Thumb Royale — Format and Rules

Format Overview

Built for minutes — designed for story

Thumb Royale compresses tension into compact rounds: BO1 ladders through the day, nightly Sprint-Cups that reset the arc, and mirrored device profiles to keep plays honest. Officiating is transparent, the broadcast is vertical-first, and every stop feeds a season-long progression.

  • BO1 all day • Sprint-Cups at dusk
  • Mirrored controls, parity-first devices
  • Ref tools with instant review & rulings
Compact mobile stage with players ready to start
Micro-stage: loud energy, low footprint.
Referee holding a call card near the stage
Clear calls, on-screen context.

BO1 Ruleset

One map, one life — clean, decisive

  • Check-in: profile mirror, device parity checks, warm-thumb run.
  • Match: BO1, mirrored HUD, enforced loadout lock.
  • Bans: timed, mirrored, server-verified; missed ban = default.
  • Stalling: warned → forfeited round; refs see live inputs & ping.
  • Appeals: instant clip review at the officials’ booth.
Pick/Ban matrix screen with mirrored windows
Pick/Ban matrix: mirrored timing, clear state.
Large countdown timer for the ban window
Countdown: decisions that move the story.

Sprint-Cup

Nightly reset, fresh bracket

  1. Qualify

    Climb daytime BO1 ladders; earn your seed on streaks and strength of schedule.

  2. Lock

    At dusk the bracket locks. Walk-in intros, quick checks, lights up.

  3. Crown

    Single sprint to the trophy; tomorrow resets for a brand-new arc.

Evening bracket call displayed over the stage
Bracket call at dusk — the sprint begins.
Winner receiving a compact chrome trophy
Micro trophy, maximum pop.

Device Parity

Mirror bench: parity you can feel

  • matched sensitivity and acceleration windows.
  • Refresh behavior: verified frame pacing, jitter under threshold.
  • HUD & controls: mirrored layouts; server-locked loadouts.
  • Display: nits balanced for identical contrast cues.
  • Sanity pass: two-bot warm-thumb before you hit ladder.

We calibrate before doors open, then spot-check between windows.

Mirror bench with test devices and calibration tools
Mirror bench: match the feel, lock the loadout.
Profile sync screen confirming mirrored controls
Profile sync: parity confirmed, queue on.

Officiating & Review

Live tools, clear calls

  • Instant clip review with synced device POVs.
  • Flagging for input anomalies and stalling.
  • Rulings posted on-screen with short context.
  • Appeals at the booth within the same window.

Transparency beats rumor: refs show the why, not just the what.

Referee review console with synced timelines
Review console: synced POVs, quick scrub.
Stage screen showing decision overlay with explanation
Decision overlays: calls that everyone understands.

Pools

Maps & modes: small pool, big variety

Compact pools keep stories legible and prep practical. Titles rotate by city.

  • Control • tight pivots
  • Elimination • sudden reads
  • Payload • crowd roars
  • Skirmish • short clocks
  • Arena • mirrored lanes
  • Rush • snap retakes
Wall of printed map diagrams with annotations
Map wall: clear lanes, tight timings.
Mode icons board with compact labels
Mode icons: readable at a glance.
Loadout lock confirmation screen before match start
Loadout lock: prep, then play.

Code of Play

Conduct that keeps the game clean

  • No device tampering, spoofing, or unauthorized apps.
  • Respect refs and opponents; trash talk stays within venue rules.
  • Stalling, coaching mid-round, or screen peeking = warnings → DQ.
  • Appeals are welcome — use the officials’ booth between windows.

Simple: play sharp, play fair, let the clips do the loud part.

Code of Play board displayed at venue entrance
Code of Play: visible at the door.
Ref showing a penalty card next to the stage
Penalty calls: fast, explained, logged.

Spectator UX

Captions that carry context

  • Auto captions for key events: bans, match point, clutch reads.
  • Audio ducking around ref calls and highlight pops.
  • Creator-safe music beds with signed license sheets.
Preview of vertical captions with safe title margins
Vertical captions: readable at thumb distance.
Compact audio mix desk with ducking settings
Mix desk: ducking around ref calls.

Admin Tools

Windows, queues, notes — in one rail

Officials coordinate ladder windows, queue order, and bracket locks from a single panel.

  • Window timers & alerts
  • Queue status & lane priorities
  • Ref notes synced to clip timestamps
Window schedule with timers and alerts
Window rail: clocks everyone agrees on.
Queue dashboard showing player order and lanes
Queue dashboard: clear lanes, zero drift.
Referee using a radio headset for floor comms
Floor comms: quick calls, fewer pauses.

Venue Flow

Queue lanes that move, signs you can read

The floor plan favors motion: clear lanes from check-in to ladder windows, short hops to the officials’ booth, and a clean path to the Sprint-Cup stage.

  • Two-lane queues with visible timers
  • Booth loop for quick appeals
  • Sightlines checked for phones and eyes
Compact venue floorplan with queue lanes and stage
Floorplan: short walks, zero guesswork.
Queue lane signage with clear icons and timers
Signage: icons first, text second.

Player Care

Ergonomics that respect the thumb

  • Micro-break prompts between windows
  • Grip tape & wipes at care counter
  • Light stretch guides for wrists
Wrist stretch cue card for players
Stretch cues: keep inputs crisp.
Hydration station next to the queue
Hydration station: sip, then queue.

Localization

Languages that match the city

EU tour = EU tongues. Labels, captions, and safety notes ship in local pairs.

  • EN
  • DE
  • FR
  • ES
  • PT
  • PL
  • IT
  • NL
Venue wayfinding signage with two-language layout
Wayfinding: dual-language by default.
Subtitle style sheet for vertical broadcast
Subtitle styles: readable on small screens.

Disputes

Rulings & appeals: fast and visible

  • Ref decisions shown on screen with a short rationale.
  • Appeals at the booth between windows; clip review on record.
  • Escalation path: Floor Ref → Head Ref → Admin Panel.

Clarity over drama: everyone sees the same evidence.

Stage screen showing an official ruling with reason
On-screen ruling: decision + reason.
Appeal booth with ref and player reviewing a clip
Appeal booth: fair look, quick turn.

Data & Privacy

What we store, why we store it

  • Match records: scores, timestamps, device profile IDs.
  • No raw biometrics; creator consents are opt-in and revocable.
  • Local laws respected per city; retention windows are short.

See full policy on the Privacy page for details.

Match record dashboard with scores and timestamps
Records: just enough to run the season.
Consent desk with clear signage and forms
Creator consents: explicit and reversible.

Equipment

Care counter: power, wipes, grip

  • Chargers & battery trays at queue lanes.
  • Screen wipes, grip tape, cable ties.
  • Emergency swaps for failing peripherals.
Charging tray with labeled battery packs
Charging tray: topped up, labeled, ready.
Grip tape and wipes station next to queue
Grip & wipes: quick tune before a run.

Quick Reference

Rule cards you can screenshot

Short, visual rule cards for players, creators, and refs — built for phones.

  • Players
  • Creators
  • Refs
Player rule card with BO1 checklist
Player card: BO1 checklist at a glance.
Ref rule card with call ladder
Ref card: clear call ladder.