Tocata, xdioz and Halcon are out of FNCS Season 8 after learning of a surprising rule break.
Today, professional Fortnite player and caster Kevin “Tocata” Larrinaga saw his team disqualified from the Fortnite Champion Series (FNCS) Finals for a rule violation unbeknownst to him. The rule in question — 3.4 in the official tournament rule set — prohibits an Epic Games-affiliated employee from competing in tournaments. Unfortunately, Epic enforced it before Tocata and his teammates Halcon and xdioz could compete in the NA West FNCS Season 8 Finals.
The untimely gut punch occurred hours after this trio that triumphed in Fortnite’s challenging Reboot Round. As a result, the NA West field has narrowed as Tocata and company have to watch from the sidelines.
Tocata Disqualified for Rule Break
Mi Futuro | My Future
ENG 🇺🇸 –> https://t.co/uTtiip55nO
ESP 🇪🇸 –> https://t.co/HSX7hB8Rsc
— CLG Tocata (@TocataTV) October 30, 2021
The disciplined player took to Twitter with an explanation of what unfolded over the last few hours. According to his Twitlonger, Tocata’s presence in the FNCS violates rule 3.4 in the tournament’s ruleset, prohibiting casters, analysts and more from competing.
Rule 3.4 reads as follows:
“Employees, officers, directors, agents, and representatives of Epic (including the legal, promotion, and advertising agencies of Epic) and their immediate family members (defined as spouse, mother, father, sisters, brothers, sons, daughters, uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces, grandparents, and in-laws, regardless of where they live) and those living in their household (whether or not related), and each person or entity connected with the production or administration of the Event, and each parent company, affiliate, subsidiary, agent and representative of Epic are not eligible to participate or win.”
Tocata responds to the ban
Epic explained to Tocata that he violated the rule above since he casts the Spanish broadcast for the European region. It’s an unfortunate end to FNCS Season 8 for Tocata, Halcon and xdioz on the heels of a pulse-pounding Reboot Round victory. The Counter Logic Gaming member released a statement regarding the situation on Twitter.
“My trio and I received a 14-day ban and is disqualified from the NA-WEST C2S8 FNCS Grand Finals for violating ‘3.4 Epic Affiliation’. This is due to me casting FNCS EU on the official FortniteES broadcast while also participating in the NA-West FNCS. Epic has revoked the 14-day ban. However, we are still DQ’ed from Finals,” he wrote.
Noooooooooooooo
Pobre tocata 🙁 pic.twitter.com/4bhSZOXuQx— FK Chango (@xChangoYT) October 30, 2021
Thankfully, Epic Games showed some leniency on the rule break, but that is where Tocata and his teammates’ season ends. Tocata stated his intentions to step away from Epic-sanctioned broadcasts to pursue his competitive Fortnite career further.
“I have been informed by Epic that ‘The actions they took this weekend won’t prevent me from having opportunities in the future, but those future opportunities would require me to not participate in those future competitions as well’. Meaning, I still have the opportunity to cast but I won’t be able to participate in the events I’m casting.”
Tocata added that he takes full blame for his teammates missing out on a guaranteed payday and will donate 100% of his NA West FNCS Finals viewing party ad revenue to them. Support for Tocata came roaring in from fellow players and casters. He plans to continue competing and will need to look toward the next FNCS season for a chance to hoist the Axe of Champions.
