The following text has been copied from a press release provided to InvenGlobal

Overwatch fans will have their first opportunity to watch top tier teams from North America (NA) and Europe (EU) compete with hero bans and protects in this year’s first Tournament of Future Champions (TFC).

“Since TFC is a one-day tournament, hero bans is a way to level the playing field between teams who have a lot of practice and newer teams, ultimately allowing the ingenuity and skill of players to shine through.

-Justin "Jayne" Conroy

The revamped ruleset also allows coaches to spectate matches, bringing a new aspect to the Tier 3/Tier 2 competition. This rule change hopes to give great coaches the chance to show their strengths in a role that can oftentimes go underappreciated or unnoticed in competitive Overwatch.

For more information on these new rules, please consult the official rulebook here: https://goo.gl/o4h5Zs

The tournament beginswith a “best of three” single elimination qualifier round on January 15.

 The winners of the qualifier round will move on to the knockout bracket which continues with the “best of three” format until the finals where the top two teams will play in a “best of five”.

21 NA teams will compete in the qualifiers for 11 spots in the knockout bracket, joining the top invited teams First Generation, Path to Poverty, Chicken Contendies, Who? and Mirage.

The EU qualifiers will see 16 teams vie for 8 spots next to One.Point, Young and Beautiful, Shu’s Money Crew EU, HSL Esports, Falafel Avengers Partners, Top Dogs and Novus Ordo Seclorum in the knockout bracket.

“I’m really excited to see the return of some top competitors as well as new faces to TFC. Now mixing in coaches, hero bans, and a fresh new patch, there is a lot of spice to look forward to. I’m especially keeping my eye on teams like Chicken Contendies, Alpha Gaming, Path to Poverty, Mirage, and others that are at the top of the Open Division rankings, as we will get a glimpse into the competition going into playoffs and Contenders Trials coming soon.”

- TFC caster LemonKiwi

NA teams face off in the knockout bracket on Saturday, January 19 from 3:00 PM – 9:00 PM PST.
EU teams compete on Sunday, January 20 from 18:00 – 24:00 CET (9:00 AM – 3:00 PM PST).

The knockout bracket matches will be streamed live on Jayne’s Twitch channel https://twitch.tv/jayne with returning co-host LemonKiwi and new this TFC, LoBosco.

TFC is proud to bring the Overwatch community a tournament that is the first of its kind. With a high potential for upsets, new strats, rising stars, and both regions competing for $2000 prize pools, this event is one that is sure to excite.

For more information on the rules, scheduling, and teams, please check the official documents, which may be found here: https://goo.gl/o4h5Zs