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DreamHack Masters Winter Groups Announced

Forum Index > SC2 General
20 CommentsPost a Reply
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Waxangel
Profile Blog Joined September 2002
United States33699 Posts
September 27 2021 19:52 GMT
#1
ESL has announced the groups for DreamHack StarCraft II Masters: Winter!

The first week of games will be played from September 29th to October 3rd, featuring the entirety of the Oceania, Latin America, and Taiwan regionals, as well as the first week of European regionals. The North America and China regionals will begin on week two (October 5th). The Winter Season will conclude with the pan-regional Season Finals during November 9th-14th.



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AdministratorHey HP can you redo everything youve ever done because i have a small complaint?
Nakajin
Profile Blog Joined September 2014
Canada8991 Posts
September 27 2021 20:19 GMT
#2
I know it's me who's stupid, but between the huge gap between ESL and GSL and the misleading title (seriously fall started last week how are we in the winter season already), It legitimately took me a second to remember where we were in the schedule. (When even did the Korean play-in happened?)

With my bitching out of the way, pretty nice group, it should be a fun watch.

Writerhttp://i.imgur.com/9p6ufcB.jpg
starvingbox1
Profile Joined July 2021
18 Posts
September 27 2021 20:24 GMT
#3
Same format? They didn't make any changes at all based on the feedback?
dbRic1203
Profile Joined July 2019
Germany2655 Posts
September 27 2021 21:27 GMT
#4
On September 28 2021 05:24 starvingbox1 wrote:
Same format? They didn't make any changes at all based on the feedback?

Didn t expect anything honestly.
I gues it s reasonable in a way to not change the format in the Middle of the year..
MaxPax
uselless
Profile Joined April 2021
93 Posts
September 27 2021 22:16 GMT
#5
On September 28 2021 05:19 Nakajin wrote:
I know it's me who's stupid, but between the huge gap between ESL and GSL and the misleading title (seriously fall started last week how are we in the winter season already), It legitimately took me a second to remember where we were in the schedule. (When even did the Korean play-in happened?)

With my bitching out of the way, pretty nice group, it should be a fun watch.


Korean play-ins happened a few days ago, but people were upset at the bad scheduling and publicity because it overlapped with Korean Thanksgiving (apologies for the cultural whitewash but apparently it's when they give thanks for a successful harvest); parting actually forfeited against maru because of that...

even though it wouldn't have mattered anyway :D
maru :D
geokilla
Profile Joined May 2011
Canada8255 Posts
September 27 2021 23:41 GMT
#6
On September 28 2021 05:24 starvingbox1 wrote:
Same format? They didn't make any changes at all based on the feedback?

This is ESL we're talking about...
ShowTheLights
Profile Blog Joined June 2012
Korea (South)1717 Posts
September 28 2021 00:55 GMT
#7
I feel like... there are too many players that qualify for this
•••Acer.MMA••• <> KT_Puzzle <> JinAir•GreenWings_CoCa <> CJ_herO <> Axiom CranK & Ryung <> IM_Seed <> IM_Squirtle <> le' ToD <> Innovation <> ROOT_CatZ <> inuh! <> Chobra <> SKT1_Fantasy
HeroSandro
Profile Joined July 2019
540 Posts
September 28 2021 03:57 GMT
#8
On September 28 2021 09:55 ShowTheLights wrote:
I feel like... there are too many players that qualify for this

I think it is nice, that some new players have a chance to play against the very best in Europe.
dbRic1203
Profile Joined July 2019
Germany2655 Posts
September 28 2021 04:44 GMT
#9
On September 28 2021 12:57 HeroSandro wrote:
Show nested quote +
On September 28 2021 09:55 ShowTheLights wrote:
I feel like... there are too many players that qualify for this

I think it is nice, that some new players have a chance to play against the very best in Europe.

If they wanted GSL Level Players only, it would be an 8 Player tournament in EU, a 3 Players tournament in NA and a Time vs Special showmatch
DH is obviously way more inclusive and trying to give more Players a Chance to Play in the Big stage.
Witch is great, if you ask me.
MaxPax
buzz_bender
Profile Joined August 2019
446 Posts
September 28 2021 10:25 GMT
#10
On September 28 2021 05:24 starvingbox1 wrote:
Same format? They didn't make any changes at all based on the feedback?


Clearly not, though I would definitely prefer that they do 2 GSL-style rounds. A Ro32 - 8 groups of 4 players. And then do a group nomination into Ro16 with 4 groups of 4 players. This way, there are more chances for those who are lower to sneak through to the higher rounds. And they should change it to single elimination in the playoffs...
select_clothes1444
Profile Joined July 2021
22 Posts
September 28 2021 12:26 GMT
#11
On September 28 2021 08:41 geokilla wrote:
Show nested quote +
On September 28 2021 05:24 starvingbox1 wrote:
Same format? They didn't make any changes at all based on the feedback?

This is ESL we're talking about...


changing the format doesn't make ESL more money, thats what its all about
WombaT
Profile Blog Joined May 2010
Northern Ireland27355 Posts
September 28 2021 13:30 GMT
#12
On September 28 2021 19:25 buzz_bender wrote:
Show nested quote +
On September 28 2021 05:24 starvingbox1 wrote:
Same format? They didn't make any changes at all based on the feedback?


Clearly not, though I would definitely prefer that they do 2 GSL-style rounds. A Ro32 - 8 groups of 4 players. And then do a group nomination into Ro16 with 4 groups of 4 players. This way, there are more chances for those who are lower to sneak through to the higher rounds. And they should change it to single elimination in the playoffs...

I’d definitely dig that or something for Europe, I don’t mind double elim as much, at least there’s a deficit formed and an underdog comeback narrative.

But the group stage just drags and drags with too few matches with anything that impactful on the line.
'You'll always be the cuddly marsupial of my heart, despite the inherent flaws of your ancestry' - Squat
ImmortalGhost
Profile Joined April 2019
United States57 Posts
September 29 2021 04:21 GMT
#13
I think gsl style for a ro32 is actually kind of bad, especially when there's such a big skill difference between players. If you go back to the gsl ro32 and ro24 last year, those groups were way too predictable and boring. I actually prefer the round robin format for esl. However, I would prefer the groups to be played one by one, rather than all at once.
buzz_bender
Profile Joined August 2019
446 Posts
September 29 2021 06:03 GMT
#14
On September 29 2021 13:21 ImmortalGhost wrote:
I think gsl style for a ro32 is actually kind of bad, especially when there's such a big skill difference between players. If you go back to the gsl ro32 and ro24 last year, those groups were way too predictable and boring. I actually prefer the round robin format for esl. However, I would prefer the groups to be played one by one, rather than all at once.


I think it's bad only because there's no "mid" tier players in GSL now. It's either pro or semi-pro. But it's different in EU. There's a clear top, mid, and lower tier players. Having Ro32 GSL-style groups allow for some of the mid-tier players to possibly "snipe" or prepare builds against the top tier players in their groups and advance further. You can do that in a Bo3 against them. Having group nominations also allow for more strategies in choosing players for groups, which then again allows for some mid-tier players in possibly advancing further.

In this current format, there's simply no way for any upsets to happen. Even if it did, it doesn't matter too much in the end. The end-result will always be similar, and Lambo did speak about this in a recent Pylon Show that it can be demotivating because he knows he'll never be able to win. But in a GSL style format allows for more opportunities for lower tier players to progress further.
Nakajin
Profile Blog Joined September 2014
Canada8991 Posts
Last Edited: 2021-09-29 10:26:23
September 29 2021 10:17 GMT
#15
On September 29 2021 15:03 buzz_bender wrote:
Show nested quote +
On September 29 2021 13:21 ImmortalGhost wrote:
I think gsl style for a ro32 is actually kind of bad, especially when there's such a big skill difference between players. If you go back to the gsl ro32 and ro24 last year, those groups were way too predictable and boring. I actually prefer the round robin format for esl. However, I would prefer the groups to be played one by one, rather than all at once.


I think it's bad only because there's no "mid" tier players in GSL now. It's either pro or semi-pro. But it's different in EU. There's a clear top, mid, and lower tier players. Having Ro32 GSL-style groups allow for some of the mid-tier players to possibly "snipe" or prepare builds against the top tier players in their groups and advance further. You can do that in a Bo3 against them. Having group nominations also allow for more strategies in choosing players for groups, which then again allows for some mid-tier players in possibly advancing further.

In this current format, there's simply no way for any upsets to happen. Even if it did, it doesn't matter too much in the end. The end-result will always be similar, and Lambo did speak about this in a recent Pylon Show that it can be demotivating because he knows he'll never be able to win. But in a GSL style format allows for more opportunities for lower tier players to progress further.


On the other side, the current format is good for players who want to plan out their year, you can generaly have a fairly good idea of what kind of results you'll have "at worst" in the ESL circuit and not have to much fear of losing your paycheck because you slip up on a current day.

Plus it give an opportunity for more players to have some kind of exposure.


GSL is a bit different since most actual progammer have actually made reasonably good money in the last few years.
Writerhttp://i.imgur.com/9p6ufcB.jpg
WombaT
Profile Blog Joined May 2010
Northern Ireland27355 Posts
September 29 2021 10:39 GMT
#16
On September 29 2021 13:21 ImmortalGhost wrote:
I think gsl style for a ro32 is actually kind of bad, especially when there's such a big skill difference between players. If you go back to the gsl ro32 and ro24 last year, those groups were way too predictable and boring. I actually prefer the round robin format for esl. However, I would prefer the groups to be played one by one, rather than all at once.

I think there are issues with that format too but at least you get into simple issues of elimination or progression pretty quickly, and it’s a little more volatile.

100% on the bolded. You go an entire day’s watching and the round robin is starting to open up so matches become more crucial, do-or-die affairs and then play stops and you have to wade through another long initial slag from another group when not much is on the line either.

I don’t really get why they do it, I cant really think of an advantage to that schedule from a user interest perspective.
'You'll always be the cuddly marsupial of my heart, despite the inherent flaws of your ancestry' - Squat
Nakajin
Profile Blog Joined September 2014
Canada8991 Posts
September 29 2021 11:22 GMT
#17
Lets go Demi, very well done!
Writerhttp://i.imgur.com/9p6ufcB.jpg
buzz_bender
Profile Joined August 2019
446 Posts
September 29 2021 12:09 GMT
#18
On September 29 2021 19:17 Nakajin wrote:
Show nested quote +
On September 29 2021 15:03 buzz_bender wrote:
On September 29 2021 13:21 ImmortalGhost wrote:
I think gsl style for a ro32 is actually kind of bad, especially when there's such a big skill difference between players. If you go back to the gsl ro32 and ro24 last year, those groups were way too predictable and boring. I actually prefer the round robin format for esl. However, I would prefer the groups to be played one by one, rather than all at once.


I think it's bad only because there's no "mid" tier players in GSL now. It's either pro or semi-pro. But it's different in EU. There's a clear top, mid, and lower tier players. Having Ro32 GSL-style groups allow for some of the mid-tier players to possibly "snipe" or prepare builds against the top tier players in their groups and advance further. You can do that in a Bo3 against them. Having group nominations also allow for more strategies in choosing players for groups, which then again allows for some mid-tier players in possibly advancing further.

In this current format, there's simply no way for any upsets to happen. Even if it did, it doesn't matter too much in the end. The end-result will always be similar, and Lambo did speak about this in a recent Pylon Show that it can be demotivating because he knows he'll never be able to win. But in a GSL style format allows for more opportunities for lower tier players to progress further.


On the other side, the current format is good for players who want to plan out their year, you can generaly have a fairly good idea of what kind of results you'll have "at worst" in the ESL circuit and not have to much fear of losing your paycheck because you slip up on a current day.

Plus it give an opportunity for more players to have some kind of exposure.

GSL is a bit different since most actual progammer have actually made reasonably good money in the last few years.


Oh, I agree with this. It's just pros and cons to each format.
rwala
Profile Joined December 2019
344 Posts
September 29 2021 13:37 GMT
#19
On September 28 2021 07:16 uselless wrote:
Show nested quote +
On September 28 2021 05:19 Nakajin wrote:
I know it's me who's stupid, but between the huge gap between ESL and GSL and the misleading title (seriously fall started last week how are we in the winter season already), It legitimately took me a second to remember where we were in the schedule. (When even did the Korean play-in happened?)

With my bitching out of the way, pretty nice group, it should be a fun watch.


Korean play-ins happened a few days ago, but people were upset at the bad scheduling and publicity because it overlapped with Korean Thanksgiving (apologies for the cultural whitewash but apparently it's when they give thanks for a successful harvest); parting actually forfeited against maru because of that...

even though it wouldn't have mattered anyway :D


The "bad scheduling" to me seems like a pretty big deal. I'm surprised there isn't more discussion of this, and how to make sure it doesn't happen in the future. The Korea play-ins have produced some amazing matches, but more importantly it seems deeply unfair that Parting was forced to choose between taking a day off for a Korean national holiday and playing in an important qualifying match.
buzz_bender
Profile Joined August 2019
446 Posts
September 29 2021 15:59 GMT
#20
On September 29 2021 22:37 rwala wrote:
Show nested quote +
On September 28 2021 07:16 uselless wrote:
On September 28 2021 05:19 Nakajin wrote:
I know it's me who's stupid, but between the huge gap between ESL and GSL and the misleading title (seriously fall started last week how are we in the winter season already), It legitimately took me a second to remember where we were in the schedule. (When even did the Korean play-in happened?)

With my bitching out of the way, pretty nice group, it should be a fun watch.


Korean play-ins happened a few days ago, but people were upset at the bad scheduling and publicity because it overlapped with Korean Thanksgiving (apologies for the cultural whitewash but apparently it's when they give thanks for a successful harvest); parting actually forfeited against maru because of that...

even though it wouldn't have mattered anyway :D


The "bad scheduling" to me seems like a pretty big deal. I'm surprised there isn't more discussion of this, and how to make sure it doesn't happen in the future. The Korea play-ins have produced some amazing matches, but more importantly it seems deeply unfair that Parting was forced to choose between taking a day off for a Korean national holiday and playing in an important qualifying match.


Not sure where you've been, there were plenty of discussions regarding the scheduling for the Koreans over the past year. Nothing has changed...
rwala
Profile Joined December 2019
344 Posts
September 30 2021 13:54 GMT
#21
On September 30 2021 00:59 buzz_bender wrote:
Show nested quote +
On September 29 2021 22:37 rwala wrote:
On September 28 2021 07:16 uselless wrote:
On September 28 2021 05:19 Nakajin wrote:
I know it's me who's stupid, but between the huge gap between ESL and GSL and the misleading title (seriously fall started last week how are we in the winter season already), It legitimately took me a second to remember where we were in the schedule. (When even did the Korean play-in happened?)

With my bitching out of the way, pretty nice group, it should be a fun watch.


Korean play-ins happened a few days ago, but people were upset at the bad scheduling and publicity because it overlapped with Korean Thanksgiving (apologies for the cultural whitewash but apparently it's when they give thanks for a successful harvest); parting actually forfeited against maru because of that...

even though it wouldn't have mattered anyway :D


The "bad scheduling" to me seems like a pretty big deal. I'm surprised there isn't more discussion of this, and how to make sure it doesn't happen in the future. The Korea play-ins have produced some amazing matches, but more importantly it seems deeply unfair that Parting was forced to choose between taking a day off for a Korean national holiday and playing in an important qualifying match.


Not sure where you've been, there were plenty of discussions regarding the scheduling for the Koreans over the past year. Nothing has changed...


I'm aware of that. However, under the new system until now I'm unaware of any Koreans forfeiting an important qualifying matching the result of which confers entry into a premier tournament and a 1K+ payout. I'm not talking about the late night/early morning matches for Koreans, which is a separate issue more difficult to solve with online-only play across many time zones. When all the players are Korean, forcing them to play on their Thanksgiving just seems like bad planning. Perhaps I'm missing something, but this just stood out to me as a particularly egregious planning mistake.
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