Info - DASH SGL26

Timeline

Signup Dealine: October 21, 2026
Tournament Dates: October 22-25, 2026

Settings

Item Split: Major/Minor
Map Layout: Area randomization
Boss Locations: Shuffled
Bosses Known: On
Double Jump, Pressure Valve and Heat Shield on
Charge Beam: Vanilla
Ammo: 3:2:1 distribution
Environment updates: Standard
Gravity Heat Reduction: Off
Logic: Standard
Item Fanfare: On

Format

The tournament will be broken up into two stages:

Group (Oct 22 - 23)
Playoffs (Oct 24)

In the Group stage, you will need to play everyone in your group once. These will be single race matches. You are responsible for finding a time that works for you and your opponents to play. Please expect to get at least half of your matches played by the end of the first day. We will aim to restream as many races as possible.

The Playoffs stage will be a single elimination bracket. Your placement in the group stage will determine your seed in the playoffs. Only the finals and the semi-finals will be played as best of 3.

Equipment

You are responsible for bringing:

Console / Device and Cartridge (if necessary) for gameplay.
Headphones (see below)
Tracking programs (optional)
Controller
Cables

SGLive will be providing TVs and Monitors. The monitors accept HDMI, RCA, and Component (via Retrotink) connections. If you are playing on a non-HDMI connection, please let us know so we can ensure there are Retrotink connections available.

It is heavily recommended that you use earbuds. On the restream stage, you will be wearing closed-ear headphones over your earbuds that pipe in white noise to block out the commentary and/or crowd. Connections are standard 3.5mm plug into the TV.

Hardware Rules

Runners may use cartridge, flashcart, approved emulator, FPGA System (Analogue or MiSTer), or SNES Classic.
ZSNES and Snes9x (v1.43 and below) are banned.
The run-ahead feature in RetroArch is also banned.
Turbo controllers and functionality are both banned.
Emulator specific functionality is banned (e.g. save states, fast forward, etc).
Pressing Up+Down or Left+Right simultaneously is banned.
Only one in-game action can be mapped to any given button.
Only one button can be mapped to any given in-game action.
Usage of more than two shoulder buttons is allowed.
Angle Up/Down may be mapped to any of the buttons, not just shoulder buttons. Usage of the map rando patch to enable this in-game is allowed.
Keyboard and hitbox are allowed on any legal platform.
On hardware that allows simultaneous Left+Right or Up+Down inputs, intentional abuse of the system used to prevent Left+Right or Up+Down (SOCD resolution) is not allowed.

Race Procedure

Races will need to be submitted through the means provided by SG, even if you choose to race instantly. The reasons for this includes tracking who has raced, planning for restreams if schedule allows, and to take inventory on room availability in our Tournament Room. Races must take place during the hours the tournament room is open - 8:00AM to Midnight Thursday, Friday & Saturday, and 8:00AM to when the event wraps Sunday. There will be a public PC set up in the tournament room to schedule races or to sign up for commentary and tracking if needed.

For all races, regardless of restream status

At the agreed time, runners will meet up in the Tournament Room and seeds will be distributed at the Tournament Desk by an event administrator. Please make sure any special requests are communicated with the event administrator.

For non-restreamed races

After seed distribution, a Race Proctor will seat you both in a manner so that you cannot see your opponent’s screen. Set up your equipment - console, emulator, etc, and then signal the Race Proctor that you are ready to go. Once both runners are confirmed ready with race hash codes matching, the proctor will count you down with a “3 - 2 - 1 - GO!” count and time will begin.

Once the goal has been reached with the loss of control of your sprite, raise your hand to signal finished to the Race Proctor. The Race Proctor will verify completion, and then communicate to your opponent of finish. Race Proctors are responsible for reporting results to the Tournament Admin desk. At that time, tear down your equipment so the space can be used by the next racers as needed, and head to the hall – do not talk about the seed with your opponent at great lengths in the tournament room.

For restreamed races

After seed distribution, head to the restream room where a Broadcast Operator will assist you in setting up your equipment. They will also equip you with white noise headphones, which will go over your game audio earbuds so that you cannot hear your opponent or commentary. Once you are ready and hash codes are confirmed, the Broadcast Operator will count you down “3 - 2 - 1 - GO!” countdown and time will begin.

After goal completion, raise your hand to signal finish. The opponent should stop playing at this point unless they are about to finish. Then you can head to the audience for post-race interviews if you wish, and after the broadcast has concluded, then tear down your equipment.

Players are responsible for contacting each opponent, scheduling a time, and checking in at the Tournament Desk when you are ready to begin your match. Players who do not make an effort to schedule with their opponent will be given a “Loss” for each incomplete match.

Emergency Protocol

In the event of an emergency (power outage, evacuation, etc), please notify the race proctor and event admin. In the interest of keeping the tournament running smoothyl, the following will be used to determine the next actions:

If one runner was past Mother Brain 2 (right before rainbow beam and has 300+ energy) and the other player was not in the same room, the player ahead will be declared the winner.
If both players were close, the runners can discuss for a few minutes. If both agree on an outcome, that will be honored.
If neither of the above conditions are met, the race will be reset and the runners will start over with a new seed.

No Shows

There will be zero tolerance for no-shows. If a player is a no-show, that player will forfeit the match.
A player will be considered a no-show if they are not in the race room by 10 minutes after the scheduled start time, and have made no effort to contact their opponent or the organizers.
Even if said contact is made, if a race is unable to be played at that time, or reasonably be rescheduled, the player that was the original no-show will forfeit the match.

Miscellaneous

Out of bounds, ammo underflow, wrong warps, artificial items, and memory corruption are all banned. If you have a question about whether a specific glitch is allowed, ask an organizer BEFORE you use it in a race.
Auto tracking is permitted for items and map locations of collected items. Auto tracking of area portals is not allowed.
Runners caught or who are suspected of cheating will be automatically forfeited from further participation in the tournament. All decisions on cheating will be made by the organizers and will be final.
Players may use alternate sprites, including the use of SpriteSomething to inject custom sprites into race ROMs, with two caveats. The hitbox Samus sprite is banned, and the Screw Attack animation must be identical with and without Space Jump.
Any disputes will be handled by organizers and all decisions will be final.
Controller restrictions and/or BT Skip restrictions are in alignment with the ruling by the SM speedrunning committee established on Nov. 20, 2024

SGL26