The 2014 season of the KeSPA StarCraft II ProLeague is set to kick off this December 28, 2013. This will be the first Proleague to be broadcasted by SPOTV Games. Round 1 will start on December 29th and will run for 8months long journey.
SPL will be broadcasted on SPOTV Games and SPOTV2 at 19:00 KST every Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. Each match will be played at the Arena of NEXON e-sports stadium which is newly constructed, and will also be made available for viewers on Twitch.tv and YouTube.
The following teams have chosen to participate in this season of the Proleague: - KT Rolster - Samsung Galaxy Khan - SK Telecom T1 - CJ Entus - Jin Air Greenwings - MVP - IM - Prime
This season will have four rounds and each round will be played in round robin BO5 Proleague format. Each round will also have its own playoffs where top four teams will fight for the title of round winner. The round winner gets 40 extra points and USD ~$15,000 while the second best team gets awarder with 10 extra points and USD ~$5,000. The round playoffs will be in BO7 all-kill format. Top 4 teams in regular part of the season will qualify for post-season playoffs which will be played as best BO3 of BO7 matches with the formats alternating between Proleague, all-kill and Proleague again. Playoffs format has changed to single elimination bracket with the #1 team playing vs #4, and #2 vs #3. The grand finals are played as a single BO7 match. The winners are awarded with USD ~$50,000 while runner-up gets USD ~$20,000.
Round 1 Preview - Sunday, December 29th (19:00 KST): MVP vs SKT T1 followed by IM vs Prime - Monday, December 30th (19:00 KST): Samsung Galaxy KHAN vs Jin Air Greenwings followed by KT Rolster vs CJ Entus - Tuesday, December 31st (19:00 KST): MVP vs IM followed by SKT T1 vs Prime
The map pool has also been finalized and the tournament will be bringing two new maps.
The list of maps are: - Ladder: Bel'Shir Vestige, Frost, Star Station, Yeonsu. - New Maps: Sejong Science Base, Outboxer.
There's a new English caster lineup as well. - Wolf, Brendan and Moonglade will be this SPL's commentator.
I guess Moonglade is for the days that Wolf can't cast and when Wolf is tired or what ever. It makes sense to have 3. Plus it allows Moonglade to practice in Korea.
Moonglade and Clutch were spotted in the audience watching together and I guessed that Clutch was going to get involved, but it turns out that 'glade was the guy. So where does Clutch fit in the picture?
On December 27 2013 11:25 shin_toss wrote: Wolf!! nice. Also didn't SPOTV broadcast 2013 Pro league? When I watch youtube stream from esportsTV, i see a SPOTV overlay
I guess they only broadcasted the 2013 PL online, while the 2014 iteration will be broadcasted on their network.
Moonglade? Nice. Having English-speaking pros doing casting is generally something that's worked well; see Grubby, ToD, Axslav... I even remember Sheth doing a good job casting at IPL5.
I wonder if this means they will alternate with only two of the three casting at a time, or whether we'll have three-person casts. I'm figuring the former.
Also IEG_Ghost please give the English casters their own computer (not their own observer, just their own computer) so they can look at things in the game that the observer isn't showing and tell us about it! ^_^
On December 27 2013 11:42 AlternativeEgo wrote: Moonglade and Clutch were spotted in the audience watching together and I guessed that Clutch was going to get involved, but it turns out that 'glade was the guy. So where does Clutch fit in the picture?
they were both in china for WCG, doesnt cost much to spend a week or 2 after that in Korea when it's next door.
On December 27 2013 15:01 tili wrote: Nice!! I'm still anxious to hear what Khaldor will end up doing with gstl on the fritz.
Well GSL will still hopefully use him to cast Code A... maybe with Wolf? Maybe with someone other than Wolf? Though with only 3 GSLs over the year maybe we'll get Tastosis casting Code A now. I'd actually be a little sad because I like Wolfdor somewhat more than Tastosis. If Khaldor is out at GSL, I am hoping ESL picks him up for WCS EU so we can have duos of Apollo/Kaelaris and ToD/Khaldor. Those would be some awesome casting duos.
Also anyone know who the second NASL casting pair will be now that Gretorp and Frodan are both gone? I don't know what he's doing lately but I hope they get Kevin Knocke casting again. I think he's one of the most underrated SC2 casters of all time. Maybe they could even reunite him with Doa now that he's available. KK/Doa was such an entertaining combo for IPL for a while, they made me laugh more than any other SC2 caster duo ever.
On December 27 2013 21:39 Schelim wrote: Wolfglade should be a sick combo. but a tricast would be even more awesome and Korean as fuck.
Isn't it a trio? Koreans make it work. Will be interested to see how it works for these guys considering we got a hint of it during the Blizzcon final.
On December 27 2013 21:39 Schelim wrote: Wolfglade should be a sick combo. but a tricast would be even more awesome and Korean as fuck.
Isn't it a trio? Koreans make it work. Will be interested to see how it works for these guys considering we got a hint of it during the Blizzcon final.
i think the announcement is ambigious. they will use three casters, but will they use them all together in one three person cast or will they use alternating duos? i'm hoping for the former but expecting the latter tbh
On December 27 2013 15:01 tili wrote: Nice!! I'm still anxious to hear what Khaldor will end up doing with gstl on the fritz.
Well GSL will still hopefully use him to cast Code A... maybe with Wolf? Maybe with someone other than Wolf? Though with only 3 GSLs over the year maybe we'll get Tastosis casting Code A now. I'd actually be a little sad because I like Wolfdor somewhat more than Tastosis. If Khaldor is out at GSL, I am hoping ESL picks him up for WCS EU so we can have duos of Apollo/Kaelaris and ToD/Khaldor. Those would be some awesome casting duos.
Also anyone know who the second NASL casting pair will be now that Gretorp and Frodan are both gone? I don't know what he's doing lately but I hope they get Kevin Knocke casting again. I think he's one of the most underrated SC2 casters of all time. Maybe they could even reunite him with Doa now that he's available. KK/Doa was such an entertaining combo for IPL for a while, they made me laugh more than any other SC2 caster duo ever.
I seem to remember reading somewhere that Axeltoss and Axslav would be going to NASL, presumably as SC2 casters.
On December 27 2013 21:39 Schelim wrote: Wolfglade should be a sick combo. but a tricast would be even more awesome and Korean as fuck.
Isn't it a trio? Koreans make it work. Will be interested to see how it works for these guys considering we got a hint of it during the Blizzcon final.
i think the announcement is ambigious. they will use three casters, but will they use them all together in one three person cast or will they use alternating duos? i'm hoping for the former but expecting the latter tbh
That's why I asked because it is ambiguous. We'll find out soon enough and we're still waiting for the Fantasy to be sorted out too, hue.
On December 28 2013 01:42 kellymilkies wrote: After brainwashing him for 3 weeks he has finally evolved into the next step - PRO CASTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I thought the correct next step was WCS Champion. God dammit Kelly!
On December 27 2013 21:39 Schelim wrote: Wolfglade should be a sick combo. but a tricast would be even more awesome and Korean as fuck.
Isn't it a trio? Koreans make it work. Will be interested to see how it works for these guys considering we got a hint of it during the Blizzcon final.
i think the announcement is ambigious. they will use three casters, but will they use them all together in one three person cast or will they use alternating duos? i'm hoping for the former but expecting the latter tbh
I'm really hoping for a tricast so they can show the western world how to do it right. Have the LoL guy be the caster who directs questions/interesting things to Wolf and Moon who can take care of the analytical side.