Tournament Format

Open only to players who have made less than $8,000 USD in Starcraft 2 tournament earnings. Our source for this data will always be https://www.esportsearnings.com/games/151-starcraft-ii/top-players OR aligulac, as new information suggests that it's more accurate.
Double elimination bracket.
Rounds of 64 and before are Best of 1.
Lower bracket is Best of 1 until the lower bracket finals which are best of 3.
Upper bracket is Best of 3 until the finals which are Best of 5 with the winner of the upper bracket gaining a 1 game advantage.
Map Pool: Standard Ladder Map Pool

Finding Your Opponent & Walkovers

Join the NA group Platypro with this link: battlenet:://starcraft/group/1/392070 And/or stay in the group channel for the duration of the tournament (simply should be called "Platypro").
If they're a known GM, check the GM ladder and PM them.
You're not expected to add them as a friend, since they are expected to be in the channel at all times, but you should try to message them directly if possible.
If you do not message your opponent within 10 minutes and they are looking for you, and they are in the correct channel with the same name as on challonge, you will forfeit your match.
If your in game name is different from your name here, go to the settings tab in challonge and edit name in this fashion: "ChallongeName (Battle.net name)". This also will help people identify you and make things run more smoothly.
Walkover period is 15 minutes after brackets go live and 10 minutes after each additional round start in which a player can't find another player.
The above walkover rule has exceptions if the bracket has not advanced far enough to cause wait times for other players and will be looked at on a case by case basis. Players may ladder in between games if their next opponent is just starting their series, or waiting on another series before that.

Open globally, server priority is Americas unless both players agree otherwise. Both players are encouraged to find a middle ground server location. If NA + EU, default is US East. If NA + KR, default is US West.
You may play any race you choose for any round in the tournament as long as your opponent knows your race before going into vetoes. You may choose random as your race. If and only if both players agree to it, you may change your race mid-round (after vetoes).
Veto Format: ABBA BAC or alternatively if both players agree, they may veto in another format.
The default veto format for all BO1 matches should be ABABAB C unless both players agree otherwise.

Seeding is done by aligulac points. If I can't find you on aligulac, likely you will be stuck with a low seed, unless I am otherwise informed. http://aligulac.com
Change your challonge name to something easily identifiable to ensure your seed is what it's supposed to be.

Payments will go out via matcherino, so please add yourself to the player list if you make the top 8.
If you forfeit any games in the finals, you will forfeit half the second place prize. If you forfeit the entire finals, you will forfeit the entire second place prize.
If you would like to donate to the prize pool of this tournament or future tournaments, your support is welcome! yamapickle@gmail.com is the paypal addresses you should send to! Be sure to add a message for what it is for, a directly paypal.me link is shown above in the description. Also be sure to remember to use the matcherino codes.
Smurfing is absolutely not allowed, as this tournament needs to be transparent as it is (with its core rule restricting by career earnings).
If there are any controversial games, send your replays to nistacular@gmail.com.
Please wait to play if you're in the semi-finals as we would like to cast those games and the finals, though we realize this may not always be possible, and subject to change.
If you would like to cast, please message Yamapickle and he will give you a caster's document.
Remember this tournament is simultaneously a ladder to bigger and better things, and a safe place against all the scary players, don't feel bad playing in it :).
Be respectful and have fun!

These numbers might change based on donations/sponsors! I want to keep the percents the same week to week:

OSC point spread: