Classic Tetris World Championship 2026

Format

NES consoles, NES Tetris carts, and NES controllers will be provided for competitors to play. Competitors can use the provided NES controller or bring their own controller. The controller can be any standard unmodified original NES controller, NES “dog bone” style controller, Hyperkin "Cadet" style controller, or “Goofy Foot” style controller. CTWC officials may disqualify any controller other than those listed here (including but not limited to other 3rd party controllers, controllers with turbo features, etc), and any games played with those controllers, at any time.

Qualifying Round

- The Qualifying Round will determine the seeding of a 48-player Gold tournament (Main Event), as well as a 32-player Silver tournament and 32-player Bronze tournament

- Entry fee is $50 (plus applicable fees from Start.gg). The entry fee entitles each player to a live 90-minute qualifying session.

- Qualifying sessions will be held on Friday, June 5 in the CTWC area from 10:30AM-6:00PM PDT

- Qualifying attempts will be on type A Tetris for highest score and have a level 39 cap

- Players will be provided name-tags to affix to their assigned television. At the end of each game for which a player would like to have their score recorded, players must leave their game on the rocket screen and raise their hand to call a judge.

(DO NOT CONTINUE ANY ATTEMPTS UNTIL A JUDGE HAS VERIFIED AND RECORDED YOUR SCORE!

Judges need to record scores accurately, so remain on the top out screen until told otherwise!)_** The judge will then snap a picture of the screen and will notify the player that they may continue their qualifier

- NEW FOR 2026 - We will be using the "point system". In this format, points scored in excess of a million points WILL count. Players will play on a modified version of classic Tetris that allows the player to exceed the "maxout" score of 999,999 and "uncap" the score so that it is calculated in a 7-digit format. Players earn "points" for reaching the 1 million point threshold and continue to receive points for every 100k earned in score. The point system works as follows:

0-999,998 - 0 points (your high score will be considered your "kicker score" and recorded the same as in previous years)

999,999-1,099,999 - 2 points

1,100,000-1,199,999 - 1 additional point

1,200,000-1,299,999 - 1 additional point

1,300,000-1,399,999 - 1 additional point

1,400,000-1,499,999 - 1 additional point

1,500,000-1,599,999 - 1 additional point

1,600,000-1,699,999 - 1 additional point

1,700,000-1,799,999 - 1 additional point

1,800,000-1,899,999 - 1 additional point

1,900,000-1,999,999 - 1 additional point

2,000,000+ - 2 additional points

Potential max "points" in a single game: 13

 Seeding will be determined by the points accrued during the qualifier, with ties broken by comparing the highest score. For instance, if Joe and Bob have 3 "points" each, and Joe's highest score is 956k, and Bob's is 922k, Joe will earn the higher seed.

- When a player's 90 minutes are up, they will be allowed to finish whatever game is currently in progress.

- The top 48 seeds will compete in the Gold Tournament. Seeds 49-80 will compete in the Silver tournament. Seeds 81-112 will compete in the Bronze Tournament

- Note: In a [48-seed bracket](https://www.printyourbrackets.com/pdfbrackets/48teamsingleseeded.pdf), the top 16 seeds effectively earn a "bye" out of Round 0. The bottom 32 seeds must compete in Round 0 to reach Round 1.

48-seed Gold Tournament

Gold Tournament Rounds 0 and 1 will be completed on Saturday, and Rounds 2-5 (Top 16) will take place on Sunday.

- All matches in the Gold Tournament will be best-of-five.

- All matches must be played on level 18.

- All games will be set to a level 39 super killscreen.

- Before each game, the referee will provide players a "seed" to determine the piece sequence.

- The players will set their games to the sequence and push start simultaneously at the prompt of the referee.

- The player with the highest score wins. If one player tops-out and the other player already has a higher score, the game is finished. If one player tops-out and the other player has a lower score, that player will continue until they either top-out (having lost) or exceed the other player’s score, thus winning the game.

- Players may ask for an update on their opponent's score from the referee at any time. Referees will promptly inform players of the score needed to overtake their opponent in the event their opponent tops out with a higher score.

- "Mullening" (continuing to play once the victor has been determined) can be cut off at any time by referees or CTWC officials.

- Bad sportsmanship will not be tolerated. Players are allowed to talk to each other and the judges/referees, but making loud noises, wild movements, or using insensitive or harmful language could result in disqualification.

- Live commentary will be audible to the players. The commentary may provide information, but may also be a distraction. It is up to each individual player if they want to wear headphones or ear plugs. _Players should never rely on commentary to find out if they won a game or not. They should keep playing until the referee has confirmed the result._

- If an NES console or TV freezes, loses power, or otherwise becomes unplayable, both players will be stopped by the judge and the games will be reviewed. Considering the scores, line counts, and piece stacks of each player at the time of the malfunction, along with any other circumstances deemed relevant, tournament officials will decide to either have players replay the game or, in very rare cases where a player is deemed to have amassed and insurmountable lead, award a win to the player who had the higher score at the time the malfunction occurred.

- If an NES console or TV experiences a momentary glitch, interference, or visual disruption, the affected player must attempt to make the judge aware of the problem and must keep playing to the best of their ability. After both players have topped out, the affected player may request an official review. This is the only time a review can be requested. If a review is not requested, the results of the game will be accepted and can't be subsequently changed for any reason. If a review is requested, considering the scores, line counts, and piece stacks of each player at the time of the malfunction, along with any other circumstances deemed relevant, tournament officials will decide to either accept the results of the game or have players replay the game. Under no circumstances will a win be awarded to a player who was trailing at the conclusion of the game.

- ANY PLAYER THAT IS NOT AT THEIR STATION WITHIN 15 MINUTES OF THE MATCH START TIME WILL BE DISQUALIFIED! NO EXCEPTIONS!!! Players are responsible for being at their assigned station when their match begins, so if any player does not arrive on time, shall be disqualified from tournament play.

- Final Rankings will be determined by, in order of importance:

 1.) Round advanced to

 2.) Games won in a losing match

 3.) Combined score of the two losing scores in the losing match (this eliminates the possibility of being penalized for winning a game with a very low score).