EPT
Bombastic StarLeague 2025
Hello guys,
First of all, welcome to 2025. This year is going to be amazing. I finally got the courage to move out of my comfort zone, refresh and rebuild the BSL you’ve known for 20 seasons. To be clear, I wasn’t afraid of making changes, nor was I facing a lack of ideas - I was just afraid you guys were not going to read them and assume it's the same as usual Kappa. From the very beginning BSL had a goal to keep the scene active and alive, I feel like the simple battle.net ladder stage is no longer serving its purpose, so we implemented a number of changes to keep this season exciting.
Players participating in BSL events in 2025 will earn BSL 2025 Points.
- -1. Excluding Chinese players from main seasons of BSL
- 0. BSL 2025 Points
- 1. BSL 2025 Weekly Tournaments
- 2. BSL 20 Open Qualifier Tours
- 3. BSL 2025 Ladder Stages on ShieldBattery (6 months)
- 4. BSL Season 20 SPRING 2025 and BSL Season 21 Autumn 2025 changes
- 4.5. BSL20 & BSL21 Super Gosu Tournament
- 5. BSL 20 and 21 Gosu, Hasu and Chobo Leagues changes (big)
- 6. BSL Nation Wars Season 2 (start soon)
- 7. BSL A-Team On Tour
- 8. BSL Team Wars
- 9. For Fun Tours on Wednesday
- 10. BSL LAN Parties (3x)
- 11. Map pool for events in 1st half of 2025
- 12. Prize pools of extra events
- 1. BSL 2025 Weekly Tournaments
-1. Excluding Chinese players from main seasons of BSL
I would like to address one of the most challenging decisions in the history of the Bombastic StarLeague (BSL). Our mission has always been to foster and grow the foreign StarCraft: Remastered community, ensuring a platform where players can thrive, improve, and connect with fans globally.
After thorough consideration and extensive feedback from our players, as well as consulting it with Patreons and biggest goal donators, we have decided to exclude Chinese players from the main seasons of BSL. Here's why:
Feedback from Players:
A significant majority (over 70%) of our ProLeague players felt that including Chinese players compromised the fairness of competition due to:
- lag,
- Chinese tournament organizers don’t invite foreigners to their tournaments,*
- Scheduling the matches is very hard,
- They have their own pro scene, so they can play StarCraft full time, no chance to compete with them,
- Chinese viewers don’t contribute enough to the prize pool (compared to what Chinese players has been winning),
- They are not engaging with our community, outside of paid matches,
*We reached out to SanPao, a prominent figure in Chinese StarCraft tournaments, who explained that including foreigners in their events is currently unfeasible due to lag.
Positive Aspects of Inclusion:
- Chinese players undeniably elevate the level of competition, provide exciting matches, and serve as a motivation for skill enhancement among foreigner players.
- Their participation has also contributed to the popularity and viewership of BSL.
Our Decision:
Despite these benefits, we must prioritize our core objective: to nurture and sustain an engaged and integrated StarCraft community outside of Korea. The feedback clearly indicates that this inclusion impacts the motivation and participation of our local players, which is vital for the health of our scene.
Moving Forward:
We deeply value the skills and contributions of Chinese players and their fans. Therefore, we will introduce the BSL Super Gosu Tournament after each BSL Season, featuring TOP4 BSL and TOP4 Chinese players. This initiative aims to:
- Keep the international player base connected.
- Provide additional high-quality StarCraft content for fans.
- Motivate our local heroes to test themselves, continue improving and competing
- Work as World Championship outside Korea
Conclusion:
We are committed to the growth and vitality of the StarCraft community. I hope that in the future we will have enough support for the players, so they can play StarCraft full time, and invite Chinese players back to BSL ProLeague, but the truth is that for now we just can’t compete with the Chinese scene with the resources at our disposal.
While this decision might disappoint some, it is made with the long-term health and engagement of our scene in mind. We hope it will unite the scene outside Korea and China, inspire the players to improve and in future with better internet connection, we will be able to compete together with Chinese players yet again. We appreciate the understanding and support from all fans and players. Thank you for your continued support of the Bombastic StarLeague.
Much love,
ZZZero
Now let's go with the plans for this year!
0. BSL 2025 Points
![[image loading]](https://i.imgur.com/JBsaFZw.jpeg)
![[image loading]](https://i.imgur.com/j5NDygE.jpeg)
I also decided to invite all the other regular ongoing tournament organizers to play in the BSL 2025 Circuit and win BSL Points. Let's hope it will increase activity and promote those great events!
![[image loading]](https://i.imgur.com/UjbeulO.jpeg)
You will be able to earn points through BSL A-Team On Tour and in BSL Team Wars.
1. BSL 2025 Weekly tournaments
Each Saturday of February, March, 2nd half of June, July, August and September we will host BSL 2025 Weekly. This will be short, regular, one day event, open for everyone.
Rules: + Show Spoiler +
- Double elimination: WB bo1, LB bo1, bo3 from WB semi finals onwards and in LB finals
- You have to play on your real nickname and be online on BSL discord
- Giving w/o bans you from next weekly tournament
- Maps will be pre-set for first match (in bo3 winner bans one, loser picks)
- Prizepool: $20/$15/$10/$5 + BSL 2025 Weekly Points
- Winnings from first 8 Weekly Tours will be paid at once after the qualification tours before BSL20 (#1-8) will be finished (29 march).
Schedule and SIGN UPs:
| Event: | Date: | Time: | SIGN UP LINK |
|---|---|---|---|
| BSL 2025 weekly #1 | February 08 | 19:00 CET | SIGN UP |
| BSL 2025 weekly #2 | February 15 | 19:00 CET | SIGN UP |
| BSL 2025 weekly #3 | February 22 | 19:00 CET | SIGN UP |
| BSL 2025 weekly #4 | March 01 | 19:00 CET | SIGN UP |
| BSL 2025 weekly #5 | March 08 | 19:00 CET | SIGN UP |
| BSL 2025 weekly #6 | March 15 | 19:00 CET | SIGN UP |
| BSL 2025 weekly #7 | March 22 | 19:00 CET | SIGN UP |
| BSL 2025 weekly #8 | March 29 | 19:00 CET | SIGN UP |
| BSL 2025 weekly #9 | June 21 | 19:00 CEST | SIGN UP |
| BSL 2025 weekly #10 | June 28 | 19:00 CEST | SIGN UP |
| BSL 2025 weekly #11 | July 05 | 19:00 CEST | SIGN UP |
| BSL 2025 weekly #12 | July 12 | 19:00 CEST | SIGN UP |
| BSL 2025 weekly #13 | July 19 | 19:00 CEST | SIGN UP |
| BSL 2025 weekly #14 | July 26 | 19:00 CEST | SIGN UP |
| BSL 2025 weekly #15 | August 02 | 19:00 CEST | SIGN UP |
| BSL 2025 weekly #16 | August 09 | 19:00 CEST | SIGN UP |
| BSL 2025 weekly #17 | August 16 | 19:00 CEST | SIGN UP |
| BSL 2025 weekly #18 | August 23 | 19:00 CEST | SIGN UP |
| BSL 2025 weekly #19 | August 30 | 19:00 CEST | SIGN UP |
| BSL 2025 weekly #20 | September 06 | 19:00 CEST | SIGN UP |
| BSL 2025 weekly #21 | September 13 | 19:00 CEST | SIGN UP |
| BSL 2025 weekly #22 | September 20 | 19:00 CEST | SIGN UP |
| BSL 2025 weekly #23 | September 27 | 19:00 CEST | SIGN UP |
2 weekends will be canceled - reserved for the LANs (March and June/July)
2. BSL20 Open Qualifier Tours
Prizepool: 2 spots in BSL20 ProLeague + BSL 2025 Points
+ Show Spoiler +
Format:
DE: WB bo3, WB final bo5, LB bo1, bo3 from 3rd round, LB Finals bo5
#1 - Wednesday 20:00 EST, 02 April
#2 - Thursday, 20:00 EST, 03 April,
#3 - Saturday, 20:00 CEST, 05 April,
#4 - Sunday, 20:00 CEST, 06 April,
DE: WB bo3, WB final bo5, LB bo1, bo3 from 3rd round, LB Finals bo5
#1 - Wednesday 20:00 EST, 02 April
#2 - Thursday, 20:00 EST, 03 April,
#3 - Saturday, 20:00 CEST, 05 April,
#4 - Sunday, 20:00 CEST, 06 April,
3. BSL 2025 Ladder Stages on ShieldBattery
Two months of ladder before BSL20 and four months of ladder before BSL21, in total we will launch SIX ladder stages on ShieldBattery, each lasting a calendar month. TOP15 players at the end of each month will earn BSL 2025 Points. Ladder stages will include all the maps from the BSL20/21.
+ Show Spoiler +
I think SB is great and it would be wonderful to easily find a game over there, I've always considered playing on SB as more chill b.net ladder - where you can only meet foreigner players. Easier to make friends.
Rules:
- Ladder stages will be launched on: February, March, June, July, August and September
- You have to play on your real nickname and be responsive on BSL Discord.
- You can have only one account, no resets available.
Rules:
- Ladder stages will be launched on: February, March, June, July, August and September
- You have to play on your real nickname and be responsive on BSL Discord.
- You can have only one account, no resets available.
On top of qualifying to BSL20, BSL 2025 points earned through weekly tournaments and the SB ladder in February and March will serve as a seeding pool for the additional events hosted after BSL Season 20 and before BSL Season 21 (in June, July, August and September). Points earned to qualify for BSL20 will be reduced by 50% in order to qualify for BSL21.
4. BSL Season 20 SPRING 2025
Biggest changes planned in BSL20 and 21:
- Change ProLeague to 32 players format from RO16(bo3) into RO20 (bo1)
- BIG changes in GosuLeague, Hasu and Chobo (below)
- We will change the number of games required to qualify from ladder to ProLeague (40), GosuLeague (25), HasuLeague (20) and ChoboLeague (15).
+ Show Spoiler +
RO32: 8 groups, 4 players each, bo3 DE - TOP2 advances
RO20: 4 groups, 5 players each, bo1 Round Robin - TOP2 WB, TOP3-4 LB
How to qualify for the ProLeague ?
RO20: (5 players group)
- Sziky*, cRoSs*, Bonyth, Dewalt *(replacement for Mihu & Zhanhun)
- TOP2 from each RO32 group
RO32:
- TOP3 of BSL19 Gosuleague: Hawk, UltrA, Julian
- TOP11 of BSL 2025 Points
- TOP10 of BSL20 Ladder on Battle.net
- 8 spots from 4 Open Qualifier Tours (TOP2 from each)
RO20: 4 groups, 5 players each, bo1 Round Robin - TOP2 WB, TOP3-4 LB
How to qualify for the ProLeague ?
RO20: (5 players group)
- Sziky*, cRoSs*, Bonyth, Dewalt *(replacement for Mihu & Zhanhun)
- TOP2 from each RO32 group
RO32:
- TOP3 of BSL19 Gosuleague: Hawk, UltrA, Julian
- TOP11 of BSL 2025 Points
- TOP10 of BSL20 Ladder on Battle.net
- 8 spots from 4 Open Qualifier Tours (TOP2 from each)
![[image loading]](https://i.imgur.com/w9JHUdX.jpeg)
![[image loading]](https://i.imgur.com/DHoNJrg.jpeg)
4.5. BSL20 & BSL21 Super Gosu Tournament
Tournament will be held after each season of BSL.
TOP4 players from last season of BSL qualify for the event, as well as TOP4 Chinese players at the time. BSL20 Goal & Next BSL Goals support from Chinese fans will be spend to fund this event.
BSL20 Super Gosu Tournament have ~$1400 prizepool guaranteed. Invited Chinese players have to fund $200 to add for Prize Pool to participate. Invited BSL players have to fund $100 to add for Prize Pool.
Format:
RO8 Group, Round Robin, bo3
TOP2 goes to 2nd round of SE Bracket, TOP3-6 goes to 1st round of SE Bracket
SE Bracket: Bo5 -> Bo7 Finals
Three weekends (6 cast days) event.
Week 1 & Week 2 - Group Stage matches, Week 3 - SE Bracket
Group Stage matches will be pre-played - bracket stage matches will be live.
Prizepool: $2400 - 40%/25%/15%/10%/4x5%
5. BSL 20 & BSL 21: Gosu, Hasu and Chobo Leagues changes
Here we will have the BIG CHANGES:
+ Show Spoiler +
We decided to give players more time to play their match in lower leagues, we will divide players into smaller 16 players groups, swiss style, four rounds, into tie-breaker and where players need to play one bo3/5 a week instead of a full group. TOP4 advances to the 2nd round of the bracket, TOP 5-12 to 1st round. It's going to be easier to coordinate from the players side. Everyone will be allowed to play matches in advance, but without result share (as the games might be casted).
To avoid large MMR gaps we will create tiers in each division with 16 players each.
One big 16 players group with a swiss system in all lower leagues.
![[image loading]](https://i.imgur.com/5KFW6KB.jpeg)
Format:+ Show Spoiler +
- Each Division will play in a Swiss Group Stage - one bo3 a week (4 rounds + tie breakers).
- After swiss is done, the TOP4 of each division go into the second round of the SE bracket, while the next 8 players (rank 5-12) go into the first round of the bracket
Promotions:
- TOP4 players from GosuLeague tier 1 will have a seed into ProLeague next season
- TOP4 players from GosuLeague tier 2 will have a seed in GosuLeague tier 1
- TOP4 players from HasuLeague tier 1 will have a seed in GosuLeague tier 2
- TOP4 players from HasuLeague tier 2 will have a seed in HasuLeague tier 1
- Same thing for ChoboLeague, but number of tiers will depend on the number of sign ups
6. BSL Nation Wars Season 2
BSL mid-season event - will be launched now, first cast is on Friday 21:00 CET
Week 1 matches:
+ Show Spoiler +
![[image loading]](https://i.imgur.com/Vf5YsXP.png)
![[image loading]](https://i.imgur.com/HxYT4lU.png)
![[image loading]](https://i.imgur.com/A1enr7E.png)
Confirmed teams:
TEAMS:
Russia - cpt. Dewalt + Show Spoiler +
Dewalt
TTF Tama (fathertoss) LancerX
Darkysh| gargoyle tokyoa gag zerggboy
Poland captain: Bonyth + Show Spoiler + Bonyth Hejek Ziggy Koget Mazur Rasowy Squizen Tarson Yeti ZZZero Julian
USA captain: Razz + Show Spoiler + Nyoken BoA Razz StRyKeR Hawk Jimin MachineRandom:
JIRAIYA Banana 
Canada captain: DragOn + Show Spoiler + DragOn TT1 Maars Whip Doodle CroSs Hisup Newblish
Jumper
Rest of Europe captain: 
Izu + Show Spoiler + Izu
dxtr13
Oystein
Madinho Wave Rancor Klauso
Sziky 
Rest of LatAm captain: UltrA + Show Spoiler + UltrA
JDConan DarK
Depleted
Deska
Dienmax Fenyx7 Belladona TaNk Tech TerrOr Tousan ZetyMore details:
+ Show Spoiler +
FORMAT:
4x 1v1, 1x 2v2, bo1
- each team needs to declare their rosters before event starts, minimum 7 players, maximum 21
- teams can be updated, but with minimum 1 week heads up before playing
- 4x 1v1, 1x 2v2
- each match is best-of-one in group stage
- each match is best-of-two in bracket stage
- both winners and losers needs to send replays to their team captains
- maps will be pre-set each week, captains send their rosters by declaring play on particular map
- player can be replaced, but the race can’t change (fe. if Bonyth is replaced, ZZZero needs to play Protoss)
- LB Finalist has to win twice in the finals.
- For each game win players will gain 15 BSL 2025 points
- Prizepool split 40/30/20/10
SCHEDULE for PLAYDAYS:
Round 1: Roster on: 20.01 - deadline 25.01
Round 2: Roster on: 27.01 - deadline 01.02
Round 3: Roster on: 03.02 - deadline 08.02
Round 4: Roster on: 10.02 - deadline 15.02
Round 5: Roster on: 17.02 - deadline 22.02
Round 6: Roster on: 24.02 - deadline 01.03
Round 7: Roster on: 03.02 - deadline 08.03
Broadcast schedule:
Week 1: Friday, January 31, 21:00 CET
Week 1: Sunday, February 02, 21:00 CET
Week 2: Friday, February 07, 21:00 CET
Week 2: Sunday, February 09, 21:00 CET
Week 3: Friday, February 14, 21:00 CET
Week 3: Sunday, February 16, 21:00 CET
Week 4: Friday, February 21, 21:00 CET
Week 4: Sunday, February 23, 21:00 CET
Week 5: Friday, February 28, 21:00 CET
Week 5: Sunday, March 02, 21:00 CET
WB R1: Friday, March 07, 21:00 CET
LB R1: Sunday, March 09, 21:00 CET
WB R2: Friday, March 14, 21:00 CET
LB R2: Sunday, March 16, 21:00 CET
WB Final: Friday, March 21, 21:00 CET
LB Final: Sunday, March 23, 21:00 CET
Grand Finals: Sunday, March 30, 21:00 CET
7. BSL A-TEAM ON TOUR
(July-August)
After season 20 is done, TOP8 players from ProLeague outside China will be invited to join the BSL Team / Representation.
+ Show Spoiler +
- Each month (June, July, August, September) TOP5 players from the ladder stage will have the option to challenge players from the BSL team for their spot on the BSL A-Team. Challenger has to win 2x bo5, representant has to win one bo5
- Every team member can be challenged once a month
- Team members who are higher in the monthly ladder than the challenger can’t be challenged
- BSL representation will play matches vs Koreans and Chinese players / teams as well as monthly one day tournaments within themselves (after each months’ challenges);
- Players who will remain in the BSL Team at the end of September will have a seed into BSL Season 21.
8. BSL Team Wars
(July-August)
I want to create BSL team wars in July/August, with TOP4 players being able to pick players to their teams.
Teams would have Pro, Gosu, Hasu and Chobo players
+ Show Spoiler +
With 3x 1v1 Pro vs Pro, 2x 1v1 Gosu vs Gosu, 1x 1v1 Hasu vs Hasu and 1x 1v1 Chobo vs Chobo and 1x 2v2
Example match:
1. Pro vs Pro
2. Pro vs Pro
3. Pro vs Pro
4. Gosu vs Gosu
5. Gosu vs Gosu
6. Hasu vs Hasu
7. Chobo vs Chobo
8. 2v2
9. For Fun Wednesdays
Each wednesday 21:00 CET I will make for fun tournament open for everyone to participate and cast
Starts from February 05.
Ideas for now:
- Micro Macro tournament
- Random Tournament
- Off Race Tournament
- Team Melee tournament
- Crazy Funny (you can't use some units)
- etc.
Feel free to give more ideas
10. BSL LAN Parties
We will make 3 LANs in Poland in 2025. And same as last year, we have a prize pool of 1 ETH sponsored by Adun.
Plan:+ Show Spoiler +
LAN #1 - OPEN - March/April - 0.3 ETH
LAN #2 - World Championship of Poland - June/July - 0.2 ETH
LAN #3 Final - OPEN - October/November - 0.5 ETH
11. Map pool for events in first half of 2025
Map pool for:
- BSL Nation Wars
- BSL 2025 Ladder Stage on SB in February and March
- BSL 2025 Weekly Tournaments #1 - #8
- Open Qualifiers to BSL Season 20
- BSL Season 20
Map pool:
- Eclipse
- Death Valley
- Dominator
- Deja Vu
- Radeon
- Pole Star
- Metropolis
12. Prize pools of extra events
- Mr. Rus_Brain supported this year extra events with $2700 donation. I will split it this way:
- BSL 2025 Weekly Tournaments with prizepool $50 each ($1100)
- $500 for BSL Nation Wars
- $300 for BSL Team Wars
- $800 for BSL A-Team - Mr. LML decided to become a sponsor for BSL 2025 Weekly Tournaments and will donate additional $25 to the prizepool of each of them, securing the prizepools on $75. A true hero, he is admin of BSL who helps daily with everything, BSL Patreon, every season goal supporter, and on top of that he's supporting additional events. Thank you gentleman!
- You too can be like LML - If you always dreamed about seeing your nickname as a sponsor during BSL casts, that's once in a life time opportunity!
| Tournament: | prize pool | Covered | by | Missing | Matcherino |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nation Wars Season 2 | $1000 | $500 | Rus_Brain | $500 | Matcherino |
| Team Wars Season 1 | $1000 | $300 | Rus_Brain | $700 | Matcherino |
| BSL A-Team on Tour inside Tours | $400 | $400 | Rus_Brain | - | - |
| BSL A-Team on Tour vs Korea | $400 | $400 | Rus_Brain | - | - |
| BSL A-Team on Tour vs China | $400 | - | ? | $400 | Matcherino |
| Weekly $50 x 22 | $1100 | $1100 | Rus_Brain | - | - |
| Increased Weekly to $75 each | $550 | $550 | LML | - | - |
| Weekly $100 x 22 | $550 | - | ? | $550 | - |
| LAN #1 | 0.25 ETH | 0.25 ETH | Adun | - | - |
| LAN #2 | 0.25 ETH | 0.25 ETH | Adun | - | - |
| LAN #3 | 0.5 ETH | 0.5 ETH | Adun | - | - |
| Total: | $5400 + 1 ETH (~$3600) | $3250 + 1 ETH (~$3600) | You ? | $2150 | - |
This does not include missing ~$1500 for BSL20, entire funding for BSL21, as well as production costs of the events. We are still looking for the main sponsor of BSL 2025. Feel free to PM if you have any questions.
Those are my plans for BSL in 2025. I hope you like those ideas and will play, watch, follow and have a great time. Long live the BroodWar!
BSL is alive only thanks to the support from the community. Feel free to join the BSL Patreon if you like our efforts to keep the scene active. You can check all the Patreons HERE <3
![[image loading]](https://i.imgur.com/9QOwxup.png)
