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After many rumors, leaked information and a long wait, the format and schedule for the WCS Challenger qualifiers for NA and EU have finally been announced by ESL.
Thankfully the wait was worth it, since all the dates for the whole year are now known and all the action will be covered in 32 broadcasts throughout the year by ESL and others.
The format
Four WCS Challenger events will be hosted in 2017 with the best players earning WCS Points and prize money, as well as winning travel and accommodation for the respective WCS Circuit event.
WCS Challenger #1 -> WCS Austin, April 28-30
WCS Challenger #2 -> WCS Jönköping, June 17-19
WCS Challenger #3 -> WCS Valencia, July 13-15
WCS Challenger #4 -> WCS Montreal, September 8-10
Each of the WCS Challenger events will be a week-long affair to determine the eight players, four from EU and four from NA, that will make the trip to their respective WCS Circuit tournament. The top players of the in-game ladder will automatically qualify for the WCS Challenger events with the remaining players being determined through open cups.
The schedule for each WCS Challenger will look as follows
- Day 1, Sunday – Grand Master League cutoff
Top eight players from the respective ladder (NA/EU) automatically advance to the WCS Challenger Playoff
- The cut-off will be based on MMR and take place at 11:59 p.m. in CET and EDT
- Players must complete 15 ladder games a day between Grandmaster League promotion windows (20:00 EDT, 21:00 CEST) starting on the Thursday-Friday window and continuing though Sunday
- Starting at the Thursday promotion window, players will be required to play under the name that they wish to use during the WCS Circuit event. Please contact esportsteam@blizzard.com if you require a free character name change to compete.
- Day 3, Tuesday – Open Cup #1
Four players advance to the WCS Challenger Playoff
- Day 4, Wednesday – Open Cup #2
Four players advance to the WCS Challenger Playoff
- Days 6-7, Friday to Saturday – WCS Challenger Playoff
Sixteen participants
Eight from the GrandMaster League
Four from the Open Cup #1
Four from the Open Cup #2
Double-elimination, Best-of-five
Player must be eligible to compete based on th residency requirements outlined in section 4.4 of the WCS 2017 Rules.
Timeline and prize pool
Each of the WCS Challenger tournaments will take place with ample time before their respective WCS Circuit stop. You can find the complete timeline overview below.
- WCS Challenger #1
NA: 26.03 – 01.04.
EU: 02.04 – 08.04.
- WCS Challenger #2
EU: 14.05 – 20.05.
NA: 21.05 – 27.05.
- WCS Challenger #3
EU: 28.05 – 03.06.
NA: 04.06 – 10.06.
- WCS Challenger #4
EU: 06.08 – 12.08.
NA: 13.08 – 19.08.
The top four players from each region will qualify for the WCS Circuit. On top of that, players will also have the chance to get their hands on a share of the prize money, as well as the all-important WCS points.
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Double-elimination, Best-of-five
:D:D:D
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On March 17 2017 03:36 Duckman wrote::D:D:D
I know right? The more the better 
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Finally, some infos about WCS Challenger. Taking forever
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I wish they could make it the same format as upcoming SSL, but it would be hard obviusly.
But still double elimination makes this much more interesting!
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Blizzard doesn't care about this game?
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This system appears to be inherently unfair. If Taiwan players receive 2 spots, China receives 2 spots or Latin America receives 2 spots or SEA (Australia) receives 2 spots - and NA 4 spots and EU 4 spots.
Maybe Germany, USA, Canada, Poland, Sweden and France should receive 2 spots each?
Besides Taiwan, China players or Latin America players can compete in NA ladder?
I think EU should receive at least 6 spots and Taiwan only 1 - if any. SEA 1, China 1, Latin America 1. Rest should be distributed through NA/ EU ladder.
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On March 17 2017 06:04 Kafka777 wrote:
This system appears to be inherently unfair. If Taiwan players receive 2 spots, China receives 2 spots or Latin America receives 2 spots or SEA (Australia) receives 2 spots - and NA 4 spots and EU 4 spots.
Maybe Germany, USA, Canada, Poland, Sweden and France should receive 2 spots each?
Besides Taiwan, China players or Latin America players can compete in NA ladder?
I think EU should receive at least 6 spots and Taiwan only 1 - if any. SEA 1, China 1, Latin America 1. Rest should be distributed through NA/ EU ladder.
I don't quite get it. There are supposed to be 32 players in the WCS Circuit events, no?
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I don't quite get it. There are supposed to be 32 players in the WCS Circuit events, no?
No, it is not how it works. 16 players from around the World will receive paid trips to the event and qualify for ro.32
These 16 will be from :
4 North America
4 Europe
2 Latin America
2 China
2 Taiwan
2 Australia/New Zealand/SEA
Besides this there will be 64 players coming through open sign ups. The format is as follows:
Group Stage 1: 64 open sign-up players. Dual-tournament Bo3 groups, top 2 from each advance.
Group Stage 2: Top 32 from Group Stage 1, dual-tournament Bo3 groups where top 2 advance.
Group Stage 3: 16 players from Group Stage 2 meet 16 players from WCS Challenger. Dual-tournament Bo3 groups, top 2 from each group advance.
Bracket Stage
Seeding: #1 Group Stage vs #2 Group Stage, ranked by WCS points.
The rounds of 16, 8, and 4 will be best-of-five with a best-of-seven grand finals.
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Katowice25012 Posts
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looks sick. Excited for Challenger to be finally back.
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I feel like 200 P for the winner are nothing. I mean 200 points will never bring you to the WCS finals, Should be something like 500 for the winner and 200 for the second.
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I feel like 200 P for the winner are nothing. I mean 200 points will never bring you to the WCS finals, Should be something like 500 for the winner and 200 for the second.
These are points for the Challenger - they are supposed to be low. Winner of main event receives 3000.
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On March 17 2017 06:04 Kafka777 wrote:
This system appears to be inherently unfair. If Taiwan players receive 2 spots, China receives 2 spots or Latin America receives 2 spots or SEA (Australia) receives 2 spots - and NA 4 spots and EU 4 spots.
Maybe Germany, USA, Canada, Poland, Sweden and France should receive 2 spots each?
Besides Taiwan, China players or Latin America players can compete in NA ladder?
I think EU should receive at least 6 spots and Taiwan only 1 - if any. SEA 1, China 1, Latin America 1. Rest should be distributed through NA/ EU ladder.
Asian players get screwed over enough as it is now
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On March 17 2017 07:09 Kafka777 wrote:Show nested quote +
I don't quite get it. There are supposed to be 32 players in the WCS Circuit events, no?
No, it is not how it works. 16 players from around the World will receive paid trips to the event and qualify for ro.32 These 16 will be from : 4 North America 4 Europe 2 Latin America 2 China 2 Taiwan 2 Australia/New Zealand/SEA Besides this there will be 64 players coming through open sign ups. The format is as follows: Group Stage 1: 64 open sign-up players. Dual-tournament Bo3 groups, top 2 from each advance. Group Stage 2: Top 32 from Group Stage 1, dual-tournament Bo3 groups where top 2 advance. Group Stage 3: 16 players from Group Stage 2 meet 16 players from WCS Challenger. Dual-tournament Bo3 groups, top 2 from each group advance. Bracket Stage Seeding: #1 Group Stage vs #2 Group Stage, ranked by WCS points. The rounds of 16, 8, and 4 will be best-of-five with a best-of-seven grand finals.
Ok, I see, 16 players will get paid trips. What will decide who will get one of the 64 sign-up slots then? 
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EPT![[image loading]](https://bnetcmsus-a.akamaihd.net/cms/page_media/0e/0E7QZWFTU7AN1487279869659.jpg)
