• Log InLog In
  • Register
Liquid`
Team Liquid Liquipedia
EDT 11:47
CET 16:47
KST 00:47
  • Home
  • Forum
  • Calendar
  • Streams
  • Liquipedia
  • Features
  • Store
  • EPT
  • TL+
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Smash
  • Heroes
  • Counter-Strike
  • Overwatch
  • Liquibet
  • Fantasy StarCraft
  • TLPD
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Blogs
Forum Sidebar
Events/Features
News
Featured News
[ASL21] Ro24 Preview Pt1: New Chaos0Team Liquid Map Contest #22 - Presented by Monster Energy5ByuL: The Forgotten Master of ZvT30Behind the Blue - Team Liquid History Book19Clem wins HomeStory Cup 289
Community News
Blizzard Classic Cup @ BlizzCon 2026 - $100k prize pool36Weekly Cups (March 9-15): herO, Clem, ByuN win42026 KungFu Cup Announcement6BGE Stara Zagora 2026 cancelled12Blizzard Classic Cup - Tastosis announced as captains18
StarCraft 2
General
Blizzard Classic Cup @ BlizzCon 2026 - $100k prize pool Potential Updates Coming to the SC2 CN Server Weekly Cups (March 2-8): ByuN overcomes PvT block Weekly Cups (August 25-31): Clem's Last Straw? Weekly Cups (March 9-15): herO, Clem, ByuN win
Tourneys
World University TeamLeague (500$+) | Signups Open RSL Season 4 announced for March-April Sparkling Tuna Cup - Weekly Open Tournament WardiTV Team League Season 10 KSL Week 87
Strategy
Custom Maps
Publishing has been re-enabled! [Feb 24th 2026]
External Content
The PondCast: SC2 News & Results Mutation # 517 Distant Threat Mutation # 516 Specter of Death Mutation # 515 Together Forever
Brood War
General
BGH Auto Balance -> http://bghmmr.eu/ JaeDong's form before ASL [ASL21] Ro24 Preview Pt1: New Chaos ASL21 General Discussion Gypsy to Korea
Tourneys
[Megathread] Daily Proleagues [BSL22] Open Qualifiers & Ladder Tours Small VOD Thread 2.0 IPSL Spring 2026 is here!
Strategy
Simple Questions, Simple Answers Soma's 9 hatch build from ASL Game 2 Fighting Spirit mining rates
Other Games
General Games
General RTS Discussion Thread Stormgate/Frost Giant Megathread Nintendo Switch Thread Path of Exile Dawn of War IV
Dota 2
Official 'what is Dota anymore' discussion The Story of Wings Gaming
League of Legends
G2 just beat GenG in First stand
Heroes of the Storm
Simple Questions, Simple Answers Heroes of the Storm 2.0
Hearthstone
Deck construction bug Heroes of StarCraft mini-set
TL Mafia
Five o'clock TL Mafia Mafia Game Mode Feedback/Ideas Vanilla Mini Mafia TL Mafia Community Thread
Community
General
YouTube Thread US Politics Mega-thread Things Aren’t Peaceful in Palestine Canadian Politics Mega-thread Russo-Ukrainian War Thread
Fan Clubs
The IdrA Fan Club
Media & Entertainment
Movie Discussion! [Req][Books] Good Fantasy/SciFi books [Manga] One Piece
Sports
2024 - 2026 Football Thread Cricket [SPORT] Formula 1 Discussion Tokyo Olympics 2021 Thread General nutrition recommendations
World Cup 2022
Tech Support
Laptop capable of using Photoshop Lightroom?
TL Community
The Automated Ban List
Blogs
Funny Nicknames
LUCKY_NOOB
Money Laundering In Video Ga…
TrAiDoS
Iranian anarchists: organize…
XenOsky
FS++
Kraekkling
Shocked by a laser…
Spydermine0240
Unintentional protectionism…
Uldridge
ASL S21 English Commentary…
namkraft
Customize Sidebar...

Website Feedback

Closed Threads



Active: 2377 users

MLG Format Explanation - Page 2

Forum Index > SC2 General
Post a Reply
Prev 1 2 3 4 5 15 16 17 Next All
KillerDucky
Profile Blog Joined July 2010
United States498 Posts
February 27 2011 06:31 GMT
#21
Minor mistake: In your diagram you have Pool A 5th-2nd place all going down into the same "G" line, similar for the other Pools. Instead they are alternated to different lines to reduce the number of rematches.
MarineKingPrime Forever!
RaiKageRyu
Profile Joined August 2009
Canada4773 Posts
February 27 2011 06:31 GMT
#22
This is brilliant. I understood it with one read. Hat's off to you sir!
Someone call down the Thunder?
Zooper31
Profile Joined May 2009
United States5711 Posts
February 27 2011 06:31 GMT
#23
I didnt think tournament formats could get any more confusing than GSL. I perfectly understand GSL format after trying to learn it for 2-3days. But the diagrams you provided, compared to the GSL ones, make me not even have faith in trying to learn it.

Also from what I understand. Losing in the Open Bracket and then making the top 12 in the loser's bracket is the fastest way into the Championship Bracket. Where as if you actually win all your games you have to then go through Pool Play just for a chance to get into the Championship Bracket. I don't see a reason to win the Open Bracket, more like throw a game near the end of the winner's bracket and then win the loser's bracket. Am I not understanding something as to why theres a reason to win?
Asato ma sad gamaya, tamaso ma jyotir gamaya, mrtyor mamrtam gamaya
KillerDucky
Profile Blog Joined July 2010
United States498 Posts
February 27 2011 06:33 GMT
#24
On February 27 2011 15:31 Zooper31 wrote:
I didnt think tournament formats could get any more confusing than GSL. I perfectly understand GSL format after trying to learn it for 2-3days. But the diagrams you provided, compared to the GSL ones, make me not even have faith in trying to learn it.

Also from what I understand. Losing in the Open Bracket and then making the top 12 in the loser's bracket is the fastest way into the Championship Bracket. Where as if you actually win all your games you have to then go through Pool Play just for a chance to get into the Championship Bracket. I don't see a reason to win the Open Bracket, more like throw a game near the end of the winner's bracket and then win the loser's bracket. Am I not understanding something as to why theres a reason to win?


Look at the Pool Play part of the diagram. Tell me if you come from Open and get say 3rd in the Pool, where do you go?
MarineKingPrime Forever!
On_Slaught
Profile Joined August 2008
United States12190 Posts
February 27 2011 06:34 GMT
#25
Makes a lot more sense now. 21 Bo3s, even if it is unlikely, is pretty crazy for a 2day tourny. I feel for the next Select.
McCain
Profile Blog Joined February 2010
United States187 Posts
February 27 2011 06:34 GMT
#26
A non-seeded player could play as many as 21 Bo3s. That's between 42 and 63 games of Starcraft 2, and if the average game lasts 14 minutes, that means approximately 12 hours of total playing time coming from the open bracket.

I think it's safe to say that this system will not encourage new talent to enter the scene.
Zooper31
Profile Joined May 2009
United States5711 Posts
February 27 2011 06:37 GMT
#27
On February 27 2011 15:33 KillerDucky wrote:
Show nested quote +
On February 27 2011 15:31 Zooper31 wrote:
I didnt think tournament formats could get any more confusing than GSL. I perfectly understand GSL format after trying to learn it for 2-3days. But the diagrams you provided, compared to the GSL ones, make me not even have faith in trying to learn it.

Also from what I understand. Losing in the Open Bracket and then making the top 12 in the loser's bracket is the fastest way into the Championship Bracket. Where as if you actually win all your games you have to then go through Pool Play just for a chance to get into the Championship Bracket. I don't see a reason to win the Open Bracket, more like throw a game near the end of the winner's bracket and then win the loser's bracket. Am I not understanding something as to why theres a reason to win?


Look at the Pool Play part of the diagram. Tell me if you come from Open and get say 3rd in the Pool, where do you go?


Into the loser's bracket of the Championship Bracket? Again, would've been much faster just losing from the get go in the Open Bracket to get to the same spot.
Asato ma sad gamaya, tamaso ma jyotir gamaya, mrtyor mamrtam gamaya
Bayyne
Profile Joined January 2011
United States1967 Posts
February 27 2011 06:37 GMT
#28
This is sexy, thank you
Remember not only to say the right thing in the right place, but far more difficult still, to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment.
Diaspora
Profile Joined April 2010
United States140 Posts
February 27 2011 06:37 GMT
#29
Possibility of twenty-one BO3's? That's unreal. At the moment it makes sense in the interest of entertainment that the "high-profile" players naturally get seeded higher in the tournament but there must be a way to give the dark-horses a better chance then the possibility of 21 BO3's.
Ichabod
Profile Joined May 2010
United States1659 Posts
February 27 2011 06:38 GMT
#30
Thanks for the translation motbob. MLG's philosophy is a little different, but I guess it just sacrifices ease of understanding (alleviated by posts like this) for the benefits mentioned.
Cadgers
Profile Blog Joined August 2008
United States514 Posts
February 27 2011 06:39 GMT
#31
First the GSL and now MLG, tournaments are starting to have some crazy ass brackets.
echO [W]
Profile Joined July 2010
United States1495 Posts
February 27 2011 06:40 GMT
#32
Someone here is deserving of a quality post star. Thanks for the flow chart, without that I probably would've just watched the tournament until I figured out what was going on. Though personally I still favor the simplicity of a double-elim format.
"Or a school bus over a bunch of kids" - Tasteless --- “A man's errors are his portals of discovery.” - James Joyce
motbob
Profile Blog Joined July 2008
United States12546 Posts
February 27 2011 06:40 GMT
#33
On February 27 2011 15:37 Zooper31 wrote:
Show nested quote +
On February 27 2011 15:33 KillerDucky wrote:
On February 27 2011 15:31 Zooper31 wrote:
I didnt think tournament formats could get any more confusing than GSL. I perfectly understand GSL format after trying to learn it for 2-3days. But the diagrams you provided, compared to the GSL ones, make me not even have faith in trying to learn it.

Also from what I understand. Losing in the Open Bracket and then making the top 12 in the loser's bracket is the fastest way into the Championship Bracket. Where as if you actually win all your games you have to then go through Pool Play just for a chance to get into the Championship Bracket. I don't see a reason to win the Open Bracket, more like throw a game near the end of the winner's bracket and then win the loser's bracket. Am I not understanding something as to why theres a reason to win?


Look at the Pool Play part of the diagram. Tell me if you come from Open and get say 3rd in the Pool, where do you go?


Into the loser's bracket of the Championship Bracket? Again, would've been much faster just losing from the get go in the Open Bracket to get to the same spot.

Not really. If you were to lose right away, like in the Ro256, and work your way through the losers' bracket and then the Championship bracket, you'd play a maximum of 21 matches.

If you were to just win out, you'd make it into pool play, and not only would you have the chance to win your group and be on the fast track to the finals, but you'd play a maximum of 20 matches even if you lost to everyone. So winning out in the Open Bracket is pretty much always ideal.
ModeratorGood content always wins.
Raelcun
Profile Blog Joined March 2008
United States3747 Posts
February 27 2011 06:41 GMT
#34
Bob one thing I want to know is the part whre you said

If the Championship Match isn't an extended series, then the person coming from the Winners' Bracket has to win one Bo3 to win the tournament, while the person coming from the Losers' Bracket has to win two.


What if it IS an extended series will it just be the extended series for the championship? Because I thought that was one of the weaker parts of the format in the past.
Karthane
Profile Joined June 2010
United States1183 Posts
February 27 2011 06:42 GMT
#35
I guess it's okay. Would still like to see the grand finals being bo5 atleast.
motbob
Profile Blog Joined July 2008
United States12546 Posts
February 27 2011 06:43 GMT
#36
On February 27 2011 15:41 iCCup.Raelcun wrote:
Bob one thing I want to know is the part whre you said

Show nested quote +
If the Championship Match isn't an extended series, then the person coming from the Winners' Bracket has to win one Bo3 to win the tournament, while the person coming from the Losers' Bracket has to win two.


What if it IS an extended series will it just be the extended series for the championship? Because I thought that was one of the weaker parts of the format in the past.

Yeah, it's just an extended series.
ModeratorGood content always wins.
Baarn
Profile Joined April 2010
United States2702 Posts
February 27 2011 06:45 GMT
#37
Truly a great write up and explanation. Thanks.
There's no S in KT. :P
Sahand
Profile Joined November 2010
United Kingdom114 Posts
February 27 2011 06:46 GMT
#38
very informative. thanks for this
Mainland
Profile Joined September 2010
Canada551 Posts
February 27 2011 06:49 GMT
#39
Anyone know how many points each place gets?
Hakukakotai
Profile Joined September 2010
Canada25 Posts
February 27 2011 06:50 GMT
#40
I had gone to the MLG site before this and seen their version of the diagram to explain this. I took me a while to figure it out but eventually I did. Just now I saw your diagram, took about ten seconds to understand it. This diagram is inifitely better than theirs.

Thank you for utilizing your organizational skills to our benefit.
Prev 1 2 3 4 5 15 16 17 Next All
Please log in or register to reply.
Live Events Refresh
Next event in 13m
[ Submit Event ]
Live Streams
Refresh
StarCraft 2
LamboSC2 263
trigger 74
Vindicta 50
StarCraft: Brood War
Britney 44606
Calm 3066
Jaedong 2019
Larva 736
Mini 574
Shuttle 415
Hyuk 413
Light 353
Flash 323
JulyZerg 310
[ Show more ]
Soma 244
Rush 236
EffOrt 228
firebathero 210
BeSt 174
actioN 125
hero 122
Sea.KH 57
sorry 38
Aegong 37
Nal_rA 29
GoRush 21
zelot 19
IntoTheRainbow 19
Shine 18
Free 18
Terrorterran 17
910 15
SilentControl 10
ivOry 6
eros_byul 1
Dota 2
Gorgc7554
BananaSlamJamma170
League of Legends
JimRising 485
Counter-Strike
fl0m4785
Fnx 2818
byalli127
Super Smash Bros
hungrybox436
Heroes of the Storm
Khaldor388
Liquid`Hasu316
Other Games
singsing2594
Liquid`RaSZi1123
B2W.Neo1099
Beastyqt396
Hui .201
Fuzer 181
Mlord161
Happy150
FrodaN26
Organizations
Dota 2
PGL Dota 2 - Main Stream55
StarCraft 2
Blizzard YouTube
StarCraft: Brood War
BSLTrovo
sctven
[ Show 13 non-featured ]
StarCraft 2
• Berry_CruncH275
• AfreecaTV YouTube
• intothetv
• Kozan
• IndyKCrew
• LaughNgamezSOOP
• Migwel
• sooper7s
StarCraft: Brood War
• BSLYoutube
• STPLYoutube
• ZZZeroYoutube
Dota 2
• lizZardDota239
League of Legends
• Jankos4854
Upcoming Events
LAN Event
13m
BSL
4h 13m
Replay Cast
17h 13m
Afreeca Starleague
18h 13m
Sharp vs Scan
Rain vs Mong
Wardi Open
20h 13m
Monday Night Weeklies
1d 1h
Sparkling Tuna Cup
1d 18h
Afreeca Starleague
1d 18h
Soulkey vs Ample
JyJ vs sSak
Replay Cast
2 days
Afreeca Starleague
2 days
hero vs YSC
Larva vs Shine
[ Show More ]
Kung Fu Cup
2 days
Replay Cast
3 days
KCM Race Survival
3 days
The PondCast
3 days
WardiTV Team League
3 days
Replay Cast
4 days
WardiTV Team League
4 days
RSL Revival
5 days
Cure vs Zoun
herO vs Rogue
WardiTV Team League
5 days
Platinum Heroes Events
5 days
BSL
6 days
RSL Revival
6 days
ByuN vs Maru
MaxPax vs TriGGeR
WardiTV Team League
6 days
Liquipedia Results

Completed

Jeongseon Sooper Cup
WardiTV Winter 2026
Underdog Cup #3

Ongoing

KCM Race Survival 2026 Season 1
BSL Season 22
CSL Elite League 2026
RSL Revival: Season 4
Nations Cup 2026
NationLESS Cup
BLAST Open Spring 2026
ESL Pro League S23 Finals
ESL Pro League S23 Stage 1&2
PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026
IEM Kraków 2026
BLAST Bounty Winter 2026
BLAST Bounty Winter Qual

Upcoming

ASL Season 21
Acropolis #4 - TS6
2026 Changsha Offline CUP
CSL 2026 SPRING (S20)
CSL Season 20: Qualifier 1
Acropolis #4
IPSL Spring 2026
Kung Fu Cup 2026 Grand Finals
HSC XXIX
uThermal 2v2 2026 Main Event
IEM Cologne Major 2026
Stake Ranked Episode 2
CS Asia Championships 2026
Asian Champions League 2026
IEM Atlanta 2026
PGL Astana 2026
BLAST Rivals Spring 2026
CCT Season 3 Global Finals
IEM Rio 2026
PGL Bucharest 2026
Stake Ranked Episode 1
TLPD

1. ByuN
2. TY
3. Dark
4. Solar
5. Stats
6. Nerchio
7. sOs
8. soO
9. INnoVation
10. Elazer
1. Rain
2. Flash
3. EffOrt
4. Last
5. Bisu
6. Soulkey
7. Mini
8. Sharp
Sidebar Settings...

Advertising | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use | Contact Us

Original banner artwork: Jim Warren
The contents of this webpage are copyright © 2026 TLnet. All Rights Reserved.