condition occurs during End of Match Procedures, that Duelist wins the current Game.
Keeping these three (3) rules in mind, please follow these instructions when proceeding to End of Matchprocedures:
1.
2.
3.

4.

Continue with the current Phase of the Game
Once the Phase is over, stop the Game
Determine a Game Winner at this point, with the Duelist with the most Life Points
winning the Game•
During Swiss Rounds, if both Duelists’ Life Points are the same, the Game is a
Draw
Compare Game Wins•
If one Duelist has more Game Wins, that Duelist wins the Match•
If Game Win totals are the same, the Match is a Draw

Draws may only occur during the Swiss portion of a tournament and only during End of Matchprocedures.
Duelists may not choose to end a Match in a Draw. Intentionally choosing to end a Match in a Draw,
playing in a manner designed to end the Match in a Draw, or stalling to have a Match end in a Draw, isagainst tournament policy and could result in a Disqualification.

F.

End of Match Procedure - Single-Elimination

If the Match does not finish within the round time limit, the result will be decided by the following End of
Match procedures:
Single-Elimination End of Match procedures should follow these three (3) rules:
Rule #1: If time is called while Duelists are in the middle of a Game, the current Game must have a decision(Win, Loss, or Draw)
Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG World Championship 2024 Tournament Policy

7

Rule #2: Once the current Game has concluded with a decision, determine the winner of the Matchby determining the number of Game Wins (or Game Losses) each Duelist has for the current Match.
The Duelist with the most Game Wins will win the Match.
If both Duelists have the same number of Game Wins, or if time is called in between Games of a Match
while both Duelists have the same number of Game Wins, they will begin a new Duel with specificguidelines.
•

•
•

•
•

Neither Duelist may use his or her Side Decko If time was called in between Games of a Match and at least one Duelist has alreadyaccessed his or her Side Deck, then both Duelists may use their Side Deck
Duelists must roll a die to choose who will go first
The Duel will continue for a total of four (4) turns, two (2) turns for each Duelist, unless a
Duelist manages to win the Duel before the four (4) turns have concludedo A “turn” is defined as the start of the Draw Phase until the end of the End Phase for a single
DuelistOnce the four (4) turns are completed, Life Point totals are compared and the Duelist withthe highest Life Point total wins the Match
If both Duelists’ Life Points are the same after the four (4) turns are completed, then play willcontinue on a turn-by-turn basis, with the Duelist with the most Life Points at the end of aturn being declared the winner of that Game

Rule #3: If a win condition occurs during End of Match Procedures, that Duelist wins the current Game.
Keeping these three (3) rules in mind, please follow these instructions when proceeding to End of Matchprocedures:
1.
2.

Continue with the current Phase of the Game. Once the Phase is over, stop the game
Determine a Game Winner at this point, with the Duelist with the most Life Points
winning the Game
•
•
•

G.

During Single-Elimination, if both Duelists’ Life Points are the same at the end of
the current Phase (Step 1 above), finish the current turnIf both Duelists’ Life Points are the same at the end of the turn, then play will continue
on a turn-by-turn basis, with the Duelist with the most Life Points at the end of a turnbeing declared the winner of that GameMatch Draws cannot occur during Single-Elimination Rounds

Dueling Procedures

Conduct each Duel following the procedure below:
1.
2.
3.

Shake hands with the opponent
Each Duelist reveals the number of cards in their Extra Deck and Side Deck
Each Duelist must thoroughly randomize (shuffle) their Deck where the opponent can seea.
Each Duelist will use the faro shuffling methodb.
Pile shuffling is not allowedc.
A Duelist cannot look at, check, or order the cards when shufflingd.
A Duelist cannot pre-sort their Deck (sorting Monsters/Spell/Trap, etc.) without fully
randomizing the Deck afterwards
Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG World Championship 2024 Tournament Policy
8

e.
f.

4.

5.
6.

7.

8.

H.

After the Deck is thoroughly randomized, it must be presented to the opponent
The opponent must randomize (shuffle) the Deck further and then return it to theoriginal ownerg.
The owner must then “cut” their Deck, then present it to the opponent who must “cut”
the Deck again and then present it back to the original ownerh.
No additional randomization may be done to the Deck after this point by the owner orthe opponent
If a Duelist is resolving multiple search effects in a turn, they will not shuffle after eachindividual search effecta.
Instead, they will wait until all search effects are completed, and then shuffle their
Deckb.
To remove confusion about whether the Deck is randomized, Duelists will be provided
with a two-sided card which will indicate “Randomized” or “Not Randomized,”
depending on which side is displayedi.
While the search effects are being carried out, the card should indicate “Not
Randomized”
ii.
After all searches are completed, the Deck should be randomized (shuffled) andthe card turned to indicate that the Deck is now “Randomized”
c.
This should be done prior to the resolution of any effect that requires the Duelist to
draw from the Deck, or at the end of the turnd.
If there is any question or concern about whether the Deck has been randomized,
Duelists should call for a judge
A judge will make the final randomization for all shuffling during the Quarter-Finals on Day 1,
and the Semi-Finals and Championship Match on Day 2
At the start of the Match, Duelists must roll a single die to determine who will go first•
The Duelist that rolls the higher number on the die will have the choice of going firstor second•This must be done before either Duelist draws cards for your starting hand
Each Duelist draws five (5) cards from the top of their Deck as their starting handa.
Before drawing their opening hand, both Duelists must decide who will go firstb.
If the Duelists draw cards before deciding who will go first, the Duelist who won thedie roll will automatically go firstc.
The Duelist who loses a Duel of a Match chooses to go first or second for the next Duelin the Match
Each Duelist may use their Side Deck to exchange cards in their Main Deck or Extra Deck (SideDecking) between Duels of a Matcha.
The number of cards in the Deck and Extra Deck MUST match the same total as it was
before a Duelist Side-Deckedb.
After a Duelist has finished Side-Decking, they must reveal and verify the totals fortheir Side Deck and Extra Deck cards to their opponent

Duelist Responsibilities
•

•
•
•
•
•

If Duelists have a question or concern about a ruling, policy, or any aspect of thetournament, they must call a judge and follow the judge’s instructions
If either Duelist resolves a card effect incorrectly and continues with the Duel, Duelists
should call a judge and follow the judge’s instructions to properly address the situation
No disputes will be accepted after the Duel ends
Both Duelists must pay attention to each other’s actions during the Duel, as both
Duelists are responsible for maintaining the game state
Duelists are expected to perform their actions within a reasonable amount of time
Duelists who take excessive amounts of time to make their plays may be subject topenalties
Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG World Championship 2024 Tournament Policy

9I.

Hygiene••This will be a livestreamed event, streamed globally, with each Duelist representing
their country and region in front of hundreds of thousands of viewers from aroundthe world. Duelists should be showered and appropriately groomed.
oNeglecting to wash or put on clean clothes contributes to an unpleasantatmosphere at the event
Duelists who neglect self-care to the point that they are negatively impacting thetournament may be asked to correct the issue to continue in the event.

V.
A.

Card Requirements
•
•

•
•
•

B.

Card Limits

All cards in the Deck must be “遊戯王 オフィシャルカードゲーム/Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG”
Duelists from TCG territories may use OCG cards, and Duelists from OCG areas may
use TCG cardso
If a Duelist chooses to use a foreign language card, they must know the effectsof their own cards
Duelists may not use proxy or counterfeit cards
Duelists may not use cards or Card Sleeves with stickers
All cards must be free of markings on the front and the back of the cardoThis includes any cards with altered art, autographs, and so forth

Deck Sizes
Deck
Size
Main Deck Minimum of 40 Cards, maximum of 60 cards
Extra Deck 15 or fewer cards
Side Deck 15 or fewer cards

C.

Card Sleeves
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Duelists may only use the card sleeves provided by KONAMI at the event
Card Sleeves must be used on all Decks, including the Extra Deck and Side Deck
Duelists may not put anything in the card sleeves except the card they are using
Duelists may use an additional clear sleeve if they wish to double-sleeve their Deck
Duelists are responsible for providing their own clear card sleeves should they choose
to use them
Only one card is permitted per sleeve/double sleeve
Duelists must ensure that their card sleeves are always free of markings
Duelists are responsible for maintaining the condition of their card sleeves during thetournament
If you feel that your card sleeves may be deemed marked, please consult a judge

VI.

Duelist Conduct During the Tournament

Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG World Championship 2024 Tournament Policy

10

A.

The Role of the Judge

Judges are present to answer questions, monitor the Duels, and maintain fair and consistent tournament
play.
•
If a Duelist speaks a different language than their opponent, and there are concerns
about a card ruling or procedure, they should immediately call for a judge and atranslator•
If a Duelist has a question about rulings or procedures during a Match, or finds
differences in rulings, they should immediately call for a judge and follow the judge’s
instructions•
If either Duelist resolved an effect incorrectly, did not catch the mistake, and continued
the Duel, the Duelists must call a judgeo
The judge will make whatever corrections are possible. It will not always be
possible to rewind the gameplay if it involves any card effect resolution or
calculation of Life Points, and the judge may declare an accepted game state after
which play will continue•
If either Duelist does not agree with the judge’s instructions, they should request to
appeal to the Head Judge•
The Head Judge will make the final decision on any rulings or policy issues during thistournament•
Once a Duel has ended, the Head Judge cannot accept any appeals or resolve any
unreported disputes that occurred in that Duel•
Judges will answer questions within the hearing of both DuelistsoTranslators will provide assistance when necessary•
Judges will not give advice about gameplay

B.

Duelist Conduct During the Trip

Duelists competing in the Yu-Gi-Oh! World Championship 2024 are representing themselves, their homecountries and the entire Yu-Gi-Oh! community.
•
•
•

•
•

C.

Duelists must always behave appropriately, even during hours when the tournament is notin session
Duelists at the Yu-Gi-Oh! World Championship 2024 will be held to the highest standardsof personal integrity, courtesy, and sportsmanship
Duelists are required to behave in a professional and sportsmanlike manner in theirinteractions for the full duration of their stay, both during the tournament and their leisuretime, with other competitors, with Tournament organizers and staff, with members of themedia and content creators, with guests, and with all others.
Failure to follow these requirements may result in penalties up to and including
disqualification, even if the misconduct in question occurs when the tournament is not insessionDuelists should speak with their KONAMI representatives or official chaperones if they
have questions or concerns about what is or is not appropriate conduct

Duelist Conduct During the Tournament

Duelists who violate terms of conduct are subject to penalties, as determined by a judge.

Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG World Championship 2024 Tournament Policy

11

•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Duelists must clearly communicate each Phase, Step, action, and resolution to theiropponent
Duelists must ask their opponent for clarification if an action is not clear
Duelists must follow the rules of the venue
Duelists may not eat or drink during play. Duelists may not keep food or beverages on thetablesIf a Duelist needs to leave their seat (restroom, etc.), they must first get permission fromthe judge
Duelists may not touch their opponent’s cards without their permission
Duelists must ensure a smooth and fair Duel progression. Duelists may not delay the gameby continuously checking the contents of a Graveyard, the content of their hand, Life Points,
etc.
Duelists must be courteous to their opponent at all times. Duelists may not take any
actions that could be deemed offensive by the opponent or the tournament staff
After each completion of a Match, Duelists must reset their Main Deck to be ready for the
next round. They also need to verify the count and content of their Main, Side, and Extra
Decks to ensure there are no missing cards
During the Duel, both Duelists must ensure that they agree upon all effect and game state
resolutions before proceeding with the Duel
Duelists may not misrepresent their Life Points or the number of cards in their hand
Duelists may not manipulate a card to be drawn from either their own Deck or theiropponent’s Deck
Duelists may not place a card on the field or move a card on the field without letting theiropponent know
Duelists may not intentionally hide, either with their body or with an object, any card thatis on the field or in their hand
Duelists may not shuffle or change the order of the cards in either Duelist’s Graveyard
Duelists may not check their cards in their Side Deck while the Duel is in progress
Duelists may not ask either a judge or Head Judge to penalize their opponent
Duelists may not Duel in a manner that may cause a misunderstanding, such as by placing
multiple Spell/Trap cards on top of each other, placing the cards in their hand in a way tomake them appear to be on the field, etc.
Duelists may not offer information, nor ask or answer questions about information, that is
considered Private Knowledge
Duelists must place all cards in the correct position, facing the correct way on the field.
Duelists may not switch the position of the Graveyard and Deck or place a card not in
Defense Position sideways on the field, etc.
Duelists must not shift the positions of cards once they have been placed on the field.
Duelists are responsible for knowing where cards have been placed, and ensuring theyremain in the proper zones
Duelists may not use cellphones, smartphones, smart watches, or other devices during aDuel unless that device has its internet connection disabled
Duelists may not end a Match in a manner that does not follow the correct End of Matchprocedure
Duelists must always be sure to keep track of Life Points on paper for both Duelists
When a Duelist leaves their seat, they must make sure they do not leave anything behindDuelists must behave themselves appropriately as a Yu-Gi-Oh! World Championship
Duelist – they must be courteous, maintain fair Duels, and play at a reasonable pace
Duels cannot end in any way except through rulings or card effects; or by approved
concession
Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG World Championship 2024 Tournament Policy

12

D.

Post-Match Use of Livestream Footage••

Errors involving misplays or Life Point discrepancies discovered by reviewing footage after
a Match has concluded will not alter the outcome of the Match
Video evidence may be used to determine if cheating has occurred, even after the Matchhas concluded. If it is determined that a Duelist has cheated, they will be disqualified
without prize.

VII.
A.

Penalties and Infractions

Applying Penalties

This policy document serves as a guide with examples of infractions and penalties. Judges will takeindividual circumstances into consideration when assessing penalties, and the Head Judge may downgrade
or upgrade penalties accordingly.
Not every example of every infraction is covered below. If a Duelist repeats the same infraction, the Head
Judge may upgrade the penalty.

B.

Types of Penalties

These are the penalties that can be incurred in a tournament, for various infractions. Please keep in mind
that penalties for unintentional infractions such as Slow Play, Procedural Errors, etc. will begin with aWarning.
If the Head Judge determines an infraction was intentional, the penalty is a Disqualification.
a.

Warning•
A Warning is to notify the Duelist that the action is a violation•
A Warning will be recorded officially•If a Duelist repeats an infraction, the penalty can be upgradedb.

Game Loss•
If this penalty is applied, that Duelist will lose the current Duel•If this penalty is applied between Duels, it is applied to the next Duel•
A Game Loss will be recorded officially•If a Duelist repeats an infraction, the penalty can be upgradedc.

Match Loss•
If this penalty is applied, the Duelist will lose the current Match•
If this penalty is applied between Matches or it is likely that the player will lose the Match,
it can be applied to the next Match at the discretion of the Head Judge•
A Match Loss will be recorded officially•If a Duelist repeats an infraction, the penalty can be upgradedd.

Disqualification with Prize•
If this penalty is applied, the Duelist will lose the current Match and will be removed fromthe tournament•
Any prizes the player has earned will still be awarded•
Disqualification with Prize results from upgraded penalties•
A Disqualification will be recorded officially
Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG World Championship 2024 Tournament Policy13e.

Disqualification Without Prize•
If this penalty is applied, the Duelist will lose the current Match and will be removed fromthe tournament•
The Duelist will not receive any awards/prizes that have yet to be awarded•This penalty will be recorded officiallyC.

Types of Infractions

Infractions are presumed to be unintentional, except in the case of Unsporting Conduct - Cheating or
Unsporting Conduct - Severe.
If a judge believes an infraction is intentional, the penalty will be upgraded appropriately.
If a Duelist repeats an infraction over the course of the tournament, the penalty may be upgraded.

D.

Deck and Deck List Errors

This category covers infractions associated with registering incorrect contents on a Deck List or playing
with an illegal Deck.
If an error that would result in an illegal Deck or Deck List is caught prior to the start of the first round, it
is acceptable (at the Head Judge’s discretion) to correct the Duelist’s Deck List without applying a penalty.
•

•

•

•

The Deck does not match the Deck ListoGame Losso
If the Deck List is legal, the Deck is made to match the Deck Listo
If the Deck is legal, but the Deck List is not legal, the Deck List is made to matchthe Deck
During the tournament, it is determined that a Duelist’s Main Deck has fewer than 40
cardsoGame Losso
If the Deck List is legal, but the Deck does not match the Deck List, the Deck is
made to match the Deck Listo
If the Deck List is illegal, the Duelist must add cards from their Side Deck to their
Main Deck until the Main Deck has 40 cards, and the Deck List must be adjusted
to match the Deck
During the tournament, it is determined that a Duelist is using a Main Deck, Extra Deck,or Side Deck with more cards than are allowedoGame Losso
The Duelist must remove the extra cards to make the Deck legalo
The Deck List must be adjusted to match the Deck
During the tournament, it is determined that a Duelist has 4 or more cards with the same
name in the Deck (including Side Deck)oGame Losso
The Duelist must remove the illegal card(s)Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG World Championship 2024 Tournament Policy

14

If the card(s) was removed from the Main Deck, the Duelist must add a
replacement card(s) from their Side Deck if removing the illegal card(s) results in
the Main Deck having fewer than 40 cardsoIf, after removing the illegal card(s) the Main Deck contains at least 40 cards, nocards are moved from the Side Deck to the Main DeckoThe Deck List must be adjusted to match the Deck
During the tournament, it is determined that a Duelist has cards that cannot be used areincluded in the Deck (including Side Deck)oGame Losso
The Duelist must remove the illegal card(s)oIf the card(s) was removed from the Main Deck, the Duelist must add a
replacement card(s) from their Side Deck if removing the illegal card(s) results in
the Main Deck having fewer than 40 cardsoIf, after removing the improper card(s) the Main Deck contains at least 40 cards,
no cards are moved from the Side Deck to the Main DeckoThe Deck List must be adjusted to match the Deck
During the tournament, it is determined that a Duelist has more Forbidden, Limited, or
Semi-Limited Cards in the Deck, including the Side Deck, than allowedoGame Losso
The Duelist must remove the illegal card(s)oIf the card(s) was removed from the Main Deck, the Duelist must add a
replacement card(s) from their Side Deck if removing the illegal card(s) results in
the Main Deck having fewer than 40 cardsoIf, after removing the illegal card(s) the Main Deck contains at least 40 cards, nocards are moved from the Side Deck to the Main DeckoThe Deck List must be adjusted to match the Deck
During the tournament, it is determined that the contents of the Deck List and the actual
Main Deck, Side Deck, and/or Extra Deck are not the sameoGame Losso
The Duelist must return the Deck to how it was listed on Deck List
o

•

•

•

E.

Procedural Errors
•

•
•

F.

Resolving an effect incorrectly (unintentionally)oWarningo
When possible, a judge will correct the game state to the point when the infraction
occurred, and Duelists will then resume playo
If the game state cannot be corrected, it will be declared an accepted game state,
and continue as-isoDuelists who make an excessive amount of incorrect plays may receive an
upgraded penalty at the discretion of the Head Judge
Placing an object on the Dueling Field that is unnecessary for the DueloWarningoRemove the item from the Dueling Field and continue play
Using a device with an internet connection during a DueloWarningoDuelist must disable the internet connection on the device

Drawing Extra Cards•

Drawing Extra Cards (unintentionally)o
If the judge deems that the extra card(s) were drawn and identified before beingcombined with the hand or mixed with other cards
Warning
Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG World Championship 2024 Tournament Policy15The extra card(s) are shuffled back into the Deck
If a judge determines that the extra card(s) drawn is combined with the hand or
mixed in with other cards but can be easily identified by both Duelists and/or ajudge, the Game State is reparable
WarningThe extra card(s) are shuffled back into the Decko
If a judge determines that the extra card(s) drawn is combined with the hand or
mixed in with other cards and cannot be identified by the opponent or a judge, theGame State is irreparable
Game Loss
Looking at Extra Cards (unintentionally)oWarningoReveal the card(s) and return the viewed card(s) to the original placeo
If the card was drawn from the Deck it is placed back on top of the Deck, and the
Deck is not shuffled
Revealing a card that is not considered public information, such as a card in your hand or
your Deck, not based on tournament rules or card effectoWarningoReturn the revealed card(s) to the original place

o

•

•

G.

Tardiness
•
•
•

H.

Failing to sit at the assigned seat at the designated timeoWarning
Failing to sit at the assigned seat after 3 minutes from the designated timeoGame Loss
Failing to sit at the assigned seat after 6 minutes from the designated timeoMatch Loss

Marked Cards
•

•
•
•
•

Having markings of any kind on the front and/or back of cards and/or Card Sleeves,including autographs, etc.
Using marked Cards or Card Sleeves
Putting anything in the Card Sleeves except the card the Duelist will be usingoWarning, Game Loss, or Match Losso
The penalty will depend upon the number or pattern to any Marked Cards
Putting any mark on Cards or Card Sleeves during playoWarningoChange the Card Sleeves to make the cards indistinguishable
Marks on Card Sleeves with no patternoWarningoChange the Card Sleeves to make the cards indistinguishable

I.

Slow PlayJ.

Unsporting Conduct••

Taking an excessive amount of time to make a playoWarningo
If this violation affected the results of the Match, the penalty may be upgradedoIf slow play is repeated, the penalty may be upgradedRushing or abusing the opponentoWarningo
If this infraction affected the result of the Match, the penalty may be upgraded
Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG World Championship 2024 Tournament Policy
16

•
•
•

K.

o
If the abuse is considered severe, the penalty may be upgraded.
Receiving advice from another Duelist or spectator during a DueloWarningo
If this infraction affected the result of the Match, the penalty may be upgraded
Talking with other Duelists or people not involved in the MatchoWarningo
If this infraction affected the result of the Match, the penalty may be upgraded
Spectators or supporters of a Duelist rushing or abusing the opponentoWarningoInfractions by the Duelist’s supporters are considered to be done by the Duelist as
wello
If this infraction affected the result of the Match, the penalty may be upgradedoPeople not involved in the Match who appear to be interfering with the game will
be removed from the tournament area

Unsporting Conduct – Cheating
The list below is not considered comprehensive, but a list of examples of behavior considered to
be cheating.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Giving a false Duel or Match resultoDisqualification without Prize
Looking at the opponent’s cards or a Duelist’s own cards on purpose during shuffling andcuttingoDisqualification without Prize
Intentionally drawing extra cardsoDisqualification without Prize
Intentionally lying about card text or effectoDisqualification without Prize
Intentionally lying about Life Points, the number of cards in hand, etc.
oDisqualification without Prize
Intentionally playing slowlyoDisqualification without Prize
Stacking or manipulating the contents of a Duelist’s Deck and/or an opponent’s DeckoDisqualification without Prize
Hiding any cards on the field or a Duelist’s hand intentionally, by using objects or part ofthe bodyoDisqualification without Prize
Intentionally conceding a MatchoDisqualification without Prize
Choosing to end a Match in a DrawoBoth Duelists will be disqualified without Prize
Deciding the result (including a Draw) without Dueling (by using a random method, etc.).
oBoth Duelists will be disqualified without Prize
Deciding the game result by BriberyoBoth Duelists will be disqualified without Prize

VIII.

Duelist Understanding of Rules and Policy

Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG World Championship 2024 Tournament Policy

17

Read through your packet and all of the information sent to you, and do not hesitate to ask your KONAMI
representative questions if you are unsure about any part of the event.
If you have any questions about rules, policy, or any aspect of the tournament prior to the tournament,
please speak to your KONAMI representative.
If you have any questions about rules, policy, or any aspect of the tournament while it is in session, pleasespeak to a judge.
We hope you enjoy your experience as a Yu-Gi-Oh! World Championship Duelist at this year’s Yu-Gi-Oh!
TCG World Championship 2024!

Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG World Championship 2024 Tournament Policy

18