Mathematically, it shouldn't make a gigantic difference. If Red has a 60% chance to defeat Blue each game, he only has a 64.8% chance to win a Bo3, compared to the 60% chance of winning a Bo1. The main difference it makes is in lopsided matches; if Green has an 80% chance to beat Yellow in a Bo1, he has an 89.6% chance to win a Bo3. Yellow will win Bo1's almost twice as often. But, counter-intuitively, the most even matches are the ones where the extra games matter the least.

Since the maps are randomised, maps don't make much of a difference in this calculation. The more lopsided the maps, even lopsided equally (Such as a map pool comprised of two maps in a TvZ, one with a 90% win-rate for Terran, one with a 90% win-rate for Zerg) the better this is for the less skilled player, but the maps aren't THAT lopsided.

The main reason I dislike the change is simple: Less games to watch.

+ Show Spoiler +

Maths shown in spoiler.

The possible outcomes are:

Red 2-0 Blue: 36% chance.

60% * 60% = 36%.

Blue 2-0 Red: 16% chance.

40% * 40% = 16%.

Red 2-1 Blue: 28.8% chance.

Blue wins g1, Red wins the next two: 40% * 60% * 60% = 14.4%
Red wins g1, Blue wins g2, Red wins g3: 60% * 40% * 60% = 14.4%

Blue 2-1 Red: 19.2% chance.

Red wins g1. Blue wins the next two: 60% * 40% * 40% = 9.6%
Blue wins g1, Red wins g2, Blue wings g3: 40% * 60% * 40% = 9.6%

Total chance of Red winning the Bo3: 64.8%.

Green 2-0 Yellow: 64%.
80% * 80% = 64%.

Yellow 2-0 Green: 4%.
20% * 20% = 4%.

Green 2-1 Yellow: 80% * 80% * 20% = 12.8%. Total of 25.6%.
Yellow 2-1 Green: 20% * 20% * 80% = 3.2%. Total of 6.4%.

Green's chances: 89.6%.

y0su

Finland7871 Posts

June 19 2013 15:27 GMT

#44

I actually wish tournaments went away from ANY BO3s... but going to BO5 (not 1).

EDIT: This has nothing to do with the Higher BO rewarding the player with the better chance to win (mathematically). But, I like how a series plays out between two players. The possibility of long term head games. The comeback after being down 0-2. ETC.

Sjokola

Netherlands800 Posts

June 19 2013 16:14 GMT

#45

I like bo1 as a format. I don't want every tournament to be the same. Just like it's fun to have both proleague and winners format team leagues.

But I don't like the inconsistency between the wcs regions. I think it's best to let OSL be seperate from wcs. I like their format but not for wcs

Too_MuchZerg

Finland2818 Posts

June 19 2013 17:30 GMT

#46

BO1 are more exciting for me. The thrill of new strategies and fast paced games.

Thor.Rush

Sweden702 Posts

June 19 2013 17:50 GMT

#47

I disapprove, but then again

The thrill of new strategies and fast paced games.

sure fair point.

garbanzo

United States4046 Posts

June 19 2013 18:20 GMT

#48

I tuned into the first day's matches and realized how much better it is to watch the matches knowing that it's a Bo1. It's so much better knowing that there is so much at stake with a single game since losing two games sends you home.

I think this is also good for the metagame because players will have to spend more effort into practicing to defend the "standard" cheeses, but at the same time it will encourage well-prepared snipe builds.

oneill12

Romania1222 Posts

June 19 2013 18:57 GMT

#49

I think it's bad because there is a chance the better player does not win. If BO1 were a better system to decide the best player it would be played in the RO8, RO4 and finals too. That' why finals are BO7 or at least BO5 because you eliminate the chance that the lesser player advances.

vesicular

United States1310 Posts

June 19 2013 23:47 GMT

#50

Like it because it's different than GSL. Seeing the same tournament structure all the time is boring. For those who don't like it, just pretend each match starts at 1-1, you'll love it then.

midnight999

United States257 Posts

June 20 2013 01:02 GMT

#51

On June 18 2013 14:09 Vault Boy wrote:
Its this "GomTV does BO3 so we do something different" again...

Proly not. OSL used this format for years.

nimdil

Poland3769 Posts

June 20 2013 08:12 GMT

#52

One other point: Bo1 takes less time and as much as I like watching StarCraft I would like to be up to date and don't spend all free time watching StarCraft. So Bo1 group stages are welcome change TBH. The WCS season 1 across the globe was fun but kind of too much StarCraft.

Kabras

Romania3508 Posts

June 20 2013 11:31 GMT

#53

tournament wise it's pretty bad because practice and skill don't pay off as much in a bo1. from a spectator pov tho it should be the most entertaining format since players will probably use pocket strats and do unusual things. so yea, i'm all for it, i don't care about the best player advancing, i just want to see funny shit and cheese xD

Sated

England4983 Posts

June 20 2013 14:46 GMT

#54

--- Nuked ---

BisuDagger

Bisutopia19372 Posts

June 20 2013 15:49 GMT

#55

On June 20 2013 23:46 Sated wrote:

Show nested quote +

This can happen in a Bo3, especially when the loser picks the next map. Someone can easily prepare a strategy for a specific map and then pick that map if they lose a game. Seeing how someone deals with losing to a prepared strategy, timing or all-in is interesting, which is why I like BoX better when X > 1. It's all about reactions and longevity for me, not single map strategies.

EDIT:

BisuDagger said they "love the drama". I would argue that a Bo3 has more drama than a Bo1, as you have the possibility of seeing someone go full-tilt after losing to a prepared strategy or all-in in the first game etc. which you will rarely get to see in a Bo1 format.

I actually am saying I love the drama. Not sure who this "they" is. And the drama I'm referring to is all you people out there freaking out about bo1's. It amuses me to hell. So thank you all for picking up some pitch forks and getting angry cause the more drama the better.

EonShiKeno

United States122 Posts

June 21 2013 00:25 GMT

#56

I do like Bo3 / Bo5 to find the better player. Having a Bo1 creates a different style tourney with a few inherent pluses which I enjoy.

KivTM

Australia90 Posts

June 21 2013 01:23 GMT

#57

Lol get over it whiners. Personally gsl format bores me to death. can take 5 hours just to finish 1 fucking group.
(I can only imagine how many OSL's Bisu might have had if GSL format was used.)

Vasoline73

United States8078 Posts

June 21 2013 04:14 GMT

#58

Approve! This is the OSL baby!

KivTM

Australia90 Posts

June 21 2013 05:02 GMT

#59

I'm seeing a common theme here where people with old kespa team logos enjoy the OSL format while people with esF/foreign team logos prefer GSL.

jeffvip

211 Posts

June 21 2013 05:36 GMT

#60

Earlier I thought it would bring more cheese and weird build as weaker player want to gamble, but after these 2 days, thats not the case. Everybody is doing a safer build, resulting more awesome macro game. The player are also able to focus better especially game 5 players as they don't feel too fatigue after bunch of BO3 game. Love to see player put a lot more effort in a single game than they simply gg and play next 2 game.( ex. Innovation Game 1 and SoS Game 5). Inno able to comeback while SoS almost do a come back. Isn't that awesome