WCS Spring Players List and Format Changes

kaby

Russian Federation194 Posts

April 26 2019 17:12 GMT

As we head towards the second WCS Circuit event this year, it is time to reveal the first list of WCS Spring participants - as well as our new tournament format which was updated according to player feedback.

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Let us start with the format updates first! As we previously mentioned, each player who drops out in the Group Stage of WCS Spring will get a second chance in the Knockout Bracket.

Knockout Bracket consists of six rounds and has a single-elimination format: players who drop out in the Group Stage 1 will play each other in Knockout Bracket Round 1 and Round 2, fourth and third place finishers in Group Stage 2 will join them in Round 3 and Round 4 respectively - and players who don’t manage to advance from Group Stage 3 will drop to Rounds 5-6 accordingly.

Please look through our format update video to get a general understanding of how the new format works.

If you want more details on the updated tournament format and seeding process, please take a look at our full tournament ruleset. If there are still questions left, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team via starcraft@starladder.tv!

So, who is going to fight for $100.000, 12.600 WCS points and direct seeding to the 2019 WCS Global Finals? We have carefully processed all signups and we are now ready to guarantee spots for 70 WCS Spring attenders, including WCS Challenger winners and participants:

+ Show Spoiler +

Sign-ups:

WCS Challenger Winners:

Please note that full player list will be released on the second week of May. Get ready for the first ever WCS Circuit event in Ukraine and follow the official WCS website for more updates on the upcoming spring battle!

Original post by StarLadder
View WCS Spring on Liquipedia

JimRising

Mexico52 Posts

April 26 2019 21:42 GMT

is so expensive to go there so ill stay in house watching the tournament

Nakajin

Canada8988 Posts

April 26 2019 21:51 GMT

Very cool way to do it!
It give more chances to player losing in group stage without making it easier or harder for the top players.

Zzoram

Canada7115 Posts

April 26 2019 23:29 GMT

Very good, a lower bracket is a great addition

TheDougler

Canada8302 Posts

April 27 2019 01:21 GMT

I'm not quite sure whether I prefer this to a traditional winner and loser's bracket, but I'm definitely excited to see how it goes.

Htime

58 Posts

April 27 2019 09:10 GMT

After reading the format three times, and writing/deleting three different posts, I now think I understand and love this format. It is much more likely that the best players not seeded into the 3rd group stage are able to make it through the 1st and 2nd group stages or the Knockout bracket to reach the Ro24 playoffs. Plus it means that a bad group draw will not mean top players are certainly eliminated before the playoffs. Even after group elimination, everyone has a 3rd/4th/5th chance to advance - I think you can lose four Bo3 matches and still win it all.
The Knockout bracket should be some great drama, a whole stream of high-stakes Bo3s that are like the true group deciders. It seems like a lot of extra rounds (six) in the Knockout bracket, but with only Bo3s and it taking place over the course of the whole tourney, it feels like more of a consistency/skill issue vs endurance. If soO can win IEM with a 2-3 group record, then it is very possible a Knockout bracket player takes the win here too.
My only complaint is to keep the dual tourney format going after the 3rd group stage until the Grand Finals like HomeStory Cup, instead of merging both at Ro24, so those who won groups still have an advantage over the Knockout bracket winners. If we have to keep the map count constant, I'd rather lose some earlier games (earliest stages of knockout bracket) and we have more late tourney series with the top players.

HsDLTitich

Italy824 Posts

April 27 2019 10:13 GMT

Rail among the partecipants? Odd

MrFreeman

207 Posts

April 27 2019 11:53 GMT

Shame that playoffs aren't double elimination as well. But the knockout bracket is a good idea, some groups could be super tough.

Kimb3r

Germany744 Posts

April 27 2019 13:01 GMT

I would have loved DE for the playoffs but I'm hyped and really looking forward

Khalimaroth

France70 Posts

April 27 2019 16:19 GMT

#10

It's not a blizzard news?

Stormhoof

Serbia182 Posts

April 28 2019 11:21 GMT

#11

On April 27 2019 19:13 HsDLTitich wrote:
Rail among the partecipants? Odd

Maybe he signed up before retirement

Australia1651 Posts

April 28 2019 22:42 GMT

#12

I'm out of touch with the WCS circuit. Who are top contenders?

XPA

Germany242 Posts

April 29 2019 14:15 GMT

#13

On April 29 2019 07:42 NExt wrote:
I'm out of touch with the WCS circuit. Who are top contenders?

Reynor won WCS Winter. Serral is the obvious pick as he reached over 7500 mmr on eu ladder and seems to get back to top form. Showtime looked good in challenger and might be back to his old form aswell. Apart from that i think you have the usual names Neeb, Elazer, uThermal, HeroMarine, Scarlett, Special...

StarcraftSquall

United States196 Posts

April 30 2019 05:06 GMT

#14

What I don’t like is how hard it is for non Europeans w/o direct seeds to come play in these Circuit events. There’s going to be some pretty good pros who cannot afford to make the trip from the rest of the non Korea world.

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