Determining the Advancing Players

Following the completion of IATC Round 1, all competing players’ scores will be ranked within their qualifying IATF member organization to determine who will advance to IATC Round 2.

The ranking within each IATF member organization is determined by each player’s performance in IATC Round 1. Players are ranked by their total score from the first 75 Round 1 axes, and ties are broken by the total score from the Round 1 Big Axes. Further ties are broken by players’ match average during the qualification period (January 1, 2020 to March 11, 2022). In the event players are still tied, the tie will be broken by the players’ Standard CRS rating on March 11, 2022.

IATF Member Representation for IATC Round 2

Each IATF member organization that hosted leagues during the qualification period is entitled to send at least one player to IATC Round 2. The remainder of the spots in the 256 player bracket are proportionally divided among IATF members. The proportion is based on each IATF member’s league participation during the qualifying period. This year, as a COVID accommodation, league participation since January 2019 is also included in order to more fairly balance representation. This decision was made last year to account for COVID closures outside of the control of the IATF member organizations.

IATC Round 2 Representation as Determined April 4, 2022

This table lists the number of spots among the 256 that will be attributed to each IATF member organization. These numbers are not final and are subject to change based on IATF member organization participation and player participation. For example, if a member organization declines to run a Round 1 competition, their allocated spots will be redistributed among the remaining members.

Following IATC Round 1

The IATF will contact all advancing players by email. The players instructions on how to pay their registration fee and secure their spot in the IATC Round 2 bracket.

Round 1 Seeding

Players are seeded in the IATC Round 2 bracket based on their Round 1 performance, using the same ranking method detailed above: total score from the first 75 Round 1 axes, and ties are broken by the total score from the Round 1 Big Axes, etc.

The bracket will be finalized May 13, 2022. Competing players will have advance notice of their Round 2 starting venue.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: If a player who advances from Round 1 to Round 2 decides not to participate in Round 2, what happens to their spot?
A: The spot will be offered to the player with the next best Round 1 performance from the player’s qualifying IATF member organization.

Q: How will I know if I advance from Round 1 to Round 2?
A: The IATF will contact all advancing players by email. That email will have all the information needed to secure their spot in the Round 2 bracket.

Q: I’ve qualified for Round 1, but my IATF member organization closed; can I still compete in Round 1?
A: Yes. Please make arrangements with another IATF member to confirm when they are hosting their Round 1 event.

Q: I’ve qualified for Round 1, but my IATF member organization closed; who am I competing with in Round 1?
A: All qualifying players whose IATF member organizations have closed are in competition with each other. We will group these players together this year to compete for the spots that would have belonged to the “Closed IATF Venues”.

The IATF is proud to announce a $30,000 Prize Pool for IATC 2022!

We will be rewarding the top 32 competitors with the payments listed below:

We are super excited to see you all again this summer! Good luck and throw well!

After a two year hiatus, the Challenger Series is extremely grateful to be able to present the third installment of Team Canada vs Team U.S.A.: Battle for the Van Os Vase. The IATF is excited to include this event in the official itinerary of IATC 2022 events.

This time we are back, BIGGER AND BETTER THAN EVER, with an all new, 2-part event format that will truly showcase the best players from each country competing against each other in a series of fun and unique events.

For the first time ever, a qualifying round, where you can earn your place on a team, will be run on the evening of Friday, June 10th at BATL Portlands, after the conclusion of the “Close But No Cigar” Tournament.

The Team Canada vs Team U.S.A Finals will be held on Sunday June 12th at BATL Pickering; after the conclusion of the IATC Finals.

In the Qualification Round, players will compete in three skills events against their compatriots for a chance to represent their country. The three events are Underhand, Ambidextrous, and the Kitchen Sink (a mix of 1½ Rotation, 2 Rotation & Big Axe throws). The top scorers from each skills event will advance to either Team Canada or Team U.S.A.

Team Canada and Team U.S.A will compete in the Finals in a variety of brand new and classic Challenger Series events, including individual and team games that are sure to be out of this world; now is the time to sharpen your skills!

Not from Canada or America? You can still qualify and represent your country in the Qualifying Round, and individual Finals events. If you throw well enough to qualify, we will slot you onto either Team Canada or Team U.S.A. depending on preference/availability.

The $50 entry fee includes guaranteed participation in all three qualifying events (Underhand, Ambidextrous, and The Kitchen Sink), the chance to represent your country in the Finals, and an official Team T-shirt!

Tickets will be available for purchase Wed April 6 at 12:00 pm EDT through EventBrite.

Registration cost: $50.00 + taxes and fees per person.

Registration includes a Team T-Shirt of your choice.

Qualifying Round

• Fri June 10
• BATL Port Lands 
• 5:00 pm Registration
• 6:00 - 10:00 pm Qualifying Round
• Venue capacity does not allow for spectators at this event

Each player will compete in three Qualifying Round events:

• Underhand

• 20 underhand throws

• Ambidextrous

• 20 ambidextrous throws (40 axes total)

• The Kitchen Sink

• 20 total throws

• ten, 1½-Rotation throws

• five, 2-Rotation throws

• five Big Axe throws

CANADA VS U.S.A FINALS

• Sun June 12
• BATL Pickering 
• 4:00 pm Finals, following IATC 2022 Finals
• Homecoming tickets include spectator admission for this event, subject to venue capacity

The Finals will see two 20-person teams compete in a series of individual and team based skills events. Expect  the unexpected! The team that accumulates the most points during the competition is crowned the champion, taking home the coveted Van Os Vase.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q: Do I have to be qualified for Round 2 of IATC to compete?
A: No, qualifying is open to anyone and everyone, regardless of their status for IATC.

Q: I am neither Canadian nor American can I still compete?
A: Yes, you can be a citizen of another country and still compete. If you throw well enough to qualify, we will slot you onto either Team Canada or Team U.S.A. depending on preference/availability.

Q: I can’t throw Ambidextrous/Underhand, can I only sign up for one skill?
A: Unfortunately, due to tournament format we are not able to allow sign-ups for individual skills, you have to sign up for all of them. Don’t worry though since all qualifying events are independent of each other, having a bad score in one event will not impact your ability to qualify for the other events.

Q: Can you explain more on how qualification works?
A: You will throw 20 throws in each qualifying event, with each event having a maximum score of 108 (216 for Ambi). Your score in that event will be compared against everyone else’s and the top scores from each country will move on to create the 20 member teams.

Q: What happens if I qualify for multiple Events?
A: If you throw scores high enough to earn a team spot in multiple events, your spot will be earned via whichever event you scored highest. For the other event, your spot will be passed down to the next person on the leaderboard.

Congratulations to the players who have qualified for IATC Round 1. A complete list of all qualifying players is available here and on the IATF website Tournaments page.

Tournament Timing and Location

IATC Round 1 will take place at participating IATF member venues on Friday April 8 - Sunday April 10, 2022.

Players should contact their local IATF member venue to get the date and time of the local event and to let them know they plan to attend.

Registration for IATC Round 1 is $30.

Tournament Format

IATC Round 1 is a throw-in format. Players should expect to throw the equivalent of five matches (75 axes) and 15 big axes. The tournament is scored using Premier rules. Clutches are live every fifth throw, but not required for the first 75 axes. Clutches are live, but not required, for all the big axe throws.

Confirmation of Scores

Players can and should confirm their scores are recorded accurately on AxeScores with the scorekeeper, both during the competition and following the conclusion of their throwing. A player’s scores are not intended to be kept secret from the player. Players should consider whether they want to avoid sharing their scores publicly until after all players have completed IATC Round 1.

IATF Member Representation in IATC Round 2

As always, each IATF member organization will send a proportion of the 256 players advancing to IATC Round 2. This proportion is based on each member organization’s league participation during the qualifying period. This year, as a COVID accommodation, league participation since January 2019 is also included in order to more fairly balance representation. This decision was made last year to account for COVID closures outside of the control of the IATF member organizations. The IATF is working with all of its member organizations to determine the number of advancing players allotted to each organization. Advancing players earmarked for member organizations that decline to send players will be redistributed. This information will be made available, once verified and confirmed, next week.

Determining the Advancing Players

Following the completion of IATC Round 1, all competing players’ scores will be ranked within their qualifying IATF member organization to determine who will advance to IATC Round 2.

The ranking within each IATF member organization is determined by the total score from the first 75 axes, and ties are broken by the total score from the big axes. Further ties are broken by players’ match average during the qualification period (January 1, 2020 to March 11, 2022). In the event players are still tied, the tie will be broken by the players’ CRS rating at March 11, 2022.

Seeding for the IATC Round 2 Bracket

Seeding for the 256 players advancing to IATC Round 2 is determined by the players’ performance in IATC Round 1. The same tie breaking criteria, listed above, will be applied: total score from the first 75 axes, total score from the big axes, qualifying period player match average, CRS at Match 11, 2022.

IATC Round 2 Info

IATC Round 2 is a double elimination, Premier rules tournament that will be held in Toronto, Canada. The tournament will begin Saturday June 11, with the IATC Finals taking place Sunday June 12, 2022. The itinerary for the event is available here.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I compete in IATC Round 1 at an IATF venue other than where I qualified?

A: Yes. You can compete at any IATF venue hosting an IATC Round 1 event. Please contact the host venue to let them know you plan to attend their event.

Q: Can I compete in IATC Round 1 on a date before April 8 or after April 10?

A: No. IATC Round 1 is the first leg of the IATC tournament. All qualifiers must compete at an IATC Round 1 host venue between Friday April 8 and Sunday April 10.

Q: Do I have to throw for clutch every fifth axe of the 75 axes?

A: No. Clutches can be called, but the decision to throw for clutch is for the player to make.

Q: Do I have to throw for clutch on every big axe throw?

A: No. Clutches can be called, but the decision to throw for clutch is for the player to make.

After 2 years of COVID protocols, venue closures and capacity restrictions, the IATF is proud to announce several events leading up to and including IATC 2022 in June in Toronto. This year we are hosting additional tournaments the week of IATC 2022 to allow all skill levels to compete against people from all over the world in Toronto this summer. We can’t wait to have you all come and experience Toronto in the summer!

This year, we will be hosting a Doubles Tournament at BATL Port Lands on Thursday, June 9th. An “Under 65” Tournament for those with a 65 average or less will take place on Friday June 10th as well as a “Close but No Cigar” Tournament for anyone that didn’t make Round 2 of the IATC on the same day at BATL Port Lands.

Then we will kick off Round 2 of IATC 2022 on Saturday morning, June 11th, at four venues in the Greater Toronto Area before closing things out with the top 32 competitors vying for the Championship at our BATL Pickering location on Sunday, June 12, 2022.

Homecoming

Instead of Axe Prom this year, we are planning an awesome outdoor party that we are calling Homecoming. We have secured a huge outdoor space at the BATL Pickering location for hundreds of spectators to comfortably watch the final stage of the IATC live and on big screens. Following the tournament, we will hold the awards ceremony outside at BATL Pickering and then celebrate coming together as a community to compete. This party at BATL Pickering will have a DJ and outdoor dance space as well as bars, beer tents and food vendors so everyone can eat, drink and be merry. This event is not a semi-formal event unless you are dead set on wearing a suit or gown outside in the summer in June. 

Axe market

The IATF team is working hard on details for an Axe Market where community vendors can showcase and sell their products as well. Details to come as we lock them down.

Tickets AND Round 2

Tickets for the “Doubles Tournament”, “Under 65” tournaments and an initial batch of $40 “Early Bird” Homecoming tickets will be available through the IATF Tournaments page and Eventbrite on March 30th at 12:00pm EDT.

Tickets for “Close but No Cigar” Tournament, and the remaining $50 Homecoming tickets will be available through the IATF tournaments page and Eventbrite on April 13th 2022 at 12:00pm EDT, after results from Round 1 are posted.

Competitors advancing to Round 2 of the IATC will be sent an email on April 13th, 2022 with instructions on how to pay their $100 registration fee and claim their spots. These emails will also include an option to purchase a Homecoming ticket at $50.

Tickets for all events will be available for purchase on the Eventbrite page.

IATC ITINERARY

This tournament will use a Pool Play format rather than a Double Elimination. The tournament starts with a Group Stage, where players are divided into groups of 4 and play everyone in their Group once, totaling three matches within their Group in a best 3 rounds out of 5 match format before any elimination takes place. Once all Group Stage matches are complete the top 2 from each Group move onto a single elimination tournament bracket. That means that every competitor will have a minimum of 3 matches with their registration fee.

The Close but No Cigar tournament is open to anyone that DID NOT make it into Round 2 of the IATC. If you qualified for Round 1 but did not make it to the final stage of IATC, or if you did not qualify for Round 1 of the IATC but want to compete against some of the best in the world in Toronto, this tournament is for you! Players that made it into Round 2 of the IATC are NOT eligible.

Up to 32 players will compete for a prize pool of $1600 using the IATF Standard Ruleset (“majority-in” bullseyes and “break-paint” clutches) and Pool Play format at BATL Port Lands. The tournament will take place on June 10th with registration at 1:00 pm, the tournament starting at 2:00 pm and then finishing at 5:00 pm.

Registration cost: $80.00 + taxes and fees per person.

Doubles Tournament Details

• Hosted at BATL Port Lands
• 1:00 pm registration and practice.
• 2:00 pm Tournament start
• 5:00 pm finish.
• $1600 prize pool.

Prize Pool

The Close but No Cigar tournament will have a prize pool of $1600 for the event.

• 1st: $800
• 2nd: $450
• 3rd: $250
• 4th: $100

This tournament will use a Pool Play format rather than a Double Elimination. The tournament starts with a Group Stage, where players are divided into groups of 4 and play everyone in their Group once, totaling three matches within their Group in a best 3 rounds out of 5 match format before any elimination takes place. Once all Group Stage matches are complete the top 2 from each Group move onto a single elimination tournament bracket. That means that every competitor will have a minimum of 3 matches with their registration fee.

This tournament is open to anyone who’s 12-month average as listed on AxeScores.com is 65 or below at the time of registration.

Up to 32 players will compete for a prize pool of $1600 using the IATF Standard Ruleset (“majority-in” bullseyes and “break-paint” clutches) and Pool Play format at BATL Port Lands. The tournament will take place on June 10th with registration at 9:00 am, the tournament starting at 10:00 am and then finishing at 1:00 pm.

Registration cost: $80.00 + taxes and fees per team.

Tournament Details

• Hosted at BATL Port Lands
• 9:00 am registration and practice.
• 10:00 am Tournament start
• 1:00 pm finish.
• $1600 prize pool.
• Spectators are free (up to capacity.)

Prize Pool

The Double tournament will have a prize pool of $1600 for the event.

• 1st: $800
• 2nd: $450
• 3rd: $250
• 4th: $100

This tournament will use a Pool Play format rather than a Double Elimination. The tournament starts with a Group Stage, where players are divided into groups of 4 and play everyone in their Group once, totaling three matches within their Group in a best 3 rounds out of 5 match format before any elimination takes place. Once all Group Stage matches are complete the top 2 from each Group move onto a single elimination tournament bracket. That means that every competitor will have a minimum of 3 matches with their registration fee.

Up to 64 teams will compete for a prize pool of $3000 using the IATF Standard Ruleset (“majority-in” bullseyes and “break-paint” clutches) at BATL Port Lands. The tournament will take place on June 9th with registration at 9:00 am, the tournament starting at 10:00 am and then finishing at 4:00 pm. Spectators for the event are free up to capacity limits.

Registration cost: $100.00 + taxes and fees per team.

Tournament Details

• Hosted at BATL Port Lands
• 9:00 am registration and practice.
• 10:00 am Tournament start
• 4:00 pm finish.
• $3000 prize pool.
• Spectators are free (up to capacity.)

Prize Pool

The Double tournament will have a prize pool of $3000 for the event. This means you have a 1 in 8 chance of winning a cut of the cash!

• 1st: $1200
• 2nd: $600
• 3rd: $400
• 4th: $200
• 5th to 8th: $150