C3 Esports uses two series formats depending on the phase of the season. Understanding the format before match night ensures there is no confusion about how many games to play or when the series is over.
| Phase | Format | Max games |
|---|
| Regular season | Best-of-3 (BO3) | 3 |
| Playoffs | Best-of-5 (BO5) | 5 |
Special events, invitational weeks, or staff announcements may alter the format for a specific match or week. Always check the match page for the format specified for your match.
Best-of-3 (BO3)
The first team to win 2 games wins the series.
| Games played | Possible scenarios |
|---|
| 2 | Team A wins 2-0 or Team B wins 2-0 |
| 3 | Series is tied 1-1 after 2 games; a third game is played to decide |
Best-of-5 (BO5)
The first team to win 3 games wins the series.
| Games played | How it ends |
|---|
| 3 | 3-0 sweep |
| 4 | Series is 2-1 after 3 games; winner of Game 4 either clinches (3-1) or ties (2-2) |
| 5 | Series is tied 2-2 after 4 games; Game 5 decides |
Game settings
All games in all series use these exact settings:
| Setting | Value |
|---|
| Game mode | Soccar |
| Arena | DFH Stadium |
| Team size | 3v3 |
| Match length | 5 minutes |
| Overtime | Enabled (unlimited golden goal) |
| Max score | Disabled |
| Mutators | None |
Any deviation from these settings — including playing on a different arena — invalidates the game. Stop, fix settings, and replay if incorrect settings are discovered before the game ends. Playing with wrong settings and then disputing the result will not be accepted.
Overtime rules
If a game is tied at the end of 5 minutes, unlimited golden goal overtime is played. The first team to score wins the game. There is no time limit on overtime — games can extend indefinitely until a goal is scored.
Goals scored in overtime count toward player stats but do not count separately from the “game score” perspective — the game ends 1 goal after the tied score (e.g., a 2-2 game that goes to OT ends 3-2 for the scoring team).
Series result examples
BO3 example:
- Game 1: Team A wins 4-2
- Game 2: Team B wins 3-1
- Game 3: Team A wins 5-3
- Result: Team A wins the series 2-1
For result submission, you enter:
- Game 1: Team A 4 – Team B 2
- Game 2: Team A 1 – Team B 3
- Game 3: Team A 5 – Team B 3
BO5 example:
- Game 1: Team A wins 3-1
- Game 2: Team A wins 2-1
- Game 3: Team B wins 4-0
- Game 4: Team A wins 3-2
- Result: Team A wins the series 3-1 (Game 5 not played)
For result submission, you enter scores for Games 1–4 only. Do not create a Game 5 entry if it was not played.
Tiebreaker games
If a series game goes to overtime and results in a golden goal, this is the normal and intended resolution. It is not a tiebreaker game in the standings sense — “tiebreaker” in C3 Esports refers to how tied standings are resolved, not overtime within a game. 