The Title Belt

The Title Belt is a Team Modification and Rule first appearing in . It was reintroduced as a mechanic in Gamma 4. 
==Effects==
During a given Season, The Title Belt is first awarded to the Winner of the Midseason Fiesta. If the Title Belt Wielder is not selected for the Postseason via the standard rules, they will replace the lowest seeded Team in their Conference in the Postseason Bracket.
===Title Matches===
The Title Belt may be claimed by a challenger during a Title Match. Title Matches are a type of Featured Match that take place every fourth in-game DayGenerally equivalent to every fourth real-life hour, barring Spillovers. of the Regular Season after the Midseason Fiesta, replacing Prize Matches. During the in-game Day that a Title Match occurs, no other Games are played. They are a contest between the current holder of Title Belt (the defending Team) and a random Bottom 12 Team in the league (the challenging Team).The Bottom 12 Teams are defined as the "2 Teams with the fewest Wins from each Division, plus the 4 remaining Teams with the next fewest across the whole League", as per The Book. During a Title Match, the defending Team always plays at home and the challenging Team away. If the defending Team Wins the Game, they keep the Belt; however, if the challenging Team Wins, possession of the Belt is transferred to them. Wins are not awarded during a Title Match.
==History==
===First Appearance===
The Title Belt first appeared as a possible Decree in alongside Based Evolution and Pennants. It was described with the following:
Win the Championship to claim the Belt, then Defend it in Title Matches next Season. The Holder of the Belt is protected from Steals and Swaps and guaranteed a Postseason Birth. Should the Holder win the Championship, they will claim a Title.
During the , Based Evolution would go on to win with 247,049 Votes, 53% of all Decree Votes for that Season. As a result, The Title Belt was not introduced at that time.
===Reintroduction===
The Title Belt and Title Matches were reintroduced in Gamma 4 during the third Short Circuit. This was initially alluded to by multiple changes to The Book — including in the "T" section of Glossary — at the start of Gamma 4:
: A Prize Forged by the Cheat granting access to which must be defended in .The Book of Blaseball. Glossary. (24 Jan 2022). (Website) - Via Blaseball.com
: A contest, usually between two Teams, between granting the Winner possession of in lieu of a Win.
Additionally, a 'special prize' was teased for the winner of the inaugural Midseason FiestaThe Game Band. Short Circuits Developer Log #3. (24 Jan, 2022). (Website) - via Medium.; however, due to issues relating to duplicate Teams, the event was cancelled on Day 116, and no Winner was declared. As a result, The Monitor awarded the prize to the Canada Moist Talkers by default, as at the time they were the Team in the League with the least amount of Wins:
hey
uh
bad news
noise complaint
crashed the fiesta 
seeing double
had to shut it down
sorry
can't leave empty handed
so uh
moist talkers?
sure why not
you won
what did you win
how about this
shiny
The prize was revealed to be the Title Belt when the Regular Season resumed the following Monday,This was due to the fact that between the start of Gamma 4 and this point, Team Modifications were not visible to Fans. during Day 118. The first Title Match was played on Day 120.
==Season Results==
This section details the results of the Title Belt during the Seasons it has been active. 
===Gamma 4, Season 1===
During Gamma 4, Season 1 the Title Belt was first awarded to the Canada Moist Talkers by the Monitor after the Midseason Fiesta was cancelled. This was due to the fact that, at the time, the Moist Talkers were the Team in the League with the least amount of Wins.Slugger Croms [bria#5537]. (29 January 2022). "Instead of re-working the rest of the schedule and Circuit, we’re going to destroy the problem contained within the tournament. 🔪 The Moist Talkers ⚪ were awarded the Prize for being in last place." (Message) - via #announcements, Blaseball Discord. The Belt was held by 10 different Teams over the course of the Season, and was at one point, on Day 124, held by three Teams at once. Whilst the exact cause of the Belt's duplication is unknown, it could be attributed to Bugs, which were common during Short Circuit 3.The Game Band [@thegameband]. (24 January 2022). "This Circuit we're trying something new: no bugs, only features. Anything that happens is a feature. If you think it's a bug, no your don't.". (Tweet) - via Twitter The Belt was successfully defended 11 times and taken 13 times. However, it changed hands 43 times, again due to unknown causes. At the end of the Regular Season it was in the possession of the Miami Dale, granting them access to the Postseason.
Title Belt Results for Gamma 4, Season 1	Title Belt Results for Gamma 4, Season 1	Title Belt Results for Gamma 4, Season 1	Title Belt Results for Gamma 4, Season 1
*"T" denotes a Title Match.
*"D" denotes a Defending Team.
*"C" denotes a Challenging Team.
*"M" is short for minutes elapsed for that Game Day.	
*"T" denotes a Title Match.
*"D" denotes a Defending Team.
*"C" denotes a Challenging Team.
*"M" is short for minutes elapsed for that Game Day.	
*"T" denotes a Title Match.
*"D" denotes a Defending Team.
*"C" denotes a Challenging Team.
*"M" is short for minutes elapsed for that Game Day.	
*"T" denotes a Title Match.
*"D" denotes a Defending Team.
*"C" denotes a Challenging Team.
*"M" is short for minutes elapsed for that Game Day.
Toggle Unexplained Changes 	Toggle Unexplained Changes 	Toggle Unexplained Changes 	Toggle Unexplained Changes
Midseason Fiesta 	Midseason Fiesta 	Midseason Fiesta 	Midseason Fiesta
Day 	Away 	Home 	Result
116
+3m 	N/A 	N/A 	Fiesta cancelledThe Canada Moist Talkers are granted the Belt by The Monitor
*
Regular Season 	Regular Season 	Regular Season 	Regular Season
Day 	Away 	Home 	Result
120 (T)
+44m 	LA Unlimited Tacos (C) 	Canada Moist Talkers (D) 	Tacos Win.Tacos claim the Belt.Moist Talkers do not lose Belt.
*
121
+0m 	N/A 	N/A 	Tacos lose the Belt, unknown cause.
*
122
+25m 	N/A 	N/A 	Moist Talkers and Tacos swap the Belt, unknown cause.
* 
*
122
+26m 	N/A 	N/A 	Moist Talkers gain the Belt, unknown cause.
*
124 (T)
+34m 	Hellmouth Sunbeams (C) 	LA Unlimited Tacos (D) 	Sunbeams Win.Sunbeams claim the Belt.Tacos do not lose Belt.
*
125 
+0m 	N/A 	N/A 	Sunbeams lose the Belt, unknown cause.
*
126
+19m 	N/A 	N/A 	Tacos and Sunbeams swap the Belt, unknown cause.
* 
*
128 (T) 	San Fransisco Lovers (C) 	Hellmouth Sunbeams (D) 	Sunbeams Win.Sunbeams defend the Belt.
129
+1m 	N/A 	N/A 	Moist Talkers lose the Belt, unknown cause.
*
129
+6m 	N/A 	N/A 	Moist Talkers gain the Belt, unknown cause.
*
132 (T) 	Canada Moist Talkers (C) 	Hellmouth Sunbeams (D) 	Sunbeams Win.Sunbeams defend the Belt.
136 (T)
+35m 	Baltimore Crabs (C) 	Canada Moist Talkers (D) 	Crabs Win.Crabs claim the Belt.Moist Talkers lose the Belt.
* 
*
137
+0m 	N/A 	N/A 	Crabs and Moist Talkers swap the Belt, unknown cause.
* 
*
137
+48m 	N/A 	N/A 	Moist Talkers and Crabs swap the Belt, unknown cause.
* 
*
138
+0m 	N/A 	N/A 	Crabs and Moist Talkers swap the Belt, unknown cause.
* 
*
138
+44m 	N/A 	N/A 	Moist Talkers and Crabs swap the Belt, unknown cause.
* 
*
139
+0m 	N/A 	N/A 	Crabs and Moist Talkers swap the Belt, unknown cause.
* 
*
139
+47m 	N/A 	N/A 	Moist Talkers and Crabs swap the Belt, unknown cause.
* 
*
140 (T)
+29m 	Core Mechanics (C) 	Baltimore Crabs (D) 	Mechanics Win.Mechanics claim the Belt.Crabs lose the Belt.
* 
*
141
+0m 	N/A 	N/A 	Core Mechanics and Moist Talkers swap the Belt, unknown cause.
* 
*
141
+41m 	N/A 	N/A 	Moist Talkers and Core Mechanics swap the Belt, unknown cause.
* 
*
142
+0m 	N/A 	N/A 	Core Mechanics and Moist Talkers swap the Belt, unknown cause.
* 
*
142
+43m 	N/A 	N/A 	Moist Talkers and Core Mechanics swap the Belt, unknown cause.
* 
*
143
+0m 	N/A 	N/A 	Core Mechanics lose the Belt, unknown cause.
*
143
+1m 	N/A 	N/A 	Core Mechanics gain the Belt, unknown cause.
*
143
+43m 	N/A 	N/A 	Moist Talkers and Core Mechanics swap the Belt, unknown cause.
* 
*
144 (T) 	Canada Moist Talkers (C) 	Hellmouth Sunbeams (D) 	Sunbeams Win.Sunbeams defend the Belt.
145
+0m 	N/A 	N/A 	Core Mechanics and Moist Talkers swap the Belt, unknown cause.
* 
*
145
+41m 	N/A 	N/A 	Moist Talkers and Core Mechanics swap the Belt, unknown cause.
* 
*
146
+1m 	N/A 	N/A 	Core Mechanics and Moist Talkers swap the Belt, unknown cause.
* 
*
146
+42m 	N/A 	N/A 	Moist Talkers and Core Mechanics swap the Belt, unknown cause.
* 
*
147
+1m 	N/A 	N/A 	Core Mechanics and Moist Talkers swap the Belt, unknown cause.
* 
*
147
+50m 	N/A 	N/A 	Moist Talkers and Core Mechanics swap the Belt, unknown cause.
* 
*
148 (T) 	Philly Pies (C) 	Core Mechanics (D) 	Mechanics Win.Mechanics defend the Belt.
152 (T)
+28m 	Miami Dale (C) 	Core Mechanics (D) 	Dale Win.Dale claim the Belt.Mechanics lose the Belt.
* 
*
153
+36m 	N/A 	N/A 	Miami Dale and Core Mechanics swap the Belt, unknown cause.
* 
*
156 (T) 	Baltimore Crabs (C) 	Core Mechanics (D) 	Mechanics Win.Mechanics defend the Belt.
160 (T)
+34m 	LA Unlimited Tacos (C) 	Hellmouth Sunbeams (D) 	Tacos Win.Tacos claim the Belt.Mechanics lose the Belt.[sic]
* 
*
162
+44m 	N/A 	N/A 	LA Unlimited Tacos and Core Mechanics swap the Belt, unknown cause.
* 
*
164 (T)
+33m 	Philly Pies (C) 	Hellmouth Sunbeams (D) 	Pies Win.Pies claim the Belt.Sunbeams lose the Belt.
* 
*
168 (T) 	Seattle Garages (C) 	Philly Pies (D) 	Pies Win.Pies defend the Belt.
171
+36m 	N/A 	N/A 	Philly Pies and Hellmouth Sunbeams swap the Belt, unknown cause.
* 
*
172 (T) 	Core Mechanics (C) 	Hellmouth Sunbeams (D) 	Sunbeams Win.Sunbeams defend the Belt.
176 (T) 	Philly Pies (C) 	Hellmouth Sunbeams (D) 	Sunbeams Win.Sunbeams defend the Belt.
180 (T)
+32m 	San Fransisco Lovers (C) 	Core Mechanics (D) 	Lovers Win.Lovers claim the Belt.Mechanics lose the Belt.
* 
*
184 (T) 	San Fransisco Lovers (C) 	Hellmouth Sunbeams (D) 	Sunbeams Win.Sunbeams defend the Belt.
188 	No Games held. 	No Games held. 	No Games held.
192 	No Games held. 	No Games held. 	No Games held.
196 (T)
+30m 	Dallas Steaks (C) 	Hellmouth Sunbeams (D) 	Steaks Win.Steaks claim the Belt.Sunbeams lose the Belt.
* 
*
200 (T)
+31m 	Baltimore Crabs (C) 	San Fransisco Lovers (D) 	Crabs Win.Crabs claim the Belt.Lovers lose the Belt.
* 
*
204 (T) 	San Fransisco Lovers (C) 	Baltimore Crabs (D) 	Crabs Win.Crabs defend the Belt.
208 (T)
+36m 	Miami Dale (C) 	Baltimore Crabs (D) 	Dale Win.Dale claim the Belt.Crabs lose the Belt.
* 
*
212 (T) 	Core Mechanics (C) 	Dallas Steaks (D) 	Steaks Win.Steaks defend the Belt.
216 (T)
+34m 	San Fransisco Lovers (C) 	Dallas Steaks (D) 	Lovers Win.Lovers claim the Belt.Steaks lose the Belt.
* 
*
220 (T)
+24m 	Miami Dale (C/D) 	San Fransisco Lovers (D/C) 	Dale Win.Dale claim the Belt.Lovers lose the Belt.The Belt is unified.
*
Postseason 	Postseason 	Postseason 	Postseason
Day 	Away 	Home 	Result
221 (T)
+0m 	N/A 	N/A 	Dale use the Belt to enter the Postseason.
*
==See Also==
*Midseason Fiesta
*Postseason
*Prize Matches
*Wild High Memorial Belt
==Notes==
----
Category:Team Modifications
Category: Features