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ESL Pro Tour replaces WCS on a 3-year deal - Page 5

Forum Index > SC2 General
267 CommentsPost a Reply
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Waxangel
Profile Blog Joined September 2002
United States33650 Posts
January 07 2020 16:17 GMT
#81
On January 08 2020 01:12 sneakyfox wrote:
Apollo confirms that the prize pools announced ($1.9m, then $1.2m) exclude the Korean tournaments.



it's pretty crazy then, that the 2020 season of SC2 (10th anniversary) has a chance to be the most monied in history (pending GSL news)
AdministratorHey HP can you redo everything youve ever done because i have a small complaint?
Darkhorse
Profile Blog Joined December 2011
United States23455 Posts
Last Edited: 2020-01-07 16:17:36
January 07 2020 16:17 GMT
#82
Oh also WC3 hype
WriterRecently Necro'd (?)
Nakajin
Profile Blog Joined September 2014
Canada8990 Posts
January 07 2020 16:20 GMT
#83
On January 08 2020 01:17 Waxangel wrote:
Show nested quote +
On January 08 2020 01:12 sneakyfox wrote:
Apollo confirms that the prize pools announced ($1.9m, then $1.2m) exclude the Korean tournaments.

https://twitter.com/ApolloSC2/status/1214551124218437634


it's pretty crazy then, that the 2020 season of SC2 (10th anniversary) has a chance to be the most monied in history (pending GSL news)


It's pretty confusing too honestly, I don't really get why esport (and especially SC2) prize pool get inflated every years, I mean this is almost a 70% augmentation, where does all that new money come from?
Writerhttp://i.imgur.com/9p6ufcB.jpg
Elentos
Profile Blog Joined February 2015
55586 Posts
January 07 2020 16:22 GMT
#84
On January 08 2020 01:14 BLinD-RawR wrote:
Show nested quote +
On January 08 2020 01:12 Elentos wrote:
On January 08 2020 01:11 BLinD-RawR wrote:
I'm not too sure how the korean side works from a host/broadcast sense, is it just going to cut off afreeca/GSL in favor of a WCS Korea at the arena they did KSL1-3?

Details not finalized yet it seems.


interesting, wonder how a potential cutoff of afreeca affects the scene, if at all.

purely speculating here.

I should hope they wouldn't cut off the organization that produced the better half of the 2019 Global Finals. But if they do I wouldn't be that surprised if Afreeca was to slowly shut down SC2 content creation and also their player sponsorships. It's probably not viable for them to put on GSL without it being part of the Circuit.
Every 60 seconds in Africa, a minute passes.
Synchrx
Profile Joined September 2017
United Kingdom29 Posts
January 07 2020 16:22 GMT
#85
I just wanna say. I'm just extremely happy for the continued support of our game. In my wildest dreams did I think we'd get 3 years of confirmed events. So amazing <3
This, indeed, is the secret of the thing. This is why the demon of impermanence is beneficent. Because it is forgetting about things that renews their wonder.
Nakajin
Profile Blog Joined September 2014
Canada8990 Posts
Last Edited: 2020-01-07 16:24:35
January 07 2020 16:24 GMT
#86
Also I hope we can get an OSC integration into this new system, the point system is already all made, it would be so cool to have every tournament feeding into the world championship!
Writerhttp://i.imgur.com/9p6ufcB.jpg
Elentos
Profile Blog Joined February 2015
55586 Posts
January 07 2020 16:26 GMT
#87
On January 08 2020 01:24 Nakajin wrote:
Also I hope we can get an OSC integration into this new system, the point system is already all made, it would be so cool to have every tournament feeding into the world championship!

Apollo said they're open towards working with any tournament organizers and integrating anything from online cups to big LANs. So there's a chance.
Every 60 seconds in Africa, a minute passes.
sneakyfox
Profile Joined January 2017
8217 Posts
January 07 2020 16:26 GMT
#88
Here is Blizzard's own announcement (source)




For almost 10 years, StarCraft II esports has stood as the epitome of competition and community in the esports world. We are excited to share with you the next era of StarCraft II esports: ESL and DreamHack, together with Blizzard, will establish a brand-new competitive circuit for the next three years of StarCraft II esports.

WHAT IS HAPPENING TO STARCRAFT II ESPORTS?
After seven amazing years, and following Park “Dark” Ryung Woo’s incredible global finals victory at BlizzCon, the World Championship Series (WCS) is being retired. The WCS mobile app will be shut down on December 31, 2019, and the WCS site will be taken down in early 2020.

WCS has been a huge part of the StarCraft II community, and we know just how much it has meant to you all, as it has to us.

But rest assured—StarCraft II esports is evolving, respawning in a new form with ESL and DreamHack.

To replace WCS, we are excited to announce the new ESL Pro Tour StarCraft II and DreamHack SC2 Masters. The two will combine to create the new SC2 esports circuit moving forward. ESL and DreamHack have been trusted vendor for Blizzard esports, particularly StarCraft II, for many years. We know that this amazing community is in incredibly good hands.

This new ecosystem will feature six international tournaments a year—four with DreamHack, two with ESL—as well as weekly competitions that will feed into the ESL events. We know that the StarCraft community enjoys meeting up at our esports competitions in person, and this deal will give more opportunities to more of you to enjoy the excitement of StarCraft II in person.

The global finals will shift to the new IEM Katowice World Championship in 2021. This means SC2 esports at BlizzCon will look different in the future, but it will still be there, and we will share more details about how that will look later.

We are actively working to finalize our Korea plans for 2020 and beyond. We are committed to StarCraft II esports in Korea and will have more details for the community shortly.

The StarCraft II competitive community is one of a kind. It is passionate, creative, and loyal, and you have always been and will always remain important to Blizzard. We want to ensure that your home is secure for as long as possible, and relationships like this one with DreamHack and ESL is what we need to do to make that happen.

WHAT IS BLIZZARD’S ROLE IN THE NEW SYSTEM?
As DreamHack and ESL take over the operational management of StarCraft II esports, we will serve as an overall support network for the new system. For instance, Blizzard will be providing the prizing for all three years of this new ecosystem, more than US $1.2 million each year. To celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the release of StarCraft II, the 2020-2021 ESL/DreamHack circuit will have a larger combined prize pool of more than US $1.9 million.

Back in October we announced the return of StarCraft II to IEM Katowice with an initial prize pool of $250,000, and we are thrilled to share that we are increasing that prize pool to $400,000, on top of our 2020-2021 commitment.

BROADCASTS AND SOCIAL
For more information on the new ESL Pro Tour StarCraft II visit ESL Pro Tour, and be sure to follow both @ESLSC2 and @DreamHack on Twitter to stay up to date with tournament information, standings, and more. You’ll be able to catch all the StarCraft II action on twitch.tv/esl_sc2.
"I saw what sneakyfox wrote on TL.net and it made me furious" - PartinG
blunderfulguy
Profile Blog Joined April 2016
United States1415 Posts
January 07 2020 16:27 GMT
#89
The only thing I don't love is the branding. Modern dark mode era or not, neon yellow and green on white is so bad.

It's nice to see War3 there, I hope it gets to grow throughout the year and not just from money being pumped into tournaments for it (r.i.p. Heroes). I'm really curious about BW and GSL though...
Blunder Man doing everything thing a blunder can.
Tastyyyy
Profile Joined July 2018
Portugal95 Posts
January 07 2020 16:27 GMT
#90
On January 08 2020 01:22 Elentos wrote:
Show nested quote +
On January 08 2020 01:14 BLinD-RawR wrote:
On January 08 2020 01:12 Elentos wrote:
On January 08 2020 01:11 BLinD-RawR wrote:
I'm not too sure how the korean side works from a host/broadcast sense, is it just going to cut off afreeca/GSL in favor of a WCS Korea at the arena they did KSL1-3?

Details not finalized yet it seems.


interesting, wonder how a potential cutoff of afreeca affects the scene, if at all.

purely speculating here.

I should hope they wouldn't cut off the organization that produced the better half of the 2019 Global Finals. But if they do I wouldn't be that surprised if Afreeca was to slowly shut down SC2 content creation and also their player sponsorships. It's probably not viable for them to put on GSL without it being part of the Circuit.


Afreeca just hired 3 new players...I think they are pretty safe on the deal
Elentos
Profile Blog Joined February 2015
55586 Posts
January 07 2020 16:29 GMT
#91
On January 08 2020 01:27 Tastyyyy wrote:
Show nested quote +
On January 08 2020 01:22 Elentos wrote:
On January 08 2020 01:14 BLinD-RawR wrote:
On January 08 2020 01:12 Elentos wrote:
On January 08 2020 01:11 BLinD-RawR wrote:
I'm not too sure how the korean side works from a host/broadcast sense, is it just going to cut off afreeca/GSL in favor of a WCS Korea at the arena they did KSL1-3?

Details not finalized yet it seems.


interesting, wonder how a potential cutoff of afreeca affects the scene, if at all.

purely speculating here.

I should hope they wouldn't cut off the organization that produced the better half of the 2019 Global Finals. But if they do I wouldn't be that surprised if Afreeca was to slowly shut down SC2 content creation and also their player sponsorships. It's probably not viable for them to put on GSL without it being part of the Circuit.


Afreeca just hired 3 new players...I think they are pretty safe on the deal

It was just a hypothetical, I imagine GSL announcement is a matter of weeks at worst.
Every 60 seconds in Africa, a minute passes.
sneakyfox
Profile Joined January 2017
8217 Posts
Last Edited: 2020-01-07 16:32:09
January 07 2020 16:29 GMT
#92
Two most interesting things from Blizzard's announcement:

The global finals will shift to the new IEM Katowice World Championship in 2021. This means SC2 esports at BlizzCon will look different in the future, but it will still be there, and we will share more details about how that will look later.


Still SC2 at Blizzcon.

We are actively working to finalize our Korea plans for 2020 and beyond. We are committed to StarCraft II esports in Korea and will have more details for the community shortly.


So ESL will not be directly involved in Korea at all? I am very curious about what this means.

"I saw what sneakyfox wrote on TL.net and it made me furious" - PartinG
Nakajin
Profile Blog Joined September 2014
Canada8990 Posts
January 07 2020 16:31 GMT
#93
On January 08 2020 01:29 sneakyfox wrote:
Two most interesting things from Blizzard's announcement:

Show nested quote +
The global finals will shift to the new IEM Katowice World Championship in 2021. This means SC2 esports at BlizzCon will look different in the future, but it will still be there, and we will share more details about how that will look later.


Show nested quote +
We are actively working to finalize our Korea plans for 2020 and beyond. We are committed to StarCraft II esports in Korea and will have more details for the community shortly.




Today is better than Christmas
Writerhttp://i.imgur.com/9p6ufcB.jpg
hexhaven
Profile Joined July 2014
Finland964 Posts
January 07 2020 16:32 GMT
#94
On January 08 2020 01:27 blunderfulguy wrote:
The only thing I don't love is the branding. Modern dark mode era or not, neon yellow and green on white is so bad.



That's just the general ESL color scheme they rolled out last summer.
WriterI shoot events. | http://www.jussi.co/esports
Elentos
Profile Blog Joined February 2015
55586 Posts
January 07 2020 16:36 GMT
#95
On January 08 2020 01:29 sneakyfox wrote:
Two most interesting things from Blizzard's announcement:

Show nested quote +
The global finals will shift to the new IEM Katowice World Championship in 2021. This means SC2 esports at BlizzCon will look different in the future, but it will still be there, and we will share more details about how that will look later.


Still SC2 at Blizzcon.

Show nested quote +
We are actively working to finalize our Korea plans for 2020 and beyond. We are committed to StarCraft II esports in Korea and will have more details for the community shortly.


So ESL will not be directly involved in Korea at all? I am very curious about what this means.


It sounds to me like Blizzard is choosing the organizers they give the money too and then ESL is in charge of making it all come together for Global Events and such.
Every 60 seconds in Africa, a minute passes.
Devangel
Profile Joined March 2019
Russian Federation66 Posts
January 07 2020 16:39 GMT
#96
On January 08 2020 01:31 Nakajin wrote:
Show nested quote +
On January 08 2020 01:29 sneakyfox wrote:
Two most interesting things from Blizzard's announcement:

The global finals will shift to the new IEM Katowice World Championship in 2021. This means SC2 esports at BlizzCon will look different in the future, but it will still be there, and we will share more details about how that will look later.


We are actively working to finalize our Korea plans for 2020 and beyond. We are committed to StarCraft II esports in Korea and will have more details for the community shortly.




Today is better than Christmas


Today is oficial Orthodox Christmas, so personally for me its the best Christmas present imaginable :D
sneakyfox
Profile Joined January 2017
8217 Posts
January 07 2020 16:48 GMT
#97
In all this excitement we shouldn't forget to thank the one person who really made all this happen. Faced with the prospect of the end of pro Starcraft 2 (i.e. all that is Good in this world) he did the only reasonable thing he could have fathomed. He put Mike Morhaime and Apollo on a tropical island and told them they wouldn't be allowed to leave until they had saved the game.

Well fucking played, TaKe.
"I saw what sneakyfox wrote on TL.net and it made me furious" - PartinG
Musicus
Profile Joined August 2011
Germany23579 Posts
January 07 2020 16:49 GMT
#98
Super hyped, a 3 year plan is incredible news!

Very happy wc3 is also covered .
Maru and Serral are probably top 5.
Cricketer12
Profile Blog Joined May 2012
United States14000 Posts
January 07 2020 16:57 GMT
#99
About time Apollo noticed
Engage, Zero target Engage, Engage, Kagari target Engage, Engage.
Xain0n
Profile Joined November 2018
Italy3963 Posts
Last Edited: 2020-01-07 17:07:50
January 07 2020 17:01 GMT
#100
On January 08 2020 01:20 Nakajin wrote:
Show nested quote +
On January 08 2020 01:17 Waxangel wrote:
On January 08 2020 01:12 sneakyfox wrote:
Apollo confirms that the prize pools announced ($1.9m, then $1.2m) exclude the Korean tournaments.

https://twitter.com/ApolloSC2/status/1214551124218437634


it's pretty crazy then, that the 2020 season of SC2 (10th anniversary) has a chance to be the most monied in history (pending GSL news)


It's pretty confusing too honestly, I don't really get why esport (and especially SC2) prize pool get inflated every years, I mean this is almost a 70% augmentation, where does all that new money come from?


If we sum up WCS Winter, IEM Katowice, the three Circuit stops, GSL vs The World and BlizzCon in 2019 we have $1.6 M; The increase is only due to the 10 year anniversary.

Also, 2019 with $3.1M of prizes overall was very far from the $3.8 we had in 2012. GSL and independent organizers will have to fund very relevant tournaments for 2020 to be the year with the highest prizes in the history of Sc2!
In 2021 and 2022 we will see a decrease of funds judging from what we can see now, maybe to the level of 2015-2016; prize pool is not inflating over time, at all. Honestly, a less top heavy money distribution is just as important.

I like this new system but I wouldn't have taken out one challenger spot from the chinese region; maybe they will adjust it again in 2021, when they will redesign the system to abolish or modify region lock as Apollo seem to suggest.

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