Dude, I was in your position not more than a year ago. I would be all like huh??? What's ODT? What's OSL? Where do the players come from? Why aren't they the same players from the last OSL? If you ever catch yourself being afraid of asking questions for fear of being ridiculed, fear not, cause I have already endured the ridicule for you! I will do my best to make helpful threads for those who wish to learn more about Starleague! That is why I present to you:
The Making of the Shinhan 3 OSL
Before I talk to you about how ODT works, you must understand how OSL works. In a nutshell, we have to go BACKWARDS for you to understand everything.
How the OSL works
This is not an easy task but here goes. There are multiple stages of the OSL. The OSL starts off with 24 players and 6 seeds. Those 6 seeds are the 1st-6th place finishers from the last OSL.
These 6 seeds are important for the first stage of the OSL. Those 6 seeds each pick a respective player who picks in turn picks another respective player, and in turn picks another respective player. That gets us 6 groups of 4. Cool. This stage is called the Group of 24 Stage (24 강). These 6 groups play a round robin. (A round robin group means everybody plays everybody once.) After necessary tiebreakers, each group has a 1st place, 2nd place, 3rd place, and 4th place. The players who got 1st place and 2nd place in their group get to skip stage 2 which only involves the 3rd places from each group. The 4th place of each group ends his/her OSL run and gets sent to ODT.
The second stage involves all the 3rd places from each group. This stage is called the Wildcard Round. The third stage has 16 spots but only 12 advanced from the Group Stage. That means the 6 players in the Wildcard Round are fighting for the 4 remaining spots. The 6 players are split into two groups of three. These groups do another round robin. The top two of each group take their spots in Stage 3, the last place of each group is sent to ODT.
Now we have the third stage of 16 players. This is called the Tournament Stage. These 16 players play a tournament bracket until there is a winner. They each play best of threes until the semifinals and finals. The semifinals and finals are best of fives. The result is we get a top 4 and another 4 players who are ranked 5th-8th. But ONLY the top 6 from the OSL gets to stay. 5th-8th play a dual tournament style playoff and the top two get the 5th and 6th seeds.
The result: 6 players get to stay for the next OSL with seeds. 18 players get sent to ODT.
How the ODT works
ODT stands for Ongamenet Dual Tournament. Koreans always have either really cute or really stupid English. The Dual stands for either a DUO that advances or a DOUBLE elimination tournament. If you want to see more cute English, look for some of africanboy's older posts though oddly his English has improved a lot. Unfortunately he's slowed down his posting rate, anyhooooo... moving on.
So, the next OSL, in this case, Shinhan 3 OSL, has 18 vacant spots. Those 18 spots can ONLY be taken by those who qualify through ODT. Since we know that two people advance from each group in a Dual Tournament. There must be at least 9 groups. In this case it's 9 groups of 4. 36 players shooting for 18 spots.
Where do these players come from?
18 failures from OSL automatically get a seat in ODT. In each of the 9 groups there are 2 players who were in Shinhan 2 OSL that DIDN'T get in the top 6. The other two spots in each group is taken by those who TOUGHED it out in the ODT preliminaries (aka offline qualifiers). HUNDREDS of player go to those preliminaries and that's where slumping pros can get stuck in for ETERNITY. (Nal_rA endured offline qualifiers for over a year.)
How do we determine who advances?
Simple. Well, maybe. The top two from each group advance. Dual tournaments are played like the MSLs (Game 1, Game 2, Winner's, Loser's, Tiebreak). It's double elimination for only four players. So two wins = advancing to Shinhan 3. Two losses = offline qualifers.
What maps do they play on?
They play on only 3 maps. The first two games are played on Tau Cross. The Winner's and Loser's game is played on Arcadia 2. The Tiebreaker game is played on Shin Peaks of Paekdu. Though these maps are used for ODT, they may or may not be used in Shinhan 3.
The result: 18 players advance from ODT into OSL. 6 Seeded players + 18 qualified players = 24 players. Shinhan 1 they had a cute English phrase called 23 vs 1. Shinhan 2 they had StarCraft My Way.
Do you understand now?
Hopefully? If you have questions feel free to post in this thread without fear of ridicule. I'm always happy to help a fellow fan understand the ways of the Koreans. I would prefer if you didn't PM me though, some people may have the same questions so feel free to ask them in the thread. But now, let's move on to the ODT!
ODT Results and Schedule
Remember there are 9 groups of 4. Dual tournament style play results in two winners. Everyone say thank you to SayGG who graciously provided us with a complete schedule for ODT! Don't worry, he's only been temp banned by request. He'll be back soon enough to say y'all welcome. ;D
Group A
A Game 1: Aqua > IriS @ Tau Cross
A Game 2: Child > Jjando @ Tau Cross
A Winner's: Child > Aqua @ Arcadia 2
A Loser's: IriS > Jjando @ Arcadia 2
A Tiebreak: IriS > Aqua @ Shin Peaks of Baekdu
SouL Z Child 2-0 -> advances to Shinhan 3 OSL
CJ T IriS 2-1 -> advances to Shinhan 3 OSL
KTF Z Aqua 1-2 -> OGN preliminaries
MBC T Jjando 0-2 -> OGN preliminaries
김남기: "숙소로 가자~"
Child: Let's go back to the house.
변형태: "힘든데 빨리 찍어주세요~"
IriS: It was tiring, so hurry up and take the picture!
Group B
B Game 1: ShinHwA[Name] > Rock @ Tau Cross
B Game 2: Light > YellOw[ArnC] @ Tau Cross
B Winner's: Light > ShinHwA[Name] @ Arcadia 2
B Loser's: YellOw[ArnC] > Rock @ Arcadia 2
B Tiebreak: YellOw[ArnC] > ShinHwA[Name] @ Shin Peaks of Baekdu
MBC T Light 2-0 -> advances to Shinhan 3 OSL
OGN Z YellOw[ArnC] 2-1 -> advances to Shinhan 3 OSL
Lecaf Z ShinHwA[Name] 1-2 -> OGN preliminaries
Pantech P Rock 0-2 -> OGN preliminaries
이재호: "쉿!"
Light: Shhh!
박명수: "스타리그 복귀"
YellOw[ArnC]: I've come back to Starleague!
Group C
C Game 1: Jaedong > Sea @ Tau Cross
C Game 2: sAviOr > CaSy @ Tau Cross
C Winner's: sAviOr > Jaedong @ Arcadia 2
C Loser's: CaSy > Sea @ Arcadia 2
C Tiebreak: CaSy > Jaedong @ Shin Peaks of Baekdu
CJ Z sAviOr 2-0 -> advances to Shinhan 3 OSL FINALLY!!!!
OGN T CaSy 2-1 -> advances to Shinhan 3 OSL
Lecaf Z Jaedong 1-2 -> OGN preliminaries
MBC T Sea -> OGN preliminaries
마재윤: "스타리그 정복하갰다!"
sAviOr: I'm going to conquer Starleague (OSL)!
infinity21 Translation
한동욱: "힘들었다... 초심으로 돌아갑니다."
CaSy: It was difficult... I will move on again from the beginning.
SJM Translation
Group D (Wed 11/29)
D Game 1: Bisu > DArKeLf @ Tau Cross
D Game 2: ChOJJa > fOrGG @ Tau Cross
D Winner's: ChOJJa > Bisu @ Arcadia 2
D Loser's: fOrGG > DArKeLf @ Arcadia 2
D Tiebreak: fOrGG > Bisu @ Shin Peaks of Paekdu
KTF Z ChOJJa 2-0 -> advances to Shinhan 3 OSL
Lecaf T fOrGG 2-1 -> advances to Shinhan 3 OSL
MBC P Bisu 1-2 -> OGN preliminaries
CJ T DArKeLf 0-2 -> OGN preliminaries
조용호: "10번째 진출!"
ChOJJa: This is my 10th OSL!
박지수: "일단은 16강이 목표"
fOrGG: My goal is to continue onto the Round of 16!
infinity21 Translation
Group E (Thu 11/30)
E Game 1: free > July @ Tau Cross
E Game 2: dOnGraE > Cloud @ Tau Cross
E Winner's: dOnGraE > free @ Arcadia 2
E Loser's: July > Cloud @ Arcadia 2
E Tiebreak: July > free @ Shin Peaks of Paekdu
Lecaf T dOnGraE 2-0
MBC Z July 2-1
Hanbit P free 1-2
OGN T ClouD 0-2
이학주: "갑니다. 스타리그!"
dOnGraE: I'm going. Starleague!
"저도 갑니다!"
I'm going too!
Group F (Fri 12/1)
F Game 1: GGPlay > StOrk @ Tau Cross
F Game 2: Yooi > YellOw @ Tau Cross
F Winner's: Yooi > GGPlay @ Arcadia 2
F Loser's: StOrk > YellOw @ Arcadia 2
F Tiebreak: GGPlay > StOrk @ Shin Peaks of Baekdu
SouL T Yooi 2-0 -> advances to Shinhan 3 OSL
Hanbit Z GGPlay 2-1 -> advances to Shinhan 3 OSL
Samsung P StOrk 1-2 -> OGN Preliminaries
KTF Z YellOw 0-2 -> OGN Preliminaries
한승엽: "소원성취했어요."
Yooi: I have achieved my goal by myself.
infinity21 Translation
김준영: "피곤해요."
GGPlay: I'm tired.
infinity21 Translation
Group G (Wed 12/6)
G Game 1: CLon > Shine @ Tau Cross
G Game 2: Hwasin > Jy @ Tau Cross
G Winner's: Hwasin > CLon @ Arcadia 2
G Loser's: Jy > Shine @ Arcadia 2
G Tiebreak: Jy > CLon @ Shin Peaks of Baekdu
SouL T Hwasin 2-0 -> advances to Shinhan 3 OSL
CJ Z Jy 2-1 -> advances to Shinhan 3 OSL
Hanbit Z CLon 1-2 -> OGN Preliminaries
OGN T Shine 0-2 -> OGN Preliminaries
진영수: "실감이 잘 안 나요"
Hwasin: I still can't believe it.
장육: "다음엔 정말 잘 할게요"
Jy: This time, I'm really going to do well.
Group H (Thu 12/7)
H Game 1: UpMagic > TT @ Tau Cross
H Game 2: iloveoov > JiHyun @ Tau Cross
H Winner's: UpMagic > iloveoov @ Arcadia 2
H Loser's: JiHyun > TT @ Arcadia 2
H Tiebreak: iloveoov > JiHyun @ Shin Peaks of Baekdu
eSTRO T UpMagic 2-0 -> advances to Shinhan 3 OSL
SKT T iloveoov 2-1 -> advances to Shinhan 3 OSL
Samsung Z JiHyun 1-2 -> OGN Preliminaries
Samsung P TT 0-2 -> OGN Preliminaries
신희승: "이스트로 경사났다"
Good things have happened to eSTRO!
rinizim Translation
괴물테란: "윤열아 고맙다"
iloveoov: Hey NaDa, thanks. (in a close friend tone)
rinizim Translation
Group I (Fri 12/8)
I Game 1: Much > FireBatHero @ Tau Cross
I Game 2: JJu > keke @ Tau Cross
I Winner's: Much > JJu @ Arcadia 2
I Loser's: FireBatHero > keke @ Arcadia 2
I Tiebreak: FireBatHero > JJu @ Shin Peaks of Baekdu
CJ P Much 2-0 -> advances to Shinhan 3 OSL
Samsung T FireBatHero 2-1 -> advances to Shinhan 3 OSL
Samsung Z JJu 1-2 -> OGN Preliminaries
Pantech Z keke 0-2 -> OGN Preliminaries
박영민: "지나다가..."
Much: While passing by... (by one of the OGN commentators, in UGH plaid pants)
infinity21 Translation
이성은: "파이어뱃 히어로"
FireBatHero: Firebat Hero
infinity21 Translation
The players in the Shinhan 3 OSL (so far)
The Triumph of War: Terran (13)
#1 Seed NaDa
#3 Seed Midas
#4 Seed GoodFrienD
IriS
Light
Casy
fOrGG
dOnGraE
Yooi
Hwasin
UpMagic
iloveoov
FireBatHero
Overcome All: Zerg (9)
#5 Seed GoRush
#6 Seed ZergMaN
Child
YellOw[ArnC]
sAviOr
ChOJJa
July
GGPlay
Jy
Victory After Victory: Protoss (2)
#2 Seed Anytime
Much
Team Distributions
CJ Entus: 4 (IriS, sAviOr, Jy, Much)
eSTRO: 1 (UpMagic)
Hanbit Stars: 1 (GGPlay)
KTF MagicNs: 2 (GoodFrienD, ChOJJa)
Lecaf OZ: 3 (Anytime, fOrGG, dOnGraE)
MBC Hero: 2 (Light, July)
OGN Sparkyz: 2 (YellOw[ArnC], Casy)
Pantech EX: 1 (NaDa)
Samsung Khan: 2 (ZergMaN, FireBatHero)
SKTelecom T1: 3 (Midas, GoRush, iloveoov)
STX SouL: 3 (Child, Yooi, Hwasin)
Shinhan 3 OSL Group Selections
Group A: NaDa -> iloveoov -> Much -> dOnGraE
Pantech T NaDa
SKT T iloveoov
CJ P Much
Lecaf T dOnGraE
Group B: Anytime -> FireBatHero -> YellOw[ArnC] -> UpMagic
Lecaf P Anytime
Samsung T FireBatHero
OGN Z YellOw[ArnC]
eSTRO T UpMagic
Group C: Midas -> sAviOr -> Light -> ChOJJa
SKT T Midas
CJ Z sAviOr
MBC T Light
KTF Z ChOJJa
Group D: GoodFrienD -> CaSy -> July -> Child
KTF T GoodFrienD
OGN T CaSy
MBC Z July
STX Z Child
Group E: GoRush -> GGPlay -> IriS -> fOrGG
SKT Z GoRush
Hanbit Z GGPlay
CJ T IriS
Lecaf T fOrGG
Group F: ZergMaN -> Hwasin -> Jy -> Yooi
Samsung Z ZergMaN
STX T Hwasin
CJ Z Jy
STX T Yooi
Final Thoughts
Yes, as you can see the race distribution is not that equal. Protoss fans will have to cheer for only Anytime and Much. It would be SO cruel of someone if Much ends up in Anytime's group. Oh dear that would suck a lot. Terrans come into this group with a whopping count of 13 players. Zerg is a little more average with 9 (average would be 8 per race). I think this is OSL that will help me improve my abysmal TvT and improve my TvZ as well. Actually all my matchups suck. D=. Somebody told me I was good at PvP and I don't even play P.
Note that this maybe one of the very few OSLs or Starleagues that have representatives from all 11 progaming teams. eSTRO finally has gotten a player into an individual league. UpMagic has been the long awaited progamer from that team. I hear he has a good TvT so he may actually do well in this OSL. Zergs unfortunately will have compete each other and have to work on their ZvTs.
If you see the above group selections (many thanks to yubee and HonestTea), you can see that only Group F is the only group that has teammates on it. There are a lot of new up and coming players who have long awaited for their shot. Don't be TOO surprised if some of they take the OSL by storm.
I think this is gonna turn out to be a TvT final. You saw it here first.
Many thanks to those who found this informative and thanked me,
jkillashark 님