Congratulations to
Team Lunyshko and team members Swatoslav, LimeZ3_ + Skrat for-
Winning the Rainbow Cup IX - The Chosen Ones tournament!
and taking home $1,300 in prize money,
and a custom made Avatar made by Fichom !!!
The Team has chose the "Blue" variant of the Avatar.

Special recognition for LimeZ3 for winning his second RC avatar.

Congratulations to
Team KnownSniper and team members FtXCommando, Neytron + Derp for-
coming in 2nd place and winning $700 !!

Congratulations to
Team Nuggets and team members Deli, BlinChik + ch4p for -
finishing in 3rd place and winning $360 !

And a big Thank You for all the players who signed up and participated.
We really appreciate the great turnouts each year.

Attention:
We have a withdrawal from the tournament.

This player may be replaced with anyone in the Stby pool,
no matter their rating.
Or
With anyone in the Restricted Standby pool,
as long as their RC rating is at or below 1959.
(for this particular player).

If anyone is interested in being a substitute player
Sign up below now...
To - possibly substitute for the above mentioned player,
or any other future player who may withdraw.

or
Register on the Rainbow Cup discord channel here:
https://discord.com/channels/197033481883222026/1445144266656710860

Congratulations to:
KnownSniper, Lunyshko, Nuggets, Blast_Chilled, Tryth, Popiska, WilloWisppsi + Yew
for being Chosen as this years RCIX Captains.

Be sure to tune into the FAF Live stream cast by Endranii on February 21st.

We will start the voting process to select "The Chosen Ones" in 90 minutes.
Please be present in the Discord lobby, if you wish to vote.
https://discord.com/channels/197033481883222026/1445144266656710860

Captains will be "chosen" over a 2 hour period.
If you can't make the 1400 UTC start time for Captain #1...
you can still arrive in the lobby late and vote on the later Captains.
See you soon!

Only 2 days left to register.

Registration ends at 1400 UTC on Sunday Feb 8th.

Sign up soon!

Registration is now open !!!

Just type "Sign Up" below

Registration ends on Feb 8th at 1400 UTC,
when the Captain and Player draft starts.

Also...
There is a Discord channel for this tournament here:
https://discord.com/channels/197033481883222026/1445144266656710860

Please keep this forum thread for sign ups,
and Official Tournament news only.

Use the Discord channel -
For any questions or comments about the tourny,
and to keep up with the latest tournament news and info.

Post #12: Rainbow Cup Series Tournaments

The Rainbow Cup series of tournaments -
do not necessarily endorse, represent, or have any
affiliations with any groups, outside FAF.

The Rainbow Cup Tournaments are -
fun, team color games with AI's.

Post #11: Past Rainbow Cup Tournaments

RCVIII - 4v4 - Mars Attacks - $2,100
Held Feb 22,23 + Mar 1,2 2025
1st Place = $1,200 - TheWeakie, FtXCommando, Neytron + AgainPain
2nd Place = $600 - wifi_, Swatoslav, BlinChik + LimeZ3_
3rd Place = $300 - Blast_Chilled,Rhaelya,Unknow+AchievedJaguar8
https://forum.faforever.com/topic/8644/rcviii-mars-attacks-4v4-2-100

RCVII - 4v4 - AI Allies - $2,000
Held Feb 24,25 + Mar 2,3 2024
1st Place = $1,200 - TheWheelie, FtXCommando, Archsimkat + InsidiousNoob
2nd Place = $550 - Tryth, TheWreck, ZLO + Unknow
3rd Place = $250 - WaffelzNoob, Paralon, BlinChik + cement.
https://forum.faforever.com/topic/6918/rcvii-ai-allies-4v4-2-000

RCVI - 3v3 - Venus Rising - $1,500
Held Mar 11,12 +18, 2023
1st Place = $780 - TheWheelie, FtXCommando + Nuggets
2nd Place = $480 - WafflelzNoob, ZLO + Flowey
3rd Place = $240 - Tagada, NOC- + GingerbreadMan
https://forum.faforever.com/topic/5400/rainbow-cup-vi-3v3-1-500

RCV - 3v3 - AI Masters <1,800 - $1,200
Held Sept 24,25 +Oct 1, 2022
1st Place = $660 - Salnik, Nikerochek + Abandoned
2nd Place = $360 - Aranei, Crypteck + Upas
3rd Place = $180 - GingerBreadMan, Skrat + Hyp3r2001
https://forum.faforever.com/topic/4033/rainbow-cup-v-tournament

RCIV - 3v3 - SpaceNet - $1,200
Held Feb/Mar 2022
1st Place = $660 - Yudi, FtXCommando + Exselsior
2nd Place = $360 - YellowNoob, Grimplex + InspektorKot
3rd Place = $180 - Tagada, Hybrid + Ctrl-K
https://forum.faforever.com/topic/3016/rainbow-cup-iv-dates-set

RCIII - 3v3 - Civilians - $1,200
Held Feb 2021
1st Place = $660 - WoundedElkNoob, archsimkat + LimeZ3
2nd Place = $360 - Nexus, Bloodoath/Picoo + Protect
3rd Place = $180 - Blodir, KoisKix + Wesh
https://forum.faforever.com/topic/858/rainbow-cup-iii-3-v-3-1-2k

RCII - 4v4 - Alliances - $400
Held July 2018
1st Place = $220 - AchievedJaguar8, Picoo, Tagada + Blast Chilled
2nd Place = $120 - ZLO, BlinChiK, Bravo_ + Magnotok
3rd Place = $60 - blark, blurk, blyrk + blirk
https://forums.faforever.com/viewtopic.php?f=26&t=16177

RC - 4v4 - $300
Held May 2018
1st place = $150 - Heaven, Exotic Retard, Jagged Appliance + Feather
2nd place = $100 - Inspektor_Goose, Blnchlk, Bravo + Wifi
3rd place = $50 - F-Odin, Blast_chilled, Dro + System Failure
Bonus game = $50 - AchievedJaguar8, Snowbound, Hushnoob + Obiwankenoobi
https://forums.faforever.com/viewtopic.php?f=26&t=16118

Post #10: Prize Pool Pay Outs and Sponsors.

Pay outs: Will be done thru Pay Pal.
Sponsor will cover the standard fee.

Any fee's above $10, will be subtracted from the pay out.

Players in countries with international Pay Pal restrictions,
can have prize monies sent to 2nd party friends or family,
or players can have funds held by RC sponsor indefinitely.
No expiration.

Sponsors:
Fearghal = $1,800
Kai Milchshake = $560
Total Prize Pool = $2,360

Anyone who wishes to contribute to the prize pool, can
contact me, and 100% will be added to players prize pool.

Post #9: Acknowledgements

Our Participating AI Mod developers:
Maudlin27------M27AI and M28AI
Relent0r--------RNGAI
and
Radde for his invaluable play testing.

Plus
Fichom for creating the news feed image and avatars.

Plus
Endranii who has agreed to live stream the 4 day event!

Post #8: Map Pool

Current maps, subject to change:
If anyone knows of any bugs or problems with any of the below maps, please dm with the details.
Thank you for any feedback.

Current maps:

Map #1 = Adaptive Maridia v5
Round 1, Matches 1-4, Game 1

Map #2 = Adaptive Convergence v4
Round 1, Matches 1-4, Game 2

Map #3 =Adaptive Tabula Rasa v7
Round 1, Matches 1-4, Game 3

Map #4 = Fuji Phantoms v3
Round 2, Matches 7+8, Game 1
Losers Round 1, Matches 5+6, Game 1

Map #5 = adaptive heavenly place v1
Round 2, Matches 7+8, Game 2
Losers Round 1, Matches 5+6, Game 2

Map #6 = adaptive Ahorevers II v1
Round 2, Matches 7+8, Game 3
Losers Round 1, Matches 5+6, Game 3

Map #7 = Adaptive Azurean Isles v17
Round 3, Match 12, Game 1
Losers Round 2, Matches 9+10, Game 1

Map #8 = Adaptive Finn Rivers v11
Round 3, Match 12, Game 2
Losers Round 2, Matches 9+10, Game 2

Map #9 = Adaptive Kusoge v3
Round 3, Match 12, Game 3
Losers Round 2, Matches 9+10, Game 3

Map #10 = Adaptive Ians Cross v2
Round 3, Match 12, Game 4
Losers Round 3, Match 11, Game 3

Map #11 = DualGap Reborn v4
Round 3, Match 12, Game 5
Losers Round 3, Match 11, Game 2

Map #12 = Adaptive Potem Beach v2
Losers Round 3, Match 11, Game 1

Map #13 = Adaptive doujble plates v2
Semi Finals, Match 13, Game 1

Map #14 = Adaptive Folsom v3
Semi Finals, Match 13, Game 2

Map #15 = Adaptive Slices v4
Semi Finals, Match 13, Game 3

Map #16 = Adaptive Operation Red Sun Extended v1
Semi Finals, Match 13, Game 4

Map #17 = Astris v9
Semi Finals, Match 13, Game 5

**Map #18 = Surprise Map = Adaptive Project Dust v3 **
Finals, Match 14, Game 1

Post #7: Game Map/Scenario example:

How the game maps are released:
Only the maps and the games they will be played in,
will be disclosed before the start of the tournament.

Map setup details will be released just before the start of each match,

At map release time
-AI positions will be shown ,
-Closed spawn sites are shown,
and spawns not closed... are open for players.

Reset All options to default each game, and
set only the 2 tournament specific options in the green outline box.

AIx Cheat and Build multipliers will range from -
a low of 1.0 AI, to a high of 1.5 AIx.
These multipliers will be displayed in pink outline box, and
in the Cheat/Build column.

Post #6: Registered players RC rating calculations.

Post #5: RC Tournament Rating calculation method:

To calculate a players RC tournament rating:
The players highest 1v1, 2v2, 3v3, 4v4 or Global-50 rating is used.
A Dec 25th screenshot is used.

If the players highest rating, is of a game type - with less than 300 games played...
we proportional blend the players next highest ratings to obtain a RC rating.
The next highest rating/s - will be "weighted" with the number of games needed to make up a 300 game history.

Example:
A "Player" has the below ratings:
1v1 = 1,740 and 257 games,
2v2 = 1,865 and 38 games,
3v3 = 1,942 and 75 games,
4v4 = 2,206 and 104 games +
Global=2,165 and 1,215 games

This players highest rating is his 4v4 rating of 2,206 with 104 games.
To make up a 300 game average >
we take 196 games of his next highest rating, which is
his Global rating of 2,165 (subtracting 50 pts for global ratings) = 2,115

This players rating is thus calculated as follows:
4v4(2,206 x 104)games + Global(2,115 x 196)games = 643,964/300 = 2,147 RC Rating.

TD will assign the RC ratings.

Players Ratings used are from this leaderboard screen shot taken on Dec 25th @ 1600 UTC.
Large gold dots are factored ratings, small gold dots are non-factored ratings.

Post #4: Team Formation Process

Team formation starts on Sunday Feb 8th @ 1400 UTC -
We will start with the Captains selection process,
followed by the player draft process at 1600 UTC.

Captain selection process:
The candidate players for Captain will be the top 16 highest RC rated players,

A ballot with these players names will be created,
and *eligible players will vote on Captains from this ballot list.
*Eligible player voters are players with a RC rating of 1950 or higher, plus prior RC champions

Procedure:
On Sun Feb 8th at 1400 UTC...
We will give 15 minutes for the eligible players to vote for Captain #1, who will be the #1 seeded captain.
Then we will allow 15 minutes to vote for Captain #2, who will be the #2 seeded captain,
and so on... down to Captain #8.

This means that ALL 8 Captains will be "Chosen" during the first 2 hour period of the draft.

Eligible player/voters will be able to vote for any player on the ballot, including themselves for each Captain seeding.
Players who are "chosen" as Captains will no longer have a vote for subsequent Captains.
After all eight captains are chosen, the player draft will commence.

Player draft process:
Draft rounds 1, 2, & 3 will all start with Captain #8, and continue subsequently up to Captain #1.

Captains may draft any player in the draft pool, when it is their turn.
Players are not able to reject a draft call, and must accept the team invite, or withdraw from the tournament.

Current Teams and Stby Pool

Post #3: Tournament Schedule + Structure

Dates:
Sat, Feb 21, 2026 at 1400 UTC, (4-6 games)
Sun, Feb 22, 2026 at 1400 UTC, (3-6 games)
Sat, Feb 28, 2026 at 1400 UTC, (0-5 games)
Sun, Mar 1, 2026 at 1400 UTC, (3-6 games)

Keep track of the tournament standings on Challonge here:
https://challonge.com/1ugrs0t8
The winners bracket team starts the finals one game up.

Post #2: Team Colors, Mods, Options, Directions and Rules

Team Colors: Here are the Rainbow Cup IX Team Colors.
Players must use official team colors displayed below.

Red Team ----- Reds, Oranges and Yellows,
Blue Team ---- Blues, Purples and White.
AI ------------- Greens, Pinks and Grey

.
Mods: Load 'only' the specified AI Mods for each game.
AI-Mods needed to play:

.
Options: Reset ALL options to default,
then set 'only' these options:
1- Share Conditions: Full Share
2- AIx Omni Settings: Off
3- AIx Cheat and Build multipliers: As specified.
.

Directions:
Follow this procedure to select team color,
side of map, and starting positions:

1- !Roll -> winner chooses to be either - "Team 1" or "Team 2".
2- Team 1 - chooses side of map, team color, and set's up first.
3- Team 2 - sets up second.
4- Team 1 - can start play "as is", or
---- make a "one time only/permanent" position change.
5- Team 2 - can start play "as is", or
----make a final positional change - "get the last move"
6- Launch Game.
.

Rules:
1- Players and AI must be in official Team Colors.
If a player who is Not in an "official team color",
is spotted by a player on the opposing team,
before the 5 minute mark, the opposing team may
"Pause" the game and force a Re-host.
Multiple infractions may be cause for a game loss or disqualification.

2- Players may Not reclaim any AI Allie units or structures, except for the following exceptions:
Players may reclaim AI bots that are building structures in a players immediate base,
or any AI units that are not moving and preventing a player from building structures.
Players must not abuse reclaim ability, by reclaim farming.
ie- reclaiming structures, at the same time the AI engineers are building the structure.
Players should reclaim the engie first, than structure.

3- Play until one team has lost all 4 of the Human players.
The Team with the last human remaining is the winner.

Event: Rainbow Cup IX ~ The Chosen Ones - 4 v 4 ~ AI Tournament

Dates:
Sat, Feb 21, 2026 at 1400 UTC, (4-6 games)
Sun, Feb 22, 2026 at 1400 UTC, (3-6 games)
Sat, Feb 28, 2026 at 1400 UTC, (0-5 games)
Sun, Mar 1, 2026 at 1400 UTC, (3-6 games)

Prize Pool = $2,360
1st place = $1,050, plus a $250 bonus
-----plus a choice of one of two unique avatars.

2nd place = $700
3rd place = $360

This is a 8 team - 4 v 4 - Double Elimination tournament.
Where AI armies are added to every map, and
players are assigned team colors.

Registration = Open to All.
Register as a Single.

Registration ends on Feb 8th at 1400 UTC,
when the Captain and Player draft starts.

Captains and Teams will be created by:
Players "Choosing" Captains,
and then Captains drafting players.

Scroll to bottom and sign up now!

Congratulations to Team A =
TheWeakie, FtXCommando, Neytron + BlissfulNoob
For winning the Rainbow Cup VIII tournament!

Also -Congratulations to TheWeakie, FtXCommando, Neytron + BlissfulNoob for winning the tournament in only 11 games. Tying the record held by TheWeakie, FtXCommando + Nuggets in RCVI, for the fewest number of games played to win.
Only losing 1 game in their 4 matches!