Since last update (I am on RC branch) competition system is always offline (but I am able to join other servers).
RC is not compatible with CS. The RC is a build higher 1.1128 where the optout (current release) is 1.1126 If you can join servers its because they also are on 1128. This is not a bug, its just how it has to be since there were changes in the mp part of the update.
Thx, I was afraid that this could be the problem - so in the past it only worked because RC and release were the same...