Starting in 2018, black belt competitors signing up for the IBJJF "Grand Slam" events -- Euros, Pans and Worlds -- will need to qualify via accumulated ranking points. 

The introduction of this new policy also affects BJJ Pro events.

Black belts wishing to compete at Worlds must have 50 points to register. For Europeans and Pans, an athlete must have 20 points, while for BJJ Pro events the requirement is 10 points. 

Designed to ensure only elite-level athletes qualify to compete in the best IBJJF tournaments in the world, the policy requires athletes to earn points in lower-tier events thereby keeping the standard of competitors high.  

Points are won by competing and placing on the podium at events such as national tournaments and international opens.

Ranking points stay listed for three seasons (for 2016-17 season, all events following Worlds 2014) and count toward an athlete's qualification for tournaments and his or her position in the ranking. Titles accomplished prior to the 2014 World Championship do not count to the ranking. 

The value of points is as follows:  

Weight Division	Open Class
1st Place: 9 points	1st Place: 13.5 points
2nd Place: 3 points	2nd Place: 4.5 points
3rd Place; 1 point	3rd Place; 1.5 points

Depending on the level of the tournament, a multiplier is added, as is a multiplier for the season the points were earned in. 
Season 2014-15: x1
Season 2015-16: x2
Season 2016-17: x3

Example: 
1st place medium heavyweight World Championships 2014: 9 x 7 x 1 = 63 points 
2nd place Pan 2016: 4.5 x 4 x 2 = 36 points 
3rd place lightweight International Open 2017: 1 x 1 x 3 = 3 points 

Important info:
• Athletes alone in a bracket will have ranking points credited
• Ranking points will not be transferred from one belt rank to the next one (e.g. brown to black)
• Ranking points will not be transferred from one age division to another (e.g. masters to adult)
• This ranking system only applies to gi events -- a no-gi ranking and system is coming soon

Exceptions: 
• Former adult black belt world champions are eligible to compete at Worlds, Euros, Pans, and BJJ Pro events without the points requirements 
• Brown belt world champions are eligible to compete and the following year's World Championships without the points requirements 

The IBJJF Ranking Prize 

The IBJJF adult black belt ranking awards cash prizes for the top-three ranked athletes (male and female) at the end of the 2016-17 season: 
1st place -- $15,000 
2nd place -- $4,000 
3rd place -- $1,000

For a detailed description of the new IBJJF ranking system, go to the IBJJF website or click the image below for a hi-res version.