"only XL"

Vova made another mistake by buying 9 sprites – 7 to test my hero and 2, I don't know, maybe just randomly. So, pay attention...

That's what's great about VT – it's completely uncritical of this kind of stuff. :)
I confirm the mistake with the sprites; he bought them on autopilot, even though it was week 6, when there are always faster units available for rushing.
(In my opinion, it would be good to remove all restrictions that affect the early stages of the game after the second month – just like with the Grail! Well, except for the shifted guards ;) and especially on 2DD)))
But formally, the rules were broken, and I found out too late, but they need to be followed no matter what.
In my opinion, in this situation, a replay would be a perfectly reasonable solution (the opponent also has a chance to make the playoffs), although everything is up to the organizers :cool:

P.S.: I refreshed the rules here, and it literally says:

5.8.1. In the Conflux castle, it is forbidden to upgrade monsters of levels 1, 6, and 7.

Nothing was upgraded in the game; only ready-made units were bought, and the upgrade was already built by the computer.
And, unlike the computer-assisted Necromancy upgrade, it's completely useless.
However, if sprites didn't make a difference in this situation, then with phoenixes and psychics, it's different, and with vampires, it's different, and it would be good to replace "upgrade" with "upgrade and buy" in the rules