Hello folks! I’m Andrew Quan, the new tournament director for TSL. I’m handling all of TL’s tournaments moving forward, with some of the previous staffers acting as advisors. Though this will be my first TSL to run, I’ve actually had the pleasureofworkingonseveralSC2eventsbefore. It’s an honor and privilege today for me to announce some of the details for the seventh TeamLiquid StarLeague. As a recent addition to the Team Liquid- er, team, but an old school StarCraft fan, I’ll work hard to make TSL 7 a worthy addition to TSL. Before I really start diving into the details, I’d like to give a huge thank you to our sponsors. The Shopify TSL 7 would not be possible without Twitch, Secretlab, IMC, and of course, Shopify!
Now, on to the event. We’ve taken the feedback from TSL 6 and made some adjustments that we think make sense. For the most part, things will be staying the same. We’ve got a very similar roster of talent lined up, we’ll be playing for three full weekends of games, and Shopify is returning as our wonderful title sponsor.
There are some things that we’re changing, though, and I’ll be breaking down each of those changes below. If you want an overview of all our changes, here’s a TL;DR: + Show Spoiler +
6 Qualifiers: 2 KR, 2 EU, 2 NA/Rest of the World. Region locked. 15 Qualifying Players: 6 EU, 5 KR, 4 NA/Rest of the World 8 Invited Players -> 1 Invited Player: Dark 32 Players -> 16 Players TSL 7 will be entirely Double Elimination, effectively removing the Ro32 from TSL 6. Best of 7 matches will be adopted earlier in the tournament. The first rounds will remain Bo5. We’re starting 2 hours earlier, at 9 AM Eastern/3 PM Central European/10 PM Korea
The biggest feedback for us was the long hours. Our casters, players, and production team were all exhausted each day of TSL6. It’s clear to us that the schedule wasn’t feasible to maintain. This was the primary motivator for two of our changes:
First, we’ll be dropping the total number of players from 32 to 16.
Second, we’re making the format a full Double Elimination bracket.
These two combine to drop out 16 Best of 5s at the start of the event, which helps even out our schedule and have more consistency between the first few rounds. To help balance out this drop in total matches, we’re also making an adjustment to the series length earlier in the event:
Now, all matches that are in or past the Winner’s Round 2 or Loser’s Round 3 will be Best of 7.
A result of this change in players is that we also needed to reexamine our invitations. Previously, we invited 8 players, which would now mean half of our players were invited. To try to avoid a “rich getting richer” scenario with regard to EPT points, we’re changing that, too. This time, we’ll only have a single invitation, to our most recent champion: Dark.
The other 15 players will qualify through a series of 6 Qualifiers. We’ll be hosting 2 each in Korea, Europe, and North America. We’ve decided to region lock each of these qualifiers, and will only accept players participating in that region if they’ve had residence in an applicable country for a minimum of 6 months. Here’s how it breaks down:
Region
# Qualified
# Qualifiers
Top X per Qualifier
South Korea
5
2
Top 3, then top 2
Europe
6
2
Top 3
North America
4
2
Top 2
We will be maintaining the same format for the qualifiers: Single Elimination (plus Third Place) for Korea and Double Elimination for Europe and North America. Here are the Qualifier schedules:
Expect more information on the qualifiers in the next week, including where and how to join! We’ll also be releasing all the information and process for any community casters who are interested in covering those matches.
Last up, the change in our main event broadcast time. It’ll always be difficult for us to juggle a good time across the three big regions, but we’d like to make it a little less brutal for the Korean players this time around. For the broadcast, we’ll be streaming on June 12-13, June 19-20, and June 26-27. Each day, we’ll be starting at 9 AM Eastern/3 PM Central European/10 PM Korea.
We realize there’s going to be some overlap here with the World Team League, but we’re in contact with their admins to minimize those issues as much as possible, and to let all the overlapping players compete in both.
We’re enormously excited to begin our qualifiers in two weeks and to announce our commentator line up once that’s all signed and sealed. And once again, this is all thanks to our generous and supportive sponsors. It has been an absolute pleasure to work with Shopify for past events and in the preparation we’ve done so far for TSL 7, and they’re excited to be involved as well:
We are thrilled for Shopify to be a part of the event once more! TSL5 and TSL6 had been an absolute pleasure to watch and were two of my favourite tournaments in 2020. The quality of games in the last TSL were absolutely mind blowing. I look forward to more amazing SC2 accompanied by the unique production that comes with TSL. GL HF everyone!
— Dario "TLO" Wuensch Head of Player Development, Shopify Rebellion
Hello Andrew, gg wp TLO once again! It's a bit sad to have a smaller field but understandable, and the format should provide for a lot of great series.
as long as we continue to be as hardcore as ever sc2 will always be a viable event, hey, we are the demographic that actually has money to spend. shopify, advertise me some shit!
This is awesome and we should do this forever. Including the bracket contest, not that I have a title to protect or anything....*reads quote from Wardi below*
On April 17 2021 09:26 Haku wrote: Love Shopify for doing this! Is it really a good idea to give NA 4 Spots? Seems overkill if you compare the players to the rest of the world.
Still really looking forward to it and i can't wait to cheer all those players on from home Hope there will be player cams!
I think its really hard to try to get the number right. too few and your coming off as saying the whole region isn't good enough but too many and it leads to an imbalanced tournament field. 4 seems like a good number. aknowledges a difference while not giving either Europe or SK too much of an advantage and keeping it somewhat of a global tournament. I'm not really sure if there was a better option without completely changing it up and doing some weird sort of hybrid of open global qualifiers and regional ones which would create their own issues. Theirs really no correct system.
On April 17 2021 12:17 chipmonklord17 wrote: People questioning NA getting 4 spots when Neeb/Astrea/Scarlett/Special all exist.
They're good players, but most people would consider Koreans 7-10 to be better than them. So obviously the number of spots to allocate per region is always a judgement call on the part of the organizer.
So glad to see TSL returning as a true fixture of the scene again, and not just for a one off event in TSL6. Shopify continues to crush it with their support for SC2
So the 4 seeds from AM server is pretty much set. EU got 6 seeds is a bit generous imo, after the big 3 and the 2 German players, it would be a fight among Soul, MaxPax and others. Korean qualifier will be brutal and nobody will be certain to make through it. Btw, players like TIME and Nice will have to qualify through KR server?
On April 17 2021 17:37 tigera6 wrote: So the 4 seeds from AM server is pretty much set. EU got 6 seeds is a bit generous imo, after the big 3 and the 2 German players, it would be a fight among Soul, MaxPax and others. Korean qualifier will be brutal and nobody will be certain to make through it. Btw, players like TIME and Nice will have to qualify through KR server?
SpeCial technically should have to qualify via Korea despite having to leave for home, since he's been living there in the past six months. Also, I think China etc. can play in the NA qualifiers (comment by TLO regarding this).
On April 17 2021 17:46 TheOneAboveU wrote: SpeCial technically should have to qualify via Korea despite having to leave for home, since he's been living there in the past six months. Also, I think China etc. can play in the NA qualifiers (comment by TLO regarding this).
I figure residence is only necessary if you don't have citizenship.
On April 17 2021 17:46 TheOneAboveU wrote: SpeCial technically should have to qualify via Korea despite having to leave for home, since he's been living there in the past six months. Also, I think China etc. can play in the NA qualifiers (comment by TLO regarding this).
I figure residence is only necessary if you don't have citizenship.
On April 17 2021 17:37 tigera6 wrote: So the 4 seeds from AM server is pretty much set. EU got 6 seeds is a bit generous imo, after the big 3 and the 2 German players, it would be a fight among Soul, MaxPax and others. Korean qualifier will be brutal and nobody will be certain to make through it. Btw, players like TIME and Nice will have to qualify through KR server?
Probably 5/6 spots for EU and 3 for NA/World would have been better; in any of case, will TY, Stats and Zest be able to play? I think so, if not current spots for Korea would be about right.
Wow super exciting! Interesting only 16 players, including reigning TSL6 champion Dark, will be vying for the title. Good to know it’ll only span three weekends again. Yay more best-of-sevens.
On April 17 2021 17:37 tigera6 wrote: So the 4 seeds from AM server is pretty much set. EU got 6 seeds is a bit generous imo, after the big 3 and the 2 German players, it would be a fight among Soul, MaxPax and others. Korean qualifier will be brutal and nobody will be certain to make through it. Btw, players like TIME and Nice will have to qualify through KR server?
Probably 5/6 spots for EU and 3 for NA/World would have been better; in any of case, will TY, Stats and Zest be able to play? I think so, if not current spots for Korea would be about right.
If what the other thread is correct about Flash going to the military service in 3 weeks, then I think our SC2 players will join around the same time. So they wont be able to do any more tournament after the current code S. There are still a bunch of players fighting for those 5 spots though, top candidates would be Maru Byun Inno Cure Rogue Solar Trap Parting.
16 players... I’m not sure how to feel about this. Instead of running it over 3 weekends I think it’ll be better to run it over a longer period of time. I can’t see the Koreans be happy having to play till like 3AM again.
Awesome! Thanks Shopify and TL. There definitely is a need for these events. Last TSL was good and looks like this will be too. Liking the changes except the more bo7s.
On April 18 2021 00:17 geokilla wrote: 16 players... I’m not sure how to feel about this. Instead of running it over 3 weekends I think it’ll be better to run it over a longer period of time. I can’t see the Koreans be happy having to play till like 3AM again.
They have to avoid running into the DH Master Global Summer, which will start on Jul 1. I think 3 weeks are plenty of time for a tournament, as there are other Premiere tounaments running during that span as well.
On April 18 2021 00:17 geokilla wrote: 16 players... I’m not sure how to feel about this. Instead of running it over 3 weekends I think it’ll be better to run it over a longer period of time. I can’t see the Koreans be happy having to play till like 3AM again.
They have to avoid running into the DH Master Global Summer, which will start on Jul 1. I think 3 weeks are plenty of time for a tournament, as there are other Premiere tounaments running during that span as well.
Start it earlier then? Play during the week like CS:GO? I didn’t check the calendar but there isn’t much going on during the week is there?
On April 18 2021 00:17 geokilla wrote: 16 players... I’m not sure how to feel about this. Instead of running it over 3 weekends I think it’ll be better to run it over a longer period of time. I can’t see the Koreans be happy having to play till like 3AM again.
They have to avoid running into the DH Master Global Summer, which will start on Jul 1. I think 3 weeks are plenty of time for a tournament, as there are other Premiere tounaments running during that span as well.
Start it earlier then? Play during the week like CS:GO? I didn’t check the calendar but there isn’t much going on during the week is there?
There are actually a lot of SC2 tournament going on in June, GSL might start the Code S season 2 qualifier sometimes in June, we also will have the DH Regional tournament, the Chinese Premiere tournament which is also part of the ESL season, and the World Team League running in the weekend. Even if they shift TSL to a week earlier, it will be among those events. I am actually quite suprised to see this many events got pushed into a month. Meanwhile, after the DH Summer Global Final in July, there seems to be nothing else going on but the GSL for Koreans.
On April 18 2021 00:17 geokilla wrote: 16 players... I’m not sure how to feel about this. Instead of running it over 3 weekends I think it’ll be better to run it over a longer period of time. I can’t see the Koreans be happy having to play till like 3AM again.
They have to avoid running into the DH Master Global Summer, which will start on Jul 1. I think 3 weeks are plenty of time for a tournament, as there are other Premiere tounaments running during that span as well.
Start it earlier then? Play during the week like CS:GO? I didn’t check the calendar but there isn’t much going on during the week is there?
There are actually a lot of SC2 tournament going on in June, GSL might start the Code S season 2 qualifier sometimes in June, we also will have the DH Regional tournament, the Chinese Premiere tournament which is also part of the ESL season, and the World Team League running in the weekend. Even if they shift TSL to a week earlier, it will be among those events. I am actually quite suprised to see this many events got pushed into a month. Meanwhile, after the DH Summer Global Final in July, there seems to be nothing else going on but the GSL for Koreans.
Let's say "Meanwhile, after the DH Summer Global Final in July, there seems to be nothing else announced but the GSL for Koreans."
On April 18 2021 00:17 geokilla wrote: 16 players... I’m not sure how to feel about this. Instead of running it over 3 weekends I think it’ll be better to run it over a longer period of time. I can’t see the Koreans be happy having to play till like 3AM again.
They have to avoid running into the DH Master Global Summer, which will start on Jul 1. I think 3 weeks are plenty of time for a tournament, as there are other Premiere tounaments running during that span as well.
Start it earlier then? Play during the week like CS:GO? I didn’t check the calendar but there isn’t much going on during the week is there?
There are actually a lot of SC2 tournament going on in June, GSL might start the Code S season 2 qualifier sometimes in June, we also will have the DH Regional tournament, the Chinese Premiere tournament which is also part of the ESL season, and the World Team League running in the weekend. Even if they shift TSL to a week earlier, it will be among those events. I am actually quite suprised to see this many events got pushed into a month. Meanwhile, after the DH Summer Global Final in July, there seems to be nothing else going on but the GSL for Koreans.
Let's say "Meanwhile, after the DH Summer Global Final in July, there seems to be nothing else announced but the GSL for Koreans."
Why are the Korean qualifiers single-elimination when the European and American qualifiers are double-elimination? Wouldn't it be better to have the same format for both? I'm assuming there's a nuance I'm missing here!
On April 19 2021 16:34 MJG wrote: Why are the Korean qualifiers single-elimination when the European and American qualifiers are double-elimination? Wouldn't it be better to have the same format for both? I'm assuming there's a nuance I'm missing here!
AFAIK the Koreans wanted it this way. At least that's what happened in TSL 6
On April 19 2021 16:34 MJG wrote: Why are the Korean qualifiers single-elimination when the European and American qualifiers are double-elimination? Wouldn't it be better to have the same format for both? I'm assuming there's a nuance I'm missing here!
In general Korean players are not interested in playing double elimination, format was tried for TSL 5 and reverted back to single elimination for TSL 6.
On April 19 2021 16:34 MJG wrote: Why are the Korean qualifiers single-elimination when the European and American qualifiers are double-elimination? Wouldn't it be better to have the same format for both? I'm assuming there's a nuance I'm missing here!
AFAIK the Koreans wanted it this way. At least that's what happened in TSL 6
On April 19 2021 16:34 MJG wrote: Why are the Korean qualifiers single-elimination when the European and American qualifiers are double-elimination? Wouldn't it be better to have the same format for both? I'm assuming there's a nuance I'm missing here!
In general Korean players are not interested in playing double elimination, format was tried for TSL 5 and reverted back to single elimination for TSL 6.
What a strange cultural difference. Nice to know, thanks guys!
On April 20 2021 00:19 tigera6 wrote: That is indeed strange because the recent GSL qualifier was actually double-elimination.
TSL5 KR qualifiers was full of walkovers cause players didn't show up to their LB matches. It was then changed to single elim. No idea if it was just poorly communicated or a cultural thing or whatever
On April 19 2021 16:34 MJG wrote: Why are the Korean qualifiers single-elimination when the European and American qualifiers are double-elimination? Wouldn't it be better to have the same format for both? I'm assuming there's a nuance I'm missing here!
AFAIK the Koreans wanted it this way. At least that's what happened in TSL 6
On April 19 2021 16:34 MJG wrote: Why are the Korean qualifiers single-elimination when the European and American qualifiers are double-elimination? Wouldn't it be better to have the same format for both? I'm assuming there's a nuance I'm missing here!
In general Korean players are not interested in playing double elimination, format was tried for TSL 5 and reverted back to single elimination for TSL 6.
What a strange cultural difference. Nice to know, thanks guys!
was this always a thing. I remember way back the MLG qualifiers were double elim for Korea. (too be fair that was a long long time ago.) Is this a holdover from pro BW maybe?
Another "dud" showout for the KR qualifer today, none of the top Terran shows up, no Rogue, Trap, Parting. Will LMAO if they all joins in the 2nd qualifer only to get eliminated.
Strange so few players for the first qualifier. The next one (and last one) will be the same day that the last qualifier for Netease event. Big day for Korean (7th of may)
Leenock is back !! So good we need of some crazy korean zergs