Esports mode

Esports mode runs a match under Valve's published CS2 tournament rules, from the Major supplemental rulebook. It is opt-in. Without it, matches use Ready Up's default rules, which follow MatchZy.

Valve's rule is short: load Premier's own configs, then apply a list of exceptions. Esports mode does exactly that, so when Valve changes Premier, esports mode follows without a Ready Up update.

Turn it on

For every match on a server, in readyup.cfg, above the first [section]:

ruleset=valve

For one match, in the match config:

{
  "matchid": 123,
  "ruleset": "valve",
  "map_sides": ["team1_ct", "team2_ct", "team1_ct"]
}

The match config wins over readyup.cfg. In fleet mode, the platform sends the ruleset with the match. Scrims follow readyup.cfg, but keep their knife round.

What changes

Your warmup stays Ready Up's warmup. Valve's warmup values are set for the live state only.

GOTV must be on

Valve's rules require a demo of every map. Under ruleset=valve, Ready Up refuses to go live while no GOTV client is on the map: straight to live, after the knife round, ru match start, and a start from the platform.

When it refuses, the console and chat (at most every 30 seconds) say why, and Ready Up sends tv_enable 1, so GOTV comes up with the next map load. Start GOTV with the server (tv_enable 1 in server.cfg or on the command line), or reload the map with .ru map reload.

To go live anyway, an admin runs .ru match start force. Chat then says that the map is not recorded.

Overrides

A match can change single rules on top of the ruleset with overrides. Later wins: the ruleset's preset, then the match's pause keys, then match cvars that set a rule's cvar, then overrides.

{
  "ruleset": "valve",
  "overrides": { "tv_delay": 90, "lan": true }
}

An unknown key, a wrong type or a value out of range refuses the whole match, with the reason in the console, for example unknown override "freeztime".

default_models uses the models in readyup.cfg default_model_ct and default_model_t. It only changes the player model. It gives no items and writes no inventory data.

Check what is in use

• ru match rules: every rule, with * on the ones that differ from the ruleset, and where each change came from.
• ru match state: the same lines, with the mode and roster.
• At match load, the console logs esports: ruleset=valve ... and the rules that differ.
• ru selftest has an INFO ruleset: line, and skins: inert (valve ruleset) when skins are installed.
• /status and the fleet state carry the ruleset and the effective rules.

What esports mode does not do

• It does not make Ready Up allowed at a Major. Valve's rulebook only allows server mods with Valve's written approval. That is up to the organizer.
• Some rules are not server settings: client settings, PC lockdown, map pool, rosters and coach communication. Those stay with the organizer and the platform.
• Seven cvars in Valve's list do not exist on current CS2 builds (for example sv_occlude_players). esports_live.cfg keeps them, and the server answers Unknown command. That is expected.
• tv_broadcast stays 0 unless the match sets tv_broadcast_url.