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The Open Championship Series and Deep South Spirit Announce Landmark Settlement Expanding Freedom and Fairness in Cheer and Dance

via Business Wire

Resolution with International Entities Ensures International Access to the AllStar World Championship

The Open Championship Series (OCS) and Deep South Spirit (DS) today announced a landmark settlement with the International All Star Federation (IASF) and the International Cheer Union (ICU), marking a historic step forward for the international cheer and dance community.

The agreement, reached on November 10, 2025, officially resolves the international portion of the ongoing antitrust case brought by OCS and DS. The result ensures that no international entity can restrict access to the AllStar World Championship, opening participation to international event producers and athletes.

“This is a defining moment for fairness, freedom, and the future of our sport but we are not done yet,” said David Hanbery, Open Championship Series Co-Founder and Deep South Spirit owner.

Under the settlement, any international event producer may now freely award bids and participate in the AllStar World Championship, guaranteeing equal opportunity regardless of affiliation. The Open Championship Series and Deep South Spirit hail the decision as a permanent guarantee of competitive access, a principle long advocated by international independent event producers.

In marking this milestone, OCS and DS emphasized that their mission continues. The organizations remain committed to promoting transparency and open opportunity as they pursue the ongoing domestic portion of their case involving Varsity Spirit and the U.S. All Star Federation (USASF).

For more information about The Open Championship Series and updates on the ongoing case, visit www.openchampionshipseries.com.

About The Open Championship Series

The Open Championship Series was founded to promote freedom of choice, collaboration, and fair competition in the cheer and dance industry. By empowering event producers around the world to connect and compete on an equal playing field, The Open champions transparency, opportunity, and the spirit of sportsmanship across every level of the sport.

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