The Judge Cup Returns at World Championship 2026!

For the fourth year, the Judge Cup is back! This time on Monday, November 9th, right after the World Championship is concluded, judges from around the globe that have just met, played and judged over the weekend, will once again gather to battle for glory, pride, and the title of Judge Champion of the Year.

The Judge Cup is one of our most beloved traditions: a day-long tournament where judges showcase not just their dedication to the game, but their skill at the highest level of competition. Expect a full day of play, including swiss rounds (depending on attendance) and a full top 8, after which we will crown our champion.

Venue

Playin BNF
131 Av. de France, 75013 Paris, France

Playin is hosting us! On top of their excellent service and venue, they will have a wide variety of food and drinks available on site.

In order to sustain the Judge Cup, please consider having lunch there, and maybe even dinner. This support helps us keep the Judge Cup free of charge despite its logistical needs. If you’re in the market for board games or TCG products, please also consider supporting them by placing a pickup order for the Cup:
https://www.play-in.com/fr

Board games will be available for spectators or for players who drop from the Cup, and, depending on the demand, they will run a special Classic Constructed Armory starting at 18:00/19:00 (details to come).

Schedule and call time

Starting time: 10:00 sharp. All participants are expected to have submitted their decklists and be ready to play at that time. You can submit your decklist on GEM (you will be added to the event the week before at least).

If you expect to be delayed, contact the Head Judge as soon as possible with your estimated time of arrival so you aren’t dropped. Dropped players will not be re-entered in the event. If you expect not to be able to show up, please contact the event manager as soon as possible so your slot can be offered to another judge. Unannounced no-showing players will not be able to play in the upcoming Judge Cup events.

We're expecting 6/7 rounds of swiss ending between 18:00 and 19:00 followed by a top 8.

Event details

Sponsored by the Judges of the Rathe program and free of charge, the Judge Cup runs at Competitive REL, mirrors Worlds formats, and rewards not only top performances but also participation.

Player expectations

While the Judge Cup is about fun, competition, and community, it is still an official activity. Judges are representing themselves and the entire program, and are expected to demonstrate the highest standards of fair play, integrity, and professionalism.
Judges are expected to make every effort to play their rounds to the best of their abilities, as a matter of respect for the staff, sponsors, and their opponents.

Prizes

• Top 8: an additional, more exclusive playmat
• Winner: a rare collector item, trophy, and the 2026 Judge Champion title
• Door prizes: collector items will be distributed at random each round to judges playing that round

Eligibility

To join the Judge Cup, you must:
• Be Level 1 or higher,
• Be in good standing with LSS and the Judge Program, and
• Have a 2026 event listed in your JudgeHub profile in a judge capacity.

Applications will be handled first come, first served if we reach capacity. We also welcome applications for event staff (Head Judge, Floor Judges, Scorekeeper). If you're applying for these roles, please explain what role you are applying for and a brief explanation on why you want to do so in the cover letter for this event. A selection for Head and Support Judges will be made mid-August.