• Log InLog In
  • Register
Liquid`
Team Liquid Liquipedia
EDT 18:00
CEST 00:00
KST 07:00
  • 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
Maestros of the Game: Week 1/Play-in Preview9[ASL20] Ro24 Preview Pt2: Take-Off7[ASL20] Ro24 Preview Pt1: Runway132v2 & SC: Evo Complete: Weekend Double Feature4Team Liquid Map Contest #21 - Presented by Monster Energy9
Community News
Weekly Cups (August 25-31): Clem's Last Straw?32Weekly Cups (Aug 18-24): herO dethrones MaxPax6Maestros of The Game—$20k event w/ live finals in Paris46Weekly Cups (Aug 11-17): MaxPax triples again!15Weekly Cups (Aug 4-10): MaxPax wins a triple6
StarCraft 2
General
Speculation of future Wardii series Weekly Cups (August 25-31): Clem's Last Straw? Heaven's Balance Suggestions (roast me) Geoff 'iNcontroL' Robinson has passed away #1: Maru - Greatest Players of All Time
Tourneys
LiuLi Cup - September 2025 Tournaments Sea Duckling Open (Global, Bronze-Diamond) Sparkling Tuna Cup - Weekly Open Tournament Maestros of The Game—$20k event w/ live finals in Paris Monday Nights Weeklies
Strategy
Custom Maps
External Content
Mutation # 489 Bannable Offense Mutation # 488 What Goes Around Mutation # 487 Think Fast Mutation # 486 Watch the Skies
Brood War
General
ASL20 General Discussion Starcraft at lower levels TvP BGH Auto Balance -> http://bghmmr.eu/ BW General Discussion Victoria gamers
Tourneys
[Megathread] Daily Proleagues Is there English video for group selection for ASL [ASL20] Ro24 Group F [IPSL] CSLAN Review and CSLPRO Reimagined!
Strategy
Simple Questions, Simple Answers Muta micro map competition Fighting Spirit mining rates [G] Mineral Boosting
Other Games
General Games
Stormgate/Frost Giant Megathread General RTS Discussion Thread Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne Nintendo Switch Thread Mechabellum
Dota 2
Official 'what is Dota anymore' discussion
League of Legends
Heroes of the Storm
Simple Questions, Simple Answers Heroes of the Storm 2.0
Hearthstone
Heroes of StarCraft mini-set
TL Mafia
TL Mafia Community Thread Vanilla Mini Mafia
Community
General
US Politics Mega-thread Russo-Ukrainian War Thread Things Aren’t Peaceful in Palestine Canadian Politics Mega-thread YouTube Thread
Fan Clubs
The Happy Fan Club!
Media & Entertainment
Anime Discussion Thread Movie Discussion! [Manga] One Piece [\m/] Heavy Metal Thread
Sports
2024 - 2026 Football Thread Formula 1 Discussion TeamLiquid Health and Fitness Initiative For 2023
World Cup 2022
Tech Support
Computer Build, Upgrade & Buying Resource Thread High temperatures on bridge(s) Gtx660 graphics card replacement
TL Community
The Automated Ban List TeamLiquid Team Shirt On Sale
Blogs
A very expensive lesson on ma…
Garnet
hello world
radishsoup
Lemme tell you a thing o…
JoinTheRain
How Culture and Conflict Imp…
TrAiDoS
RTS Design in Hypercoven
a11
Evil Gacha Games and the…
ffswowsucks
INDEPENDIENTE LA CTM
XenOsky
Customize Sidebar...

Website Feedback

Closed Threads



Active: 760 users

Understand the MLG format and Extended series

Forum Index > SC2 General
Post a Reply
TheResidentEvil
Profile Joined September 2010
United States991 Posts
Last Edited: 2012-02-27 18:44:56
February 27 2012 18:18 GMT
#1
The MLG format:
The MLG format is a standard double elimination format. This gives everyone two lives. The Winners bracket (WB) people still have two lives. The LB people only have 1 life. Big tournaments with a lot of people will generally use a double elim format. No one wants to go to MLG play one game and be done. Its just better to have double elim.

What is it?
The extended series says that anytime two players are going to face each other for the 2nd time, the results from the first meeting will be counted towards a BO7.

Red plays Blue and wins 2-1.

Red plays blue again:
BO7 where Red is up 2-1. If the series ends 4-1 or 4-2 then extended series did not affect this game. The outcome would be the same according to standard double elimination tourney. If Red loses the first 3 games 1-2 then extended series saves Red here. The game would be 3-2 Red.

Consider:
The only time extended series can affect a match is if the underdog wins 2 out of the first 3. Then there are times that you can say "well extended series saved him." It would be true. However if Red wins out of the first 3 games then Red would also win standard double elim tourney.

The Finals:
The finals of a double elim tournament work like this. The person from WB still has his two lives and the person from LB has only one. They should play a BO3. If WB wins, then its over. If LB wins, then they have to play another BO3. Extended series can come into play here but not at first.

MLG says for the finals you play a BO3. If WB wins its done. Tourney over. If LB wins, then it goes to BO7. Here is when extended series starts. It doesn't start before this. Extended series actually hurts the WB person. Its completely backwards for the finals from the rest of the tournament.

If WB is losing 1-2 in the Finals. In a normal double elim tourney, it should reset. WB should have to win 2 games and its done. However, because of extended series he has to win 3 more to win.

If the two players have already played and the finals starts 2-1 or 2-0 then the WB person does get an advantage because of ES. This then falls back to if WB wins the first 2 out of 3 games then he would've won anyway in double elim tourney.

Conclusion:
Understand when extended series actually is in play and when it is just the standard double elim tourney rules. MKP did not win because of extended series and he had to win an extra game because of it.
ZenithM
Profile Joined February 2011
France15952 Posts
February 27 2012 18:22 GMT
#2
Well one thing is sure. MKP well deserved that tourney win.
willy001
Profile Joined March 2011
United States89 Posts
February 27 2012 18:31 GMT
#3
Thank you for explaining this I had some idea of what it was but this definately clarifies this
Champloo
Profile Joined August 2011
Germany1850 Posts
February 27 2012 18:35 GMT
#4
Most people understand it. It's just a bad format that shouldn't be used by big tournaments when they can just have group play into single elimination bracket instead.
TheResidentEvil
Profile Joined September 2010
United States991 Posts
February 27 2012 18:36 GMT
#5
32 person you can pull off group play. MLG circuits with 256 people you cannot do group play. It has to be double elim.
lowercase
Profile Joined September 2010
Canada1047 Posts
February 27 2012 18:39 GMT
#6
We've been lucky the last two MLGs because of comebacks by the underdog players. Leenock and DRG both fought back from the deficit, and Leenock actually won, which was amazing. Overall, however, the extended series undermines the thrill of the finals, which, at heart, should be the most important matches of the entire tournament.
That is not dead which can eternal lie...
MavivaM
Profile Joined November 2011
1535 Posts
February 27 2012 18:39 GMT
#7
Thanks for the clarification.
Still, while it has some good sides (people get to see their favourites even if they lose) it should be changed.

I mean, the WB finalist has already the advantage of watching his opponent play about 3 more matches and study him, while the LB finalist has to jump right after in the final.
A final should be tense, nerve-wrecking and most importantly even: the WB is already in an advantage condition, I don't see why he should simply win a bo3.
It's anticlimatic.
Your Opinion has been counted. Only 3 more Opinions needed for a reddit thread.
Champloo
Profile Joined August 2011
Germany1850 Posts
February 27 2012 18:40 GMT
#8
True. Then just play double elim till you have the top 16. Add them to the top16 from the arena event and make 8x4 players groups.
2WeaK
Profile Blog Joined May 2009
Canada550 Posts
Last Edited: 2012-02-27 18:43:31
February 27 2012 18:41 GMT
#9
Another one of these? People have been saying this since the beginning, but they keep using this format.

I wish MLG would get rid of the extended series because (I haven't followed MLG in a long time, so disregard if they changed this) but when someone won in the WB, then met his opponent again in the LB, the guy who won the first match had a major advantage. That's the biggest issue, followed by the fact that you can't reset the brackets, which would allow both players to "lose" more games before being able to win the match. (2-1 = max of 4 games being played - 2-0 = max of 5 games, etc...) it gives the guy from WB a major advantage, because he doesn't have to win as many games as he otherwise would if the guy from LB had reset the brackets.

They should use a regular double elim without extended series. Win a game in the finals coming from LB? Get to play another set from scratch. Get matched against someone you fought back in WB and now meet in LB? Who gives a shit, just a regular Bo3, you don't deserve to start with a lead.
TheResidentEvil
Profile Joined September 2010
United States991 Posts
February 27 2012 18:41 GMT
#10
It can yes when the finals is between two people who have previously played. WB can be up 2-1 or 2-0. If the score starts like this in the finals then yes ES caused it. i should've put that in my post. i will update
xsnac
Profile Blog Joined August 2011
Barbados1365 Posts
February 27 2012 18:48 GMT
#11
On February 28 2012 03:41 2WeaK wrote:

I wish MLG would get rid of the extended series because (I haven't followed MLG in a long time, so disregard if they changed this) but when someone won in the WB, then met his opponent again in the LB, the guy who won the first match had a major advantage. .



i think it should stay the way it is , and pro gamers should be thankful for a second chance . in many other sports you dont get a second chance .
1/4 \pi \epsilon_0
willyallthewei
Profile Blog Joined October 2010
United States265 Posts
Last Edited: 2012-02-27 18:55:28
February 27 2012 18:54 GMT
#12
Its not the double elim that people are annoyed with, its the extended series rules.

It's a horrible format because the final match puts the players in a position where probability based strategies that yield roughly 50% wins purely based on luck can be used from the very first match because the winner of the previous bo3 can afford to lose more games. THis often leads to a less interesting finals.

I'd rather watch single elim than ES, because it guarantees better matches IMO.

If anything, they could always do some type of hybrid double elim --> 32 man pool play --> single elim tourney.
"never give up, never surrender"
emythrel
Profile Blog Joined August 2010
United Kingdom2599 Posts
Last Edited: 2012-02-27 18:59:39
February 27 2012 18:58 GMT
#13
my main issue with using extended series instead of having bo5 semi's and bo7 final is that unless the guy from the lower bracket wins the first 2 out of 3 games, the final can not ever be epic.

If MKP had 2-0'd the final last night it would have been even more anti-climactic than it was. You should never have a grand final that can be won in 2 games.... that simple. Either make the finals bo5 double elim (lower bracket guy has to win 2 bo5's) with no extended series bs or make it a simple bo7.... they've both made it to the finals, they have proven they are the best (the whole point of double elim) and now they should duke it out on level footing.
When there is nothing left to lose but your dignity, it is already gone.
ilikeredheads
Profile Joined August 2011
Canada1995 Posts
Last Edited: 2012-02-27 19:01:32
February 27 2012 19:00 GMT
#14
Get rid of the extended series. It's a confusing and you'll have to explain it every time to people not familiar with the rules. Tournament format should be simple. Just make it Bo7 or Bo5. No need for this convoluted mess.

I don't get it. I don't get it. I don't fucking get it.
TheResidentEvil
Profile Joined September 2010
United States991 Posts
February 27 2012 19:01 GMT
#15
Every single double elim tourney can be won in 2 games if the WB guy wins. It isn't ES that causes that. If MKP 2-0'd the final than ES didn't even come into play at all.
Please log in or register to reply.
Live Events Refresh
Next event in 2h 1m
[ Submit Event ]
Live Streams
Refresh
StarCraft 2
JuggernautJason79
StarCraft: Brood War
Britney 19530
Dewaltoss 108
Aegong 41
sSak 40
NaDa 22
yabsab 7
Counter-Strike
Stewie2K737
Foxcn303
Super Smash Bros
Liquid`Ken21
Heroes of the Storm
Liquid`Hasu492
Other Games
summit1g3062
Grubby2345
FrodaN1368
C9.Mang0161
Trikslyr130
Livibee82
Mew2King69
Nathanias33
Chillindude23
ViBE22
rGuardiaN20
Kaelaris9
Organizations
Other Games
BasetradeTV12
StarCraft 2
Blizzard YouTube
StarCraft: Brood War
BSLTrovo
sctven
[ Show 20 non-featured ]
StarCraft 2
• davetesta74
• StrangeGG 31
• LaughNgamezSOOP
• sooper7s
• AfreecaTV YouTube
• intothetv
• Migwel
• Kozan
• IndyKCrew
StarCraft: Brood War
• Pr0nogo 4
• ZZZeroYoutube
• STPLYoutube
• BSLYoutube
Dota 2
• masondota22322
League of Legends
• Doublelift5328
• TFBlade360
• HappyZerGling72
Counter-Strike
• imaqtpie1111
• Shiphtur196
Other Games
• Scarra603
Upcoming Events
Replay Cast
2h 1m
The PondCast
12h 1m
RSL Revival
12h 1m
Maru vs SHIN
MaNa vs MaxPax
Maestros of the Game
19h 1m
Classic vs TriGGeR
Reynor vs SHIN
OSC
1d 5h
MaNa vs SHIN
SKillous vs ShoWTimE
Bunny vs TBD
Cham vs TBD
RSL Revival
1d 12h
Reynor vs Astrea
Classic vs sOs
Maestros of the Game
1d 19h
Serral vs Ryung
ByuN vs Zoun
BSL Team Wars
1d 21h
Team Bonyth vs Team Dewalt
CranKy Ducklings
2 days
RSL Revival
2 days
GuMiho vs Cham
ByuN vs TriGGeR
[ Show More ]
Cosmonarchy
2 days
TriGGeR vs YoungYakov
YoungYakov vs HonMonO
HonMonO vs TriGGeR
Maestros of the Game
2 days
Solar vs Bunny
Clem vs Rogue
[BSL 2025] Weekly
2 days
RSL Revival
3 days
Cure vs Bunny
Creator vs Zoun
Maestros of the Game
3 days
Maru vs Lambo
herO vs ShoWTimE
BSL Team Wars
3 days
Team Hawk vs Team Sziky
Sparkling Tuna Cup
4 days
Monday Night Weeklies
4 days
Liquipedia Results

Completed

CSL Season 18: Qualifier 2
SEL Season 2 Championship
HCC Europe

Ongoing

Copa Latinoamericana 4
BSL 20 Team Wars
KCM Race Survival 2025 Season 3
BSL 21 Qualifiers
ASL Season 20
CSL 2025 AUTUMN (S18)
Maestros of the Game
Sisters' Call Cup
BLAST Open Fall Qual
Esports World Cup 2025
BLAST Bounty Fall 2025
BLAST Bounty Fall Qual
IEM Cologne 2025
FISSURE Playground #1
BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025

Upcoming

LASL Season 20
2025 Chongqing Offline CUP
BSL Season 21
BSL 21 Team A
Chzzk MurlocKing SC1 vs SC2 Cup #2
RSL Revival: Season 2
EC S1
BLAST Rivals Fall 2025
IEM Chengdu 2025
PGL Masters Bucharest 2025
Thunderpick World Champ.
MESA Nomadic Masters Fall
CS Asia Championships 2025
ESL Pro League S22
StarSeries Fall 2025
FISSURE Playground #2
BLAST Open Fall 2025
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 © 2025 TLnet. All Rights Reserved.