As WATL continues to evolve, our focus remains on creating a rulebook that’s clear, fair, and true to the spirit of competition. Now, in the final season of 2025, we’ve seen a community that’s confident and proud of where the sport stands today. We’re happy to announce that as promised, there are no major gameplay changes going into our 9th competitive year. With valuable feedback from venue owners, competitors, industry staff, and volunteers, we’re building on that momentum by implementing the following updates for the 2026 competitive year.

GAMEPLAY RULES CHANGES

Hatchet, Big Axe, Hatchet Duals

• [Gameplay Rules] B.4.ii.d. – Sudden Death
  • 2025:
    • On the second tie or double miss, the Lane Judge will measure the distance from each axe’s closest scoring area to the scoring zone of their respective required Killshots.
  • 2026:
    • Starting on the third sudden death killshot attempt, and on any subsequent attempt during sudden death that is a double miss, the Lane Judge will measure the distance from each axe’s closest scoring area to their respective scoring zones.

Sudden death in games are exciting, high stakes moments where precision is as vital as it gets. The updated 2026 language provides a clearer and more precise framework for how these rounds are resolved. Rather than measuring after the second tie or double miss only, the rule now applies starting on the third attempt and continuing for any subsequent double misses, ensuring equity throughout extended sudden death scenarios as much as possible. This revision clarifies exactly when distance measurements should be applied, addressing the primary point of confusion and debate over rule interpretations in 2025.

• [Gameplay Rules] B.3.iii.d. & B.3.iii.d.1 – Foot Faults
  • 2025:
    • If a competitor touches any part of the lane, equipment, or building past the designated fault line once the lane is active, the current throw will be marked as a fault.
      • A fault may be dismissed by Lane Judge if the infraction is deemed outside the competitor’s control.
  • 2026:
    • If a competitor touches any part of the lane, equipment, or building past the designated fault line once the lane is active and before all scores for the current throw are called by the Lane Judge, that throw will be marked as a fault.
      • A fault may be dismissed at the Lane Judge’s discretion for incidents that occur after all competitors in that lane have thrown and their axes have come to rest.

Although Head Judges have always had the ability to use discretion when assessing faults, and other minor rules interpretations, this update gives Lane Judges the flexibility to make fair calls. clearer guidance and flexibility to make fair calls. Rewritten to provide clearer guidance, this update keeps fault line rules focused on what actually matters: preventing unsafe actions while throwing, and potential competitive advantages. It is a small but important change that maintains fairness and safety, while giving more power to judges to handle unique corner cases within the bounds of the rules.

TOURNAMENT CIRCUIT & LEAGUE REVISIONS

Marathon Leagues

• [WATL Leagues] Marathon Leagues.ii
  • 2025:
    • Venues may host a maximum of two Marathon Leagues per discipline within a single season.
  • 2026:
    • Venues may host any number of Marathon Leagues per discipline within a single season.

Previously, venues were limited to hosting just two Marathon Leagues per discipline each season to prevent any single location from dominating the competitor pool and creating an inequitable environment. With fewer venues now and less saturation in the WATL landscape, this restriction is no longer necessary. Venues can run multiple leagues, giving players more opportunities to compete while maintaining fair and balanced play, and allowing venues to grow their business and engage their communities more effectively.

Multiple Sanctioned Leagues

• [WATL Leagues] Multiple Sanctioned Leagues.iii
  • 2025:
    • Throwers may participate in as many sanctioned leagues as they wish, but only one league per season will be considered for Circuit Points.
  • 2026:
    • Competitors may participate in as many sanctioned leagues as they wish, but only a competitor’s top performing league per season will be included on the global leaderboard, and considered for Circuit Points (League Circuit Points applicable for Big Axe, Hatchet Duals, and Amateur Hatchet only).

This adjustment is a minor clarification to the guidance on a competitor’s participation in multiple leagues; highlighting that only the single highest performing league is eligible for inclusion on the global leaderboard, and also to reinforce that obtaining Circuit Points from league play is not possible for Pro Hatchet division competitors.

Tournaments

• [Qualifying & Tournament Circuit] Circuit Points
  • 2025:
    • All tournaments (regardless of tier) will provide Circuit Points based on the number of participants in each division (calculator linked below)
      • Each division/discipline, in any tier level, must have a minimum of 8 competitors or 6 teams to be considered for bids or Circuit Points
      • Circuit points are awarded to the top 40% of finishers in each division as well as those above a certain league threshold average
  • 2026:
    • All tournaments (regardless of tier) will provide Circuit Points based on the number of participants in each division (calculator linked below)
      • Each division/discipline, in any tier level, must have a minimum of 8 competitors or 6 teams to be considered for bids or Circuit Points
      • Circuit points are awarded to the top 40% of finishers in each division as well as those above a certain league threshold average
      • Completing at least 2 games in any sanctioned WATL tournament awards 1 Circuit Point

This update establishes that completing at least two games in any sanctioned WATL tournament awards 1 Circuit Point in Hatchet, Big Axe, and Hatchet Duals disciplines. A minute change, though one that emphasizes rewarding tournament attendance in a way that remains balanced within the Circuit Point system. Every point matters!

Pro Division

Pro League is being renamed to ‘Pro 128’ 

To more accurately reflect its role within the competitive structure. The new name highlights that this list represents the top-performing 128 Hatchet Pro division competitors worldwide in a season, providing a clear designation that is earned through performance rather than simply by choosing to compete in the Pro division. This change clarifies that the Pro 128 is not a separate or standalone league, addressing previous confusion among competitors and fans who may have assumed that selecting the Pro division automatically placed them in the ‘Pro League’.

[Qualifying & Tournament Circuit] World Axe Throwing Championship. 256 Hatchet Bid Winners

• 2025:
  • Automatic bids will be awarded to anyone who earns Pro League status in at least 2 league seasons within the qualifying year
    • Pro League is awarded to the top 128 competitors (by total season score) on the Pro leaderboard each season
    • Leagues earning Pro status do not need to be consecutive to earn a bid
    • Ties in score will be broken by seeding calculation at the time of leaderboard assessment and documentation
• 2026:
  • Automatic bids will be awarded to anyone who earns Pro 128 status in at least 2 league seasons within the qualifying year
    • Pro 128 is awarded each season to the top 128 competitors on the Global Pro leaderboard after a season has finished.
    • A competitor’s league season reflecting on the final Global leaderboard must also include at least 28 Killshot attempts to qualify for Pro 128.
    • Leagues earning Pro 128 status do not need to be consecutive to earn a bid
    • Ties in score will be broken by seeding calculation at the time of leaderboard assessment and documentation

A Pro division player must attempt at least 28 Killshots in their top performing season (the single season that gets added to the leaderboard) in order to qualify for the Pro 128.

By bringing back the minimum number of Killshot attempts to qualify for Pro 128, WATL ensures that only the competitors at the highest level of performance are recognized as the Pro 128 and can earn direct bids to WAKTC. Required Killshot attempts ensure that the designation of being in the Pro 128 directly reflects performance at the highest caliber, rewarding players who demonstrate skill, consistency, and competitive commitment over the season. 

Together, these updates create an attainable and measurable goal that is prestigious, merit-based, and clearly positioned within the broader WATL competitive framework.

2026 JUDGE CERTIFICATIONS

Keep an eye out next week (week of 10/27/2025) for the release of 2026’s Judge Certification Program!

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