Official Rules

League Overview

The Survivor Series is a season-long poker competition consisting of multiple point-based tournaments, periodic elimination cycles using a lives system, Last Chance Qualifier tournaments, and a Final Four Championship to determine the season Champion.

Only events specified with DPC S26 E[#] are considered events in this series. Winnings and points awarded from outside events do not hold weight within the Survivor Series.

Buy-Ins & Payments

The Survivor Series is intended to be a more competitive version of the original DPCP. Every tournament includes a buy-in and respective tournament pot, giving players a way to earn back their series entry and still make money even if they do not win the 2026 Championship.

A season entry fee is required to be eligible for points, lives, eliminations, and the championship.

Standard Tournament Buy-Ins: $10. Bounty Tournament Buy-Ins: $15 total. Last Chance Qualifier Buy-Ins: $5.

Payment must be completed by 11:59 PM the night before the next scheduled event. Failure to pay by the deadline results in ineligibility for that event and/or the series.

Attendance & Punctuality

Players must be present and seated within 30 minutes of the tournament start time.

If you are not present within 30 minutes, your buy-in is forfeited and you are removed from the tournament.

To be eligible for the Final Four Championship, players must attend at least 65% of all Survivor Series events. This ensures fair play throughout the season.

No exceptions. This policy is final and non-negotiable.

Points System

Each tournament awards points to all participants. Points accumulate across all events and are used to rank players, determine elimination eligibility, and break ties if needed.

At the end of each cycle, before the Last Chance Qualifier tournaments, the bottom 20% of players in points will be eligible for elimination.

Did not play in an event: -0.5 points. Played in the event: 1 point minimum.

Let r = finishing position, N = total number of players in the event, and k = number of players knocked out before you. Points = 1 + 0.25(N - r), or Points = 1 + 0.25k.

Example 1: if an event has 15 players and you finish 8th, Points = 1 + 0.25(15 - 8) = 2.75 points.

Example 2: if an event has 10 players and you are the 2nd player knocked out, Points = 1 + 0.25(10 - 9) = 1.25 points.

Lives System

Lives are not lost or gained during tournaments. Lives are only lost during elimination cycles after the Last Chance Qualifiers.

Losing all lives results in complete elimination from the series.

On-time signups start with 3 lives. Late signups start with fewer lives based on join timing.

Elimination Cycles

Eliminations occur after designated cycles, not after every event.

At each elimination cycle, the lowest 20% of players by points are marked as eliminated, with a minimum of 2 unless only 5 total players remain.

Each eliminated player loses 1 life. Eliminations are applied after the Last Chance Qualifier for that cycle.

Last Chance Qualifiers

A Last Chance Qualifier is held at the end of each elimination cycle. The tournament will be a normal, standard tournament.

Eligibility includes players eliminated for that cycle. The winner avoids losing a life.

If only 1 player is marked for elimination, there will be no Last Chance Qualifier tournament and that player is eliminated.

Late Entries

Late entries are allowed until the designated cut-off point, which will be announced later. Absolutely no re-entries will be allowed after the cut-off date.

Late entrants pay the same season entry fee, start with 2 lives if before midseason, start with 1 life if after midseason, and start with adjusted points based on current Series minimums.

Exact midseason dates are TBD.

Event Formats

Each tournament may feature a unique format or theme, such as Villains vs Heroes, All-In or Fold, Timed Freezeout, and more.

Event formats do not change buy-ins, points awarded, or elimination rules.

All themed rules will be explained before each event begins.

Final Four Championship

Once the field is reduced to the Final 4, all lives are removed. The championship is a standard, bracket-style tournament. The winner is crowned Season Champion.

Seeding will be based on final point standings.

To be eligible, players must attend at least 65% of all Survivor Series events.

Tie-Breaking & Standings Resolution

In the event of a tie in points, standings will be determined in this order: total number of events played, best single-event finish, head-to-head result if applicable, and host decision.

Absences, Missed Events & No-Shows

Players are not required to attend every event.

Players who do not participate in an event receive -0.50 points for that event and do not lose a life solely for missing an event.

Missed events still count toward elimination standings.

Technical Issues & Disconnections

Players are responsible for their own internet connection and device readiness.

Disconnection, lag, or software issues do not pause tournaments, do not result in refunds, and do not change results or points awarded.

Tournament platform rulings are final.

Conduct & Integrity

Players are expected to act respectfully.

Collusion, cheating, or harassing will result in immediate disqualification, forfeiture of buy-ins, and possible removal from the Series.

Host Authority

The host reserves the absolute right to modify rules, adjust formats, change schedules, add or remove events, resolve disputes, and make final rulings on all situations.

All decisions made by the host are final. Participation in any event constitutes acceptance of this authority.

Rule Acceptance

By entering any Survivor Series event, you acknowledge that you have read and understand these rules, agree to follow them, and accept the host's authority and decisions.

Hosting & Administrative Fee

A hosting fee is included in all buy-ins. This fee supports league operations, including event hosting and administration, standings, points and lives tracking, scheduling and communication, poker table and card background, social media upkeep, time spent on graphic design, qualifiers and championship coordination, and end of season awards.

The hosting fee is non-refundable. All hosting fees are retained by the host.

New Players

New players may join at the start of a cycle. They are immune from being at risk during the cycle they enter.

New players begin with points equal to the average of the bottom three active players, minus 0.5 points, rounded to the nearest 0.25.

During their immunity cycle, they do not count toward the at-risk cutoff. Starting the following cycle, they are treated like every other player.