In 2018, the Organising Сommittee made the decision to expand the tournament to include non-KHL countries based on the principle of ‘one country, one team’. National ice-hockey federations can choose one kids’ team from their country to take part in the tournament.

In 2019, a team representing the People’s Republic of China has entered the tournament, which makes the Gazprom Neft Cup the largest children’s U11 ice-hockey tournament not only in Europe, but in the whole of Eurasia.

The tournament uses the group model: the teams are divided into West and East groups. The games take place at the Olympic Park in Sochi, where the players take to the ice at two Olympic venues: the Bolshoy Ice Dome and Iceberg Skating Palace.

The Gazprom Neft Cup boasts an unprecedented level of organisation for a children’s competition. The games take place at international-standard ice arenas and are managed by professional referees. The opening ceremony is as grand as at any game featuring KHL stars. Every year the name of the winning team is engraved on the Gazprom Neft Cup, and that team keeps the Cup until the next tournament.