Post-tournament analysis and discussion of the CIS Tournament Regulations.

The balance is maintained until the first branching point. One player goes left, the other goes right. And there is no more balance. In this sense, mirrored maps are no different from regular xl+u templates.

Balance is not about having the same game scenario. Balance is about equal starting opportunities. And the scenario should be different; this is what distinguishes competitive gameplay from non-competitive gameplay.

You could argue this to the point that balance in chess ends with the first asymmetrical move.