This one sentence doesn't solve the problem. It doesn't specifically say, "If you can't make the finals, you will be disqualified from the entire event and not be eligible for any prizes." It's incomplete. If it had said that in its entirety, Noggano would have known to intentionally lose the Semi-Finals. Nobody would have guessed that he could have his second-place prize completely revoked if he couldn't show up in Vancouver. As others have said, you don't just re-arrange the brackets to suit you or to try to be entertaining. If you start moving the brackets around as you see fit, you destroy the integrity of the entire event (which was supposed to be single-elimination tournament), and you make the results an illegitimate sham. Why should DevM have to beat Jesulin twice?!?
I could read those exact rules posted above and assume that since Noggano cannot go to Vancouver, he forfeits the Finals match. He should still get the 2nd place prize money of $1000. Citing those Terms and Conditions and saying that the organizers are handling this fairly is B.S. in my opinion.
I don't know if any of you still played anything else than video games. But disqualified mean, that you get nothing at all. You break a rule which wasnt allowed. If he wouldnt be get into the finals. He wouldnt be break any rules. So its his own fault. He didnt even respond to this thread and tells his statement. Probably we should stop with this conversation. Its even a nice way to give him a chance to win a price in a future tournament.