The Intel Extreme Masters are coming back to gamescom (held in Cologne, Germany from August 15th to 19th ) to kick off season 7 and introduce some major changes to its tournament mode!
The European qualification for the StarCraft II tournament will start at the 12th of July. In addition to the online qualification there will also be an 32 player open bracket at the event which will give 8 players the chance to qualify for the main tournament.
The Open Bracket
Every StarCraft II tournament in the new season of the Intel Extreme Masters will feature 24 players. 16 of those will qualify online and 8 will qualify through an open bracket tournament played on the first day of gamescom.
How can I participate in the Open Bracket? There will be 32 spots in the open bracket. The open bracket is reserved for players that were unable to participate in the event qualifier or got knocked out early. 16 spots will be available for booking for known SC2 professionals.
The other 16 spots will be distributed between players that sign up in person one day before the event on a first come - first serve basis. This is aimed to make sure both top pros and aspiring local players still have a chance to compete in the main event.
Open bracket spots will be made available after the conclusion of the Intel Extreme Masters online qualifiers so that players that have not qualified online could still compete at the event. Further details about the open bracket will be released at a later stage.
How will it be played out? The open bracket tournament will be divided into 4 double elimination brackets of 8 players each. The winners of the upper bracket and the lower bracket will be seeded into the main event with a high and low seed, respectively. The double elimination bracket finals will not be played out.
How do the open bracket players fit into the main event? The main event will have 24 players with 4 groups of 6 players. It will start only after the open bracket has concluded and the 8 main event participants from the open bracket are known.
Each group will consist of 4 players qualified online, 1 high seed open bracket player and 1 low seed open bracket player (from a different open bracket).
A total of 12 players, top 3 from each group, will advance to the playoffs, with group winners getting a free win in the 1st round. It is the same system as the one used at the Intel Extreme Masters World Championship.
Online Qualification
16 of the 24 tournament players will come from the online qualification in America, Asia and Europe. The dates for America and Asia are still to be announced. For Europe they will take place on the following dates:
Stage 1 - 12th of July 2012
Stage 2 - 17th of July 2012
Stage 3 - 19th of July 2012
We prepared two infographics that show how the overall qualification and the European qualification in detail are structured.
To those complaining about spots: At the other IEM events there will probably (like last year) be more spots for America or Asia depending on where the IEM events takes place. Forexample last year at IEM New York there were a lot more spots for Americans. So dont worry, I think you will get your spots!
Besides that, I really like the new format, its better than the one from last years IEM events.
Question: Can we expect to see something like the FFA's we saw at Sao Paolo and World Championships last year?
Interesting tournament set-up. Not particularly intuitive, but it's not at all difficult to figure out.
So the #1 seed in each group gets a bye, and the #2 seed gets the advantage of getting to compete against a #3 seed in Round 1. Moreover, judging by the Season VI World Championship brackets, the #2 seed and the #1 seed in any given group can't knock the other out unless they're in the Grand Finals. That's a beautifully-structured tournament.
that Korea only has Two qualifying slots, despite being the clear hegemon as far as SC2. I get that it's a European tournament and that they can compete in the open bracket at their own expense, but Europe gets 8 seeds, and NA gets 4 seeds.
America. Four. Even if Stephano *were* American, could we even find 3 other people from the States that take a game off Symbol or Mvp (or whomever you think the best two Korean players are at the moment, Symbol only gets points for momentum) in a Best of Three? Europe is leagues ahead of NA as far as quality, but finding 8 players that are better than Korea's two best is a Sisyphian task. Roll that boulder up the hill all you like, it's never going to happen.
Of course, production generally draws more than the quality of players, and IEM on the whole delivers in that regard. So, despite me devoting a large amount of text to a very small concern, I am indeed looking forward to it.
GL;HF guys :D
EDIT: Oh, people have already taken care of the 'spots' concern. I'm just going to spoiler that, no need to clutter the thread up with redundancy.
On June 30 2012 02:04 Dinsdale wrote: Surely koreans deserve more spots then the entire continent of America? ._.
they will have more spots from America anyway
I bet that koreans will go into american qualifiers or somethng and take those 4 spots anyway. Perhabs sheth will get 1, but if koreans can participate on NA qualifiers they will get most spots anyway lol
On June 30 2012 02:26 sc14s wrote: why does it say america and not NA?
Well, you might notice that NA stands for North America, which means that America applies to everyone here. People outside of the US often refer to NA as America.
On June 30 2012 01:54 Waxangel wrote: Four from America? I spit on your pity, Europe.
But anyway, the Koreans living in the US (viOLet, IceCream...) will be taking part (and most likely take some spots if it indeed works that way...) in the North American qualifier, won't they ?
As far as America is concerned, I think that Illusion is a great player but I don´t see anyone else deserving the competition.
On June 30 2012 02:10 RHMVNovus wrote:America. Four. Even if Stephano *were* American, could we even find 3 other people from the States that take a game off Symbol or Mvp (or whomever you think the best two Korean players are at the moment, Symbol only gets points for momentum) in a Best of Three? Europe is leagues ahead of NA as far as quality, but finding 8 players that are better than Korea's two best is a Sisyphian task.
This always happens the last weekend of summer before my semester starts so yay for it being that same weekend again :D always a nice way to end summer
On June 30 2012 04:13 Aunvilgod wrote: As far as America is concerned, I think that Illusion is a great player but I don´t see anyone else deserving the competition.
On June 30 2012 02:10 RHMVNovus wrote:America. Four. Even if Stephano *were* American, could we even find 3 other people from the States that take a game off Symbol or Mvp (or whomever you think the best two Korean players are at the moment, Symbol only gets points for momentum) in a Best of Three? Europe is leagues ahead of NA as far as quality, but finding 8 players that are better than Korea's two best is a Sisyphian task.
Mvp korean is best korean.
Yeah, I kind of wish I hadn't tried touching on specifics.
Guess IEM decided it needed a little "home court advantage" by making more people able to qualify from America than Korea. Granted, I think Koreans will win those anyway, but it is funny.
Silly little attempt to get more foreign fans excited about a potential win for their foreign favorites but they'll probably still get crushed by the Koreans anyways. Hey third place is up for grabs!
I looked at the four slots for NA, thought to myself a bit about who could fill those slots, and then cried in a corner for a bit. We need more high tier players.
As a German I am familiar with IEM and the ESL for quite some years now and all I can say is that it has become better and better every year. IEM 7 should be awesome.
Nothing to add to this system. Clear, difficult and yet rewarding for those who can come through. Feast did all 3 stages and we all know what happen. Good initiative. Now if only Carmac wouldn't lose hope for SC2, earth could be the happiest place in the universe.
Very nice, looking forward to our players competing in this new IEM season. Great news about the Open Bracket, I like the fact that it's still restricted in number which really promotes local presence as well as PROs.
the disparity between the Korean spots, and the American spots might be down to the fact that the 4 spots are allotted to two continents (North and South America), while Korea is just one country. Not that I wouldn't have preferred it to be the other way round, but it doesn't matter that much when there's the open bracket :D
Awesome! This *could* be just the right time in August for our local barcraft! Would love to do a proper 'day-long' barcraft for IEM instead of single matches like GSL finals. Are there any details on start and finish times that we could use as a rough guide for planning?
On June 30 2012 01:54 Waxangel wrote: Four from America? I spit on your pity, Europe.
Yeah, imagine N America only getting access to double the number of spots that the other regions get. Engage brain before posting, sweetheart - IEM does stops all around the world throughout its season, the USA stop will feature lots more spots for players from the Americas I am sure.
On June 30 2012 08:43 TheSneak wrote: Awesome! This *could* be just the right time in August for our local barcraft! Would love to do a proper 'day-long' barcraft for IEM instead of single matches like GSL finals. Are there any details on start and finish times that we could use as a rough guide for planning?
Well since it'S taking place at gamescom (world's largest trade show for video gaming) they'll have to stick to the opening hours of the venue.
You can add Wednesday from 9 am to 7 pm to that list, since wednesday will be open for press and trade visitors. I guess they'll run the open bracket tourney on wednesday. (all times CEST obviously)
Since they have said that CounterStrike will only be played on certain locations where CS is popular, does anyone know if they will do it in Cologne? Seeing as CS is pretty popular in Europe and in Germany
Part of me loves that we are getting less Koreans in the tournament purely because I seem to only enjoy watching "foreigner" play now. That being said however, I do feel like it cheapens the tournament not having enough of a Korean representation who are obviously the top talent. I am truly torn between the two. Blah!! I want it all some how.... But still looks fantastic and look forward to following it.
On June 30 2012 08:43 TheSneak wrote: Awesome! This *could* be just the right time in August for our local barcraft! Would love to do a proper 'day-long' barcraft for IEM instead of single matches like GSL finals. Are there any details on start and finish times that we could use as a rough guide for planning?
On June 30 2012 01:54 Waxangel wrote: Four from America? I spit on your pity, Europe.
Yeah, imagine N America only getting access to double the number of spots that the other regions get. Engage brain before posting, sweetheart - IEM does stops all around the world throughout its season, the USA stop will feature lots more spots for players from the Americas I am sure.
PS> IEM Sydney!?!?!?!?! *great idea TheSneak*
Learn to read--wax is saying four spots for America(s) is overkill.
On June 30 2012 02:04 Dinsdale wrote: Surely koreans deserve more spots then the entire continent of America? ._.
they will have more spots from America anyway
Yeah, it's sad but true. Whoever doesn't qualify through Korea will battle it out on the NA qualifiers. I see quite a few Koreans eliminating each other.
On June 30 2012 02:04 Dinsdale wrote: Surely koreans deserve more spots then the entire continent of America? ._.
they will have more spots from America anyway
Yeah, it's sad but true. Whoever doesn't qualify through Korea will battle it out on the NA qualifiers. I see quite a few Koreans eliminating each other.
You have to remember the only koreans that can play in NA qualifiers are the Koreans currently living in the United States, which limits the number of Koreans down to a veerrrrrrry small few. In fact the only top tier Korean in the U.S. that I know of us Violet.
On June 30 2012 02:04 Dinsdale wrote: Surely koreans deserve more spots then the entire continent of America? ._.
they will have more spots from America anyway
Yeah, it's sad but true. Whoever doesn't qualify through Korea will battle it out on the NA qualifiers. I see quite a few Koreans eliminating each other.
You have to remember the only koreans that can play in NA qualifiers are the Koreans currently living in the United States, which limits the number of Koreans down to a veerrrrrrry small few. In fact the only top tier Korean in the U.S. that I know of us Violet.
On June 30 2012 02:04 Dinsdale wrote: Surely koreans deserve more spots then the entire continent of America? ._.
they will have more spots from America anyway
Yeah, it's sad but true. Whoever doesn't qualify through Korea will battle it out on the NA qualifiers. I see quite a few Koreans eliminating each other.
You have to remember the only koreans that can play in NA qualifiers are the Koreans currently living in the United States, which limits the number of Koreans down to a veerrrrrrry small few. In fact the only top tier Korean in the U.S. that I know of us Violet.
Ahh ok, cool. Is Golden still in the US ?
Golden played in TSL 4 qualifier for EU so he must be!
On June 30 2012 07:06 Otolia wrote: STEPPING IT UP !
Nothing to add to this system. Clear, difficult and yet rewarding for those who can come through. Feast did all 3 stages and we all know what happen. Good initiative. Now if only Carmac wouldn't lose hope for SC2, earth could be the happiest place in the universe.
Despite the very good changes in the tournament format, I really like the fact, that you will raise the "travel support" prize money (the money guaranteed for everyone who manages to qualify) for players that have to travel to another continent.
And dropping the 3rd place matches in favor of a bo7 grand final is something that is quite interesting. Not sure about that, but we'll see.
EPT![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/UDNgK.png)
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/LXa8U.jpg)
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