All league matches must be played within the deadlines set for the given Group phase. No league walkovers are given for any reason as it simply isn’t fair on the other players in your Division that have played the games. That being said, the GDL will determine the outcome of games in the instance that a game goes unplayed which affects the outcome of prizes, ranking points or Finals allocation, based on evidence provided via a support ticket.

In the Group phase, you should aim to play one game per week.
We understand life gets in the way but, at the same time, we do need to keep things ticking along smoothly.

• Therefore, we have introduced a fixture penalty at various stages throughout the season:
  If you have played no games by the end of week two, you’ll have two fixtures removed from your schedule.
• If you have played less than three games by the end of week four, you’ll have two fixtures removed from your schedule.
• If you have played less than 5 games by the end of week six, you’ll have two fixtures removed from your schedule.
• If you have any outstanding games by the end of the League phase, you’ll be at risk of exclusion from the League Finals.
• If you fail to meet two checkpoint requirements, you will be removed from the League season.

Extensions may be granted if you can provide evidence, via a support ticket, that you have organised matches so that you can meet the next checkpoint’s games played requirement. This evidence must be sent before that checkpoint has been reached. There may also be consideration where an opponent withdraws or is timed out from the League phase themselves which has meant you can’t play them.

If your opponent is unable to play you in the scheduled week, please feel free to contact and play another weeks’ opponent, to avoid falling behind.

If a player who you are due to play withdraws or loses fixtures due to inactivity, we will do one of the following:

1. Assign you a new fixture against another player in the division who also needs a new fixture.

2. Assign a fixture against a suitable replacement player who is on the reserve list. The reserve list player can only play the amount of matches equal to the amount that the withdrawing player had left.

3. Assign a fixture against a GDL mentor, of equal ability. In this case, the result of the match will only count for you on the standings table.

4. Assign a fixture against another GDL player already who is not in your division, of equal ability. In this case, the result of the match will only count for you on the standings table.

5. Assign a fixture against a player already in the division who has already met their allocation of games. In this case, the opponent cannot earn additional points on the standing table (i.e. only their first 8 games count).

If none of the above are possible, the GDL will review if the fixture will make a difference to Finals qualification (i.e. qualifying for top 8 playoffs or bottom 8 playoffs) and make an evidence based decision accordingly.

Other consequences of being timed out or withdrawing from a League season:

• Being timed out or withdrawing in the final 7 days of a League phase will result in refusal of entry to the next Tour event, GDL Major or Plate competition. This can include players who do not finish all games in a League season.
• Being timed out or withdrawing from a League phase in the 14 days prior to the entry deadline or before the draw has been published for a standard Tour event will also result in refusal of entry/withdrawal to said event. If you qualified for a GDL Major but were timed out of a League Phase during the 14 days prior to entry closing, you will only be eligible for the Plate competition for that event. This includes if you had multiple matches left at the end of the League season prior to the Major without support ticket being raised or if an unplayed match has affected the prize winners in your group.
• Being timed out or withdrawing from a League season voids entry and/or participation for the League Masters in the same given season.
• Being timed out or withdrawing from a League season results in all accrued ranking points for that League season (incl. League Masters) being removed.
• Being timed out or withdrawing from a League season may result in a deposit being required to confirm entry to subsequent League seasons, returnable upon full completion of that subsequent League season.
• Being timed out or withdrawing from a League season may result in refusal of entry to subsequent League seasons.
• If a player voluntarily leaves a League season, there is a £20 admin fee to cover the work required in removing a player’s fixtures and results.

Please show respect for your opponent before, during, and after your game. Communicate with each other. If you’re going to be late or can’t make it, tell your opponent and politely advise of the situation. A minimum of 1 hour’s notice is required to cancel a match. 

We have introduced a penalty system starting immediately for players who fail to turn up to matches at the agreed time.

This penalty has been introduced to protect players who are turning up to play matches in good faith. We completely appreciate that it’s not just a 30 minute match; it’s warming up, it’s asking the wife/husband to put the kids to bed that night, it’s sometimes staying in to play GDL instead of an in-person event.

1) If a player fails to turn up for a league match at the agreed time, they will lose TWO points from their tally in the table.

2) If a player fails to turn up for a knockout match at the agreed time, they will immediately forfeit the match.

This also applies if a player cancels with less than one hour’s notice.

These actions will be taken only if a player reports a no-show or a late cancellation by way of a support ticket via the website or app.

For knockout games, if the impacted player decides to reschedule with the offending player, that’s fine – no issues, however, this nullifies any future report/claim regarding the initial problem.

To avoid any doubt or ambiguity, these actions will be taken without exception.

Players who experience an opponent not turning up for an arranged match without sufficient notice, or difficulties arranging a match in the first place, should raise a support ticket as soon as possible. We have a support team that are ready to help you out, but we can’t do anything if we don’t know about it.

The GDL track, trend and take further action in all instances where this occurs and, therefore, it is very important that all instances are reported. We have a support team available to help you out, but we can only do that if we know about it. Multiple instances of this happening could lead to various sanctions depending on the frequency of the instances. This could involve, but isn’t limited to, a player being withdrawn from the competition or being removed from the GDL entirely.
N.B. The GDL will not disclose any of these disciplinary actions taken with anyone other than the player themself. Therefore, if you have raised a support ticket about an instance of this manner but the GDL don’t disclose to you the outcome, this does not mean that no other action was taken or will be if further similar incidents occur with the same player.

The GDL may ask you to try to re-arrange a match in certain circumstances. This is because there is no fairer way to determine points and prizes than to play all of the scheduled games and/or because the opponent made a genuine mistake that is out of character. It is appreciated that, if asked to, you co-operate and try to re-organise in these circumstances, whilst the GDL continue to track, trend and take further actions, where required.

Multiple instances of being disrespectful will result in being removed from the GDL without refund.

It’s all about respect. We’re all decent adults in the GDL, so please respect each other.

If you are not happy with the board view of an opponent before a game begins, you have the right to A) ask for a better view and B) if the opponent refuses or is unable to provide a better view, refuse to play the game.

If there is too much noise going on in your opinion, you have the right to A) ask your opponent to reduce the noise, turn the music down etc. or B) refuse to play the game until things are to your liking. We hope and believe, however, that this type of thing will be rare within the GDL. Be aware that some people might only have their living room to put their board up, for example, so a little bit of background noise can’t be helped sometimes. 
Having said this, it is important that you keep your noise down as much as possible. No loud music in the background, no talking on your opponent’s throw, no banging and crashing about.

If there are any issues relating to board view or match conditions, it is important that you raise a support ticket before you play the game, or if mid-game, you stop playing as soon as possible.

There is little that the GDL can do after a game has been played, in terms of the outcome of the game, if you only retrospectively raise the issue via support ticket. All evidence is appreciated when investigating issues with board view or match conditions, so please provide screenshots or video, where possible.

The GDL investigates all reports of poor match conditions thoroughly and often results in a new board view review being conducted. If the GDL request to review your board view, you will not be eligible to play any GDL games until that has been conducted and your board view accepted. Any games you play during this period are likely to be voided.

For reference, below are some examples of ‘good’ board views.