KeSPA-OGN launches Starcraft 2 Tournament

Original Article : http://www.thisisgame.com/board/view.php?id=1177085&category=13438

Below is an abridged translated article that contains the key points



What would be the future of Starcraft 2 as an e-Sport? Leading e-sport Korean firms formed an alliance for the better future.

Blizzard, GomTV, OGN and KeSPA met on 2nd May at Coex Continental Hotel and announced 'Starcraft 2 alliance day for growth of e-sport'

COO of Blizzard, CEO of Blizzard Korea, CEO of Gretech (also known as Gom), CEO of OGN, the president of KeSPA, and managers of Starcraft 2 & BW teams gathered together today

KeSPA officially obtained a license to launch a team league for Starcraft 2 and OGN obtained a license to launch an individual league. Therefore Starcraft 2 became an official pro game of KeSPA.

As new leagues are about to start we expect to see total 4 Starcraft 2 leagues in Korea including GSL and GSTL which had started from 2010.

Also Blizzard, GomTV, OGN and KeSPA agreed to work together to bring a long term growth of e-sports in Korea as well as outside.

They have agreed to have connections between existing Starcraft 2 players and switching Starcraft 2 players from different tournaments. They all agreed that maintaining connection between all players is better for the future. How this will work will be announced in the near future.

[short interviews of each CEO - but not really anything important]

KeSPA soon will reveal the details of the upcoming individual league and team league such as schedule, qualification to enter, and prize pool.

Original Article : http://www.thisisgame.com/board/view.php?category=13438&id=1177147

OGN who gained a license to launch an individual league successfully will start their first league in July.

representative of OGN, Hyung-Jun HWANG, said that the schedules are not definite but it will begin sometime in July. He also commented about Starleague for BW.

"The new season of Starleague starts in two weeks if sponsors and circumstances work out well it may not be the last league. Starcraft 1 had the largest role in e-Sports in the last ten years and maybe it's time to say good bye however I can't say that this will be the last league for sure"

Also he commented about the eligibility of entering the tournament. "This is simply my wish but I want OGN Starcraft 2 league to have KeSPA players, players who are already in GSL and amateur players but we haven't agreed on details with Gretech yet and I can't say for sure"

Original Article : http://www.thisisgame.com/board/view.php?category=13438&id=1177120

The president of KeSPA answered some questions about the managing a league with both BW and Starcraft 2.

He commented that in Pro League season 2, which starts from the 3rd week of May to September, will have both BW and Starcraft 2. "We are having both BW and SC2 in the next Pro League - however we are not going to switch each series with two different games and we are still looking for a good tournament format for this"

"All our strategic managers are seeking out different options about running the next tournament and we hope to reveal the format around 2nd week of May"

He also commented Pro League Season 3 that will start in October will switch to Starcraft 2 fully. "It is true that we are talking about the full transition into SC2 tournament from season 3, and unless there are problems we expect this to happen"

He also commented about eligibility of becoming a 'pro'. "When we make a full transition to Starcraft 2 league all pre-existing BW players will be able to continue their career as a pro gamer playing Starcraft 2. We are still talking with Gretech about players who are participating in GSL and GSTL, we hope to reveal more details before the full transition into Starcraft 2"

Boxer asked KeSPA that there is a bigger market outside of Korea and whether they have intention of sending their players to overseas to compete. KeSPA answered that they will FULLY support players to compete in overseas tournaments.

OGN commented that they will also have English stream like GomTV has right now