ESL has extended the duration of VAC bans for player eligibility in its CS2 tournaments
Dan Kleiman
Tournament operator ESL has updated the official ruleset for the ESL Pro Tour CS2 championship series. The organizers have tightened their policy on admitting players with Valve bans.
The changes took effect as part of a major rules update ahead of the start of the second competitive season of 2026. Administrators have revised the clause regarding the recognition of bans imposed by the game’s developers.
The official text of the amended Rule 5.9:
ESL reserves the right to deny participation in its tournaments to individuals with active bans from the game’s publisher. Any bans from ESIC will be recognized and converted into bans by the tournament operator. VAC bans in Counter-Strike are taken into account, but only for five years after they are issued.
Previously, the ESL Pro Tour competitive ecosystem had a more lenient restriction in place. Players with official VAC bans were granted amnesty and allowed to participate in the tournament operator’s championships just two years after receiving an automatic ban from Valve.
Photo — ESL.
Dan Kleiman
