Updated 2026-03-08
Quant Tekel Maximum Total Loss Rule Explained
Quant Tekel
Quick Answer
Quant Tekel's Maximum Total Loss rule limits drawdown to 10% of the initial account balance.
This rule is calculated from your starting balance and includes both realized and unrealized losses. If your account equity drops 10% below the initial balance at any point, your account will be immediately terminated regardless of whether positions are still open.
Key Rule Details
Limit
10%
Dollar Value ($100,000)
$10,000
Basis
Initial balance
Resets
Never (static)
Breach
Account terminated
Calculation Example
Common Mistakes
Ignoring Floating Losses
Traders focus only on closed trades while holding large unrealized losses. The 10% limit includes open positions, so a $10,000 account is breached when equity hits $9,000 even with open trades. Many traders get terminated while still believing they can recover because they didn't close losing positions in time.
Confusing Daily and Total
Traders think the 10% total loss resets daily like the 4% daily loss rule. The maximum total loss is cumulative from day one and never resets during the challenge or funded phase. A $25,000 account that loses $2,500 total is permanently terminated, regardless of how those losses accumulated over time.
Overtrading After Small Losses
After losing 3-4% early in the challenge, traders increase position sizes trying to recover quickly. This aggressive approach often pushes them past the 10% total loss limit. On a $50,000 account, going from $2,000 down to $5,000 down happens faster with larger positions and terminates the account.
Weekend Gap Risk
Traders hold positions over weekends without considering gap risk against the total loss limit. If you're already down 7% on a $100,000 account ($7,000), a 4% weekend gap against your positions could push you past the $10,000 total loss threshold before you can react on Monday open.
Protection Strategies
Set Personal 8% Stop Loss Buffer
Create your own maximum loss limit at 8% instead of the firm's 10% to provide a safety cushion. This gives you $200 extra protection on a $10,000 account and $1,000 extra on a $50,000 account. The buffer protects against small calculation errors and gives you time to close positions before hitting the firm limit.
Calculate Maximum Risk Per Trade
Limit individual trade risk to 1-2% of account balance to prevent single trades from causing major drawdown. On a $25,000 account, risk maximum $250-500 per trade, ensuring you'd need multiple consecutive losses to approach the $2,500 total loss limit. This position sizing makes the 10% rule much harder to breach accidentally.
Set Equity Alerts at 7%
Configure your trading platform to alert when account equity drops 7% below starting balance. This gives you a 3% warning buffer before hitting Quant Tekel's 10% limit. On a $100,000 account, the alert triggers at $93,000 equity, giving you $3,000 cushion to manage risk and close positions safely.
Avoid Weekend Position Holding
Close all positions before market close on Fridays to eliminate weekend gap risk against your total loss limit. If you're already down 6-8% for the challenge phase, weekend gaps could easily push you over the 10% threshold. This strategy prevents uncontrollable losses that could terminate your account while markets are closed.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Prop firm rules change regularly — always verify current terms on Quant Tekel's official website before purchasing a challenge. Updated 2026-03-08.