Source hierarchy, corrections protocol and dossier methodology
The desk's source hierarchy is published here. Every dossier, ledger row and match note carries one of the four tiers; the badge tells you what the desk trusts and what it does not.
Editorial independence
Sources cited · Updated 2026-08-04 · No invented fixtures · No fabricated rosters
Source hierarchy
Four tiers, named on every entry
The desk's source hierarchy is published on this route. Every dossier, ledger row and match note carries one of the four tiers; the badge tells you what the desk trusts and what it does not.
Tier 1 · League / Official
League announcements, qualifier windows, prize tiers
The desk relies on the league's own announcement channel for date, format and prize tier. Tier 1 sources do not extend to bracket projection or roster commentary.
Example: Counter-Strike Major Stage 2 bracket · Tier 1 · Verified 2026-08-04
Tier 2 · Verified org
Roster swaps, trial windows, organisation statements
Tier 2 sources come from the org itself or a roster-confirmation post the desk can independently date. Two-trial roster swaps are read against the Tier 1 qualifier rule.
Example: Iron Wolves roster swap · Tier 2 · Verified 2026-08-03
Tier 3 · Established media
Patch reading, scene essays, broadcast schedules
Established media reads patch text into meta reading. The desk re-states the official patch text in its notes and then attributes the reading separately.
Example: Patch 14.7b meta reading · Tier 3 · Named reporter
Tier 4 · Community
Lower-tier leagues, community-run qualifiers
Community sources are useful for lower-tier events and qualifier shape, but the desk never uses them to anchor a Tier 1 dossier. Tier 4 entries appear in the calendar ledger with a rumor badge.
Example: Underground Series · Tier 4 · Awaiting org confirmation
Corrections protocol
How the desk handles a correction
The corrections log lives on this route. Each entry carries the previous wording, the corrected wording, the date, and the source badge of the corrected information.
2026-08-03 · Tier 2
Iron Wolves roster swap — verified
Previous wording: "trial swap unconfirmed". Corrected wording: "trial swap confirmed by org post on 2026-08-03". Source: Tier 2 verified org.
Methodology
How the desk builds a dossier
The desk builds every dossier around four checks. Where any check fails, the dossier carries a footnote rather than a re-statement.
- The source is one of the four tiers and the badge is recorded.
- A second source confirms the change (Tier 1 or Tier 2).
- The verification date is recorded and surfaced on the dossier.
- The change log entry names the source badge and the date.
Tier definitions
What each tier includes and excludes
Tier 1 — League/Official. Includes the league's own announcement channel, qualifier windows and prize tier bands. Excludes bracket projection, roster commentary, and any reading the desk extends from a Tier 1 source.
Tier 2 — Verified org. Includes the org's own channel and any roster-confirmation post the desk can independently date. Excludes org marketing copy and any post that does not carry a verification date.
Tier 3 — Established media. Includes named reporters, scene essays and broadcast schedules. Excludes unnamed commentary and any reading that does not carry a named author.
Tier 4 — Community. Includes lower-tier leagues and community qualifiers. Excludes any row that anchors a Tier 1 dossier; Tier 4 rows are never promoted to a higher tier without independent confirmation.
Verification cadence
How often the desk refreshes a dossier
The desk refreshes every dossier at least once per cycle. The cycle is the qualifier window for the relevant event. The refresh date is published on the dossier; the methodology page carries the named beat reporter for each chapter.
Where a dossier's source has changed — for example, an org has rebranded or a league has merged — the desk records the change on the change log with the previous wording, the new wording and the date.
Tier definitions
What each tier includes and excludes
Tier 1 — League/Official. Includes the league's own announcement channel, qualifier windows and prize tier bands. Excludes bracket projection, roster commentary, and any reading the desk extends from a Tier 1 source.
Tier 2 — Verified org. Includes the org's own channel and any roster-confirmation post the desk can independently date. Excludes org marketing copy and any post that does not carry a verification date.
Tier 3 — Established media. Includes named reporters, scene essays and broadcast schedules. Excludes unnamed commentary and any reading that does not carry a named author.
Tier 4 — Community. Includes lower-tier leagues and community qualifiers. Excludes any row that anchors a Tier 1 dossier; Tier 4 rows are never promoted to a higher tier without independent confirmation.
Verification cadence
How often the desk refreshes a dossier
The desk refreshes every dossier at least once per cycle. The cycle is the qualifier window for the relevant event. The refresh date is published on the dossier; the methodology page carries the named beat reporter for each chapter.
Where a dossier's source has changed — for example, an org has rebranded or a league has merged — the desk records the change on the change log with the previous wording, the new wording and the date.
Cross-references
What the source hierarchy links to
The source hierarchy links to the dossier methodology, the corrections protocol, and the named beat reporter for each chapter. The links are independent — a reader who knows the tier can open the methodology without re-reading the hierarchy.
Where the source hierarchy changes, the change is recorded on the change log with the previous tier, the new tier and the date. The desk's case for the explicit hierarchy change is that a hierarchy without a change log reads as static.
Promotion
Why the desk does not promote a row's tier
The desk does not promote a row's tier by editorial decision. A Tier 4 row carries a rumor badge and stays Tier 4 until a Tier 1 or Tier 2 source confirms it. The desk's case for the no-promotion rule is that an editorial promotion would conflate the desk's confidence with the source's confirmation.
FAQ · src
Frequently asked questions, in editorial voice
The desk answers the most common reader questions about this surface in editorial voice. The FAQ is editorial — the desk does not invent answers; the answers cite the surface that already carries the answer.
What are the four tiers?
Tier 1 — League/Official. Tier 2 — Verified org. Tier 3 — Established media. Tier 4 — Community.
How does the desk handle a correction?
The desk verifies the correction against a Tier 1 or Tier 2 source, updates the row, and logs the correction on the methodology page. The previous wording is kept for context.
Why does the desk not promote a row's tier?
An editorial promotion would conflate the desk's confidence with the source's confirmation. A Tier 4 row stays Tier 4 until a Tier 1 or Tier 2 source confirms it.
Where do I find the source hierarchy?
The desk's source hierarchy lives on the methodology page. Every dossier, ledger row and match note carries one of four tiers: Tier 1 (League/Official), Tier 2 (Verified org), Tier 3 (Established media), Tier 4 (Community).
What does the source badge tell me?
The source badge tells you what the desk trusts about the row. A Tier 1 source is a league announcement; a Tier 2 source is an org confirmation; a Tier 3 source is a named reporter; a Tier 4 source is a community post the desk has not yet verified.
How does the desk promote a row's tier?
The desk does not promote a row's tier by editorial decision. A Tier 4 row carries a rumor badge and stays Tier 4 until a Tier 1 or Tier 2 source confirms it. The desk's case for the no-promotion rule is that an editorial promotion would conflate the desk's confidence with the source's confirmation.
How often does the surface refresh?
The surface refreshes weekly on Monday and on every Tier 1 release. The refresh date is published in the methodology block at the foot of every route.
How do I subscribe to updates?
The desk's RSS feed at /feed.xml carries every news desk story. The LLMs manifest at /llms.txt carries the editorial surface as a single document.
How do I file a correction?
Corrections are routed through the corrections email at corrections at esportswagerin dot com. The desk verifies the correction against a Tier 1 or Tier 2 source and updates the row within 48 hours.