Tradesera NQ Showdown overview

NQ Showdown overview

NQ Showdown

One week. One NQ equivalent. A dynamic winner pool.

Start directly in the competition. No evaluation phase. No live funded account path. Just simulated trading, clear rules, and pool-backed payout opportunities.

Current offer: Save $200 with code SAVE50. Original price: $400. Current checkout price: $200; automatically applied at checkout.

Quick facts

FeatureNQ Showdown
Product typeWeekly simulated Nasdaq competition
Starting balance$50,000 simulated
Entry fee$200 after current 50% discount applied at checkout
Access typeDirect simulated competition access
Evaluation periodNo evaluation phase required
Live funded pathNo live funded account path
Account limit1 NQ Showdown account per trader
Max exposureCurrently 1 NQ equivalent
Modes1 NQ or 10 MNQ
ScalingNo size unlock path
Profit LockNot used
Drawdown$2,000 static drawdown
Daily loss limitNone
Trailing drawdownNone
Consistency ruleNone
ScheduleSunday 6:00 PM ET to Friday 4:00 PM ET
QualificationTop 20%, $500 minimum net profit, final settlement review
Payout styleDynamic winner pool by performance share

Who should choose NQ Showdown?

Best fit

  • Prefer trading NQ directly.
  • Want the option to trade smaller using 10 MNQ mode.
  • Want a weekly competition format.
  • Want a dynamic payout structure based on relative performance.

Core idea

NQ Showdown is a shorter, direct weekly competition. Qualified winners share the available winner pool based on relative performance.

NQ Showdown results are not mixed with MNQ Scale Cup results for rankings or payouts.

Product limits

What this table shows: the current NQ Showdown setup and where traders should confirm limits before buying.

ItemCurrent setup
Starting balance$50,000 simulated
Current max exposure1 NQ equivalent
Default mode1 NQ mode
Alternate mode10 MNQ mode
Static drawdown$2,000
Product limitsMay be adjusted for future competition windows
Where to confirm limitsCheckout, portal, or published product rules

Key takeaway: NQ Showdown currently allows 1 NQ equivalent of exposure. Always confirm current limits before buying.

Competition schedule

What this table shows: the current target weekly rhythm and what happens if a window does not meet participation requirements.

Schedule itemTime
Competition rhythmWeekly
StartsSunday at 6:00 PM ET
EndsFriday at 4:00 PM ET
Settlement reviewBegins after the weekly competition window closes
Participation requirementA minimum number of paid entries may be required
If minimum is not metWindow may be cancelled, delayed, or rescheduled under published product rules

Key takeaway: NQ Showdown is designed as a weekly competition, but each window may depend on participation level and published product rules.

Exposure modes

What this table shows: NQ Showdown allows one exposure mode at a time.

ModeEnabledDisabled
1 NQ modeUp to 1 NQ contractMNQ disabled
10 MNQ modeUp to 10 MNQ contractsNQ disabled

Key takeaway: the account can trade 1 NQ or 10 MNQ, but not both together.

NQ Showdown starts in 1 NQ mode by default. Eligible traders can switch to 10 MNQ mode from the portal after the account is active and flat, with no open positions and no open orders.

Static drawdown and risk rules

What this table shows: the fixed NQ Showdown drawdown and the rules that are not used in this format.

ItemNQ Showdown
Starting balance$50,000 simulated
Static drawdown$2,000
Minimum balance$48,000
Trailing drawdownNone
Daily loss limitNone
Consistency ruleNone

Key takeaway: the drawdown is static. The minimum balance does not move higher just because the account balance increases.

How NQ Showdown payouts work

NQ Showdown payouts are not paid dollar-for-dollar from simulated profit. Qualified winners share the available winner pool based on relative performance.

  1. Build the winner pool.
  2. Identify the qualifying group.
  3. Split the winner pool by performance share.

NQ winner pool and qualification math

Step 1: Build the winner pool

What this table shows: how eligible entry revenue becomes the winner pool.

StepMathAmount
Paid NQ entries20 accounts20
Entry price$200 per account$200
Eligible entry revenue20 x $200$4,000
Operations reserve$4,000 x 20%$800
Competition Payout Pool$4,000 - $800$3,200
Winner pool$3,200 x 90%$2,880
Tradesera pool share$3,200 x 10%$320

Key takeaway: in this example, $2,880 is available for qualified winner payouts.

Step 2: Determine who qualifies

What this table shows: the maximum paid group based on the number of paid entries.

Paid entriesMathMaximum paid group
1010 x 20% = 22 traders
1919 x 20% = 3.8, rounded up4 traders
2020 x 20% = 44 traders
100100 x 20% = 2020 traders
500500 x 20% = 100100 traders
1,0001,000 x 20% = 200200 traders

Qualification checklist: a trader must finish inside the paid group, have at least $500 in net profit, avoid breaching drawdown, remain in good standing, and pass final settlement review.

Key takeaway: the top 20% is the maximum paid group. A trader still needs at least $500 in net profit and must remain eligible.

Step 3: Split by performance share

Formula: trader net profit / total qualifying net profit = performance share. Then performance share x winner pool = estimated payout.

Table A: Performance share.

TraderNet profitPerformance share
Trader A$3,000$3,000 / $6,000 = 50.0%
Trader B$1,500$1,500 / $6,000 = 25.0%
Trader C$1,000$1,000 / $6,000 = 16.7%
Trader D$500$500 / $6,000 = 8.3%
Total$6,000100%

Table B: Estimated payout.

TraderPerformance shareWinner poolEstimated payout
Trader A50.0%$2,880$1,440
Trader B25.0%$2,880$720
Trader C16.7%$2,880$480
Trader D8.3%$2,880$240
Total100%$2,880$2,880

Key takeaway: NQ Showdown does not pay simulated profit dollar-for-dollar. Qualified winners share the available winner pool based on their share of total qualifying performance.

Partial qualification and no qualified winners

What this table shows: what happens when the competition has room for more paid spots, but fewer traders meet the payout requirements.

TraderFinal net profitStatusQualifies?
Trader A$2,500EligibleYes
Trader B$750EligibleYes
Trader C$300Below $500 minimumNo
Trader D-$200Not profitableNo

Qualified winner split: only qualified traders share the winner pool.

TraderNet profitPerformance shareEstimated payout
Trader A$2,50076.9%$2,215.38
Trader B$75023.1%$664.62
Total$3,250100%$2,880

Key takeaway: the pool is shared only by qualified traders. It is not split with traders who missed the minimum profit requirement or became ineligible.

If no trader qualifies

ItemResult
Qualified traders0
Trader payout$0
Winner pool statusMay roll forward under published product rules
Paid to non-qualifying tradersNo

Key takeaway: if no trader qualifies, no trader receives a payout from that NQ Showdown. The remaining winner pool may roll forward into the next scheduled NQ Showdown under the published product rules.

NQ FAQ

What does 1 NQ equivalent mean?

It means the account may use up to one NQ-sized exposure. Traders can use that exposure as 1 NQ mode or 10 MNQ mode, but not both at the same time.

Can I trade 10 MNQ instead of 1 NQ?

Yes. NQ Showdown starts in 1 NQ mode by default, but eligible traders may request 10 MNQ mode after the account is active and Rithmic setup is complete.

Can I trade NQ and MNQ at the same time?

No. NQ Showdown uses one exposure mode at a time. In 1 NQ mode, NQ is enabled and MNQ is disabled. In 10 MNQ mode, MNQ is enabled and NQ is disabled.

How do I switch between 1 NQ mode and 10 MNQ mode?

The account must be active and flat first, with no open positions and no open orders. Once the switch is requested and the Rithmic product limit update is confirmed, the selected mode stays active for the rest of the trading day.

What is the NQ Showdown schedule?

NQ Showdown is designed as a weekly competition. The target window starts Sunday at 6:00 PM ET and ends Friday at 4:00 PM ET. Final settlement review begins after the weekly competition window closes.

What risk rules apply to NQ Showdown?

NQ Showdown currently uses a $2,000 static drawdown. There is no daily loss limit, no trailing drawdown, and no consistency rule. Accounts must still follow product limits, platform rules, competition rules, and prohibited-activity policies.

Does NQ Showdown have Profit Lock?

No. Profit Lock is for MNQ Scale Cup. NQ Showdown payout review happens after the weekly competition closes and final settlement begins.

How do I qualify for payout participation?

A trader must finish inside the paid group, generate at least $500 in net profit, avoid breaching drawdown, remain in good standing, and pass final settlement review.

Does finishing in the top 20% guarantee a payout?

Not by itself. The top 20% is the maximum paid group, rounded up. A trader must also meet the $500 minimum net profit requirement, remain eligible, and pass final settlement review.

How are NQ Showdown payouts calculated, and what happens if nobody qualifies?

Qualified traders share the winner pool by performance share. Your net profit is divided by total qualifying net profit, and that percentage is applied to the winner pool. If nobody qualifies, no payouts are made from that competition and the remaining winner pool may roll forward under the published product rules.

    • Related Articles

    • Competition formats: MNQ Scale Cup vs NQ Showdown

      Competition formats: MNQ Scale Cup vs NQ Showdown Overview Tradesera currently offers two simulated futures competition formats: MNQ Scale Cup NQ Showdown All trading is simulated. No live trades are executed, no customer funds are placed into ...
    • MNQ Scale Cup overview

      MNQ Scale Cup Start smaller, earn more size, and request Profit Lock after qualifying performance. Start directly in the competition. No evaluation phase. No live funded account path. Just simulated trading, clear rules, and pool-backed payout ...
    • How to buy a competition entry

      How to buy a competition entry Short Answer Log in to My Portal, choose the competition you want, review the checkout summary, and complete payment. After payment, the account still needs to be provisioned before you can trade. When This Applies Use ...
    • Static drawdown and core risk rules

      Static drawdown and core risk rules Short Answer Tradesera currently uses static drawdown models, not trailing drawdown or daily loss limits. You still have to stay within product limits, account status rules, and prohibited-activity rules. What ...
    • Frequently Asked Questions

      Frequently Asked Questions Use this FAQ for quick answers about Tradesera, competition formats, payouts, billing, account security, and community. For account-specific help, open a support ticket from the trader portal so the support team can review ...