Scource: ESL News
ESL Major Series kicking off on Monday
Four qualifier cups have passed, 16 players have qualified - today we present you the groups and schedule for the upcoming ESL Major Series. The matches will start on Monday 21 CET and will be broadcast by ESL TV.
Playoffs
Grid: (http://www.esl.eu/eu/scbw/ems/season3/playoffs/rankings)
[center]
![[image loading]](http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/2261/emsplayoffsrankingscv1.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/emsplayoffsrankingscv1.jpg/1/w558.png)
[b]Groupstage[b][spoiler]
[center][RED][B][U]First playday September 15th 9PM CEST / 12AM EST / 9AM PST[/B][/U][/RED][/center][spoiler]
Format: Best of 3
Map Pool: Blue Storm, Othello, Colosseum, Python, Athena, Return of the King
Group A




[img]http://www.teamliquid.net/tlpd/images/Ticon_small.gif
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tsld/images/flags/us.png)
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.gif)
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tsld/images/flags/hy.png)
Group B




![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.gif)
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tsld/images/flags/us.png)


ESL programm info
Results & Replays
+ Show Spoiler +
Group A:
Mondragon 2:1 White-Ra [Matchlink&Replays]
Yosh 2:0 Sziky [Matchlink&Replays]
Group B:
Haypro 2:1 Chosen [Matchlink&Replays]
Cloud 2:0 Strelok [Matchlink&Replays]
For information how to watch read the end of this post
Second playday September 22th 9PM CEST / 12AM EST / 9AM PST
+ Show Spoiler +
Format: Best of 3
Map Pool: Blue Storm, Othello, Colosseum, Python, Athena, Return of the King
Group C


![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tlpd/images/Ticon_small.gif)
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tsld/images/flags/sw.png)
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tlpd/images/Picon_small.gif)
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tsld/images/flags/pl.png)
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tlpd/images/Picon_small.gif)
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tsld/images/flags/pl.png)
Group D




![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.gif)
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tsld/images/flags/hn.png)


Results & Replays
+ Show Spoiler +
Group C:
iNcontroL 2:0 Merz [Matchlink&Replays]
Yayba 1:2 MistrZZZ [Matchlink&Replays]
Group D:
Squall 2:0 Ace [Matchlink&Replays]
IefNaiJ 1:2 Dreiven [Matchlink&Replays]
ESL programm info
For information how to watch read the end of this post
Third playday / Broadcast September 29th 9PM CEST / 12AM EST / 9AM PST
+ Show Spoiler +
Format: Best of 3
Map Pool: Blue Storm, Othello, Colosseum, Python, Athena, Return of the King
Group A


![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.gif)
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tsld/images/flags/hy.png)
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tlpd/images/Ticon_small.gif)
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tsld/images/flags/us.png)


Group B




![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.gif)
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tsld/images/flags/us.png)


ESL programm info
Results & Replays
+ Show Spoiler +
Group A:
Mondragon 1:2 Sziky [Matchlink&Replays]
Yosh 0:2 White-Ra [Matchlink&Replays]
Cloud W:O Chosen [Matchlink&Replays]
Haypro 0:2 Strelok [Matchlink&Replays]
For information how to watch read the end of this post
Fourth playday / Broadcast October 06th 9PM CEST / 12AM EST / 9AM PST
+ Show Spoiler +
Format: Best of 3
Map Pool: Blue Storm, Othello, Colosseum, Python, Athena, Return of the King
Group C


![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tlpd/images/Picon_small.gif)
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tsld/images/flags/pl.png)
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tlpd/images/Picon_small.gif)
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tsld/images/flags/pl.png)
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tlpd/images/Ticon_small.gif)
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tsld/images/flags/sw.png)
Group D


![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.gif)
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tsld/images/flags/hn.png)




Results & Replays
+ Show Spoiler +
Group C:
iNcontroL 2:1 Yayba [Matchlink&Replays]
MerZ 0:2 MistrZZZ [Matchlink&Replays]
Group D:
IefNaiJ 0:2 Ace [Matchlink&Replays]
Squall 0:2 Dreiven [Matchlink&Replays]
ESL programm info
For information how to watch read the end of this post
Fifth playday / Broadcast October 13th 9PM CEST / 12AM EST / 9AM PST
+ Show Spoiler +
Format: Best of 3
Map Pool: Blue Storm, Othello, Colosseum, Python, Athena, Return of the King
Group A


![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tlpd/images/Ticon_small.gif)
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tsld/images/flags/us.png)
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.gif)
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tsld/images/flags/hu.png)


Group B




ESL programm info
Results & Replays
+ Show Spoiler +
Group A:
Mondragon 1:2 Yosh [Matchlink&Replays]
Sziky 0:2 White-Ra [Matchlink&Replays]
Haypro 0:0 Strelok [Matchlink]
For information how to watch read the end of this post
Sixth playday / Broadcast October 27th 8PM CET / 12AM EST / 9AM PST
+ Show Spoiler +
Format: Best of 3
Map Pool: Blue Storm, Othello, Colosseum, Python, Athena, Return of the King
Group C
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tlpd/images/Ticon_small.gif)
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tsld/images/flags/sw.png)
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tlpd/images/Picon_small.gif)
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tsld/images/flags/pl.png)
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tlpd/images/Picon_small.gif)
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tsld/images/flags/pl.png)


Group D




![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.gif)
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tsld/images/flags/hn.png)


Results & Replays
+ Show Spoiler +
ESL programm info
For information how to watch read the end of this post
Final Standings Groupstage
+ Show Spoiler +(each first two players advance)
Group A:
# // Name // Points // Score Diff.
1.


2.
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tlpd/images/Ticon_small.gif)
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tsld/images/flags/us.png)
3.


4.
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.gif)
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tsld/images/flags/hu.png)
Group B (with Tiebreaker):
# // Name // Points // Score Diff.
1.


2.


3.


4.
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.gif)
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tsld/images/flags/us.png)
Group C:
# // Name // Points // Score Diff.
1.
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tlpd/images/Picon_small.gif)
2.


![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tsld/images/flags/pl.png)
3.
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tlpd/images/Picon_small.gif)
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tsld/images/flags/pl.png)
4.
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tlpd/images/Ticon_small.gif)
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tsld/images/flags/sw.png)
Group D:
# // Name // Points // Score Diff.
1.


2.


3.
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.gif)
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tsld/images/flags/hn.png)
4.


[red]Schedule
Monday, September 15th - 21:00 CET - Playday 1 Groups A&B
Monday, September 22nd - 21:00 CET - Playday 1 Groups C&D
Monday, September 29th - 21:00 CET - Playday 2 Groups A&B
Monday, October 6th - 21:00 CET - Playday 2 Groups C&D
Monday, October 13th - 21:00 CET - Playday 3 Groups A&B
Monday, October 27th - 21:00 CET - Playday 3 Groups C&D
The playoffs in Double Elimination and Best Of Five Mode will then commence on November 2nd.
Playoffs
Round 1. Monday 10th November – Sunday 16th November
Round 2 Winner-Bracket. Monday 17th November – Sunday 23th November
Round 1 Loser-Bracket. Monday 17th November – Sunday 23th November
Round 2 Loser-Bracket. Monday 24th November – Sunday 30th November
Round 3 Winner-Bracket. Monday 1th December – Sunday 6th December
Round 3 Loser-Bracket. Monday 1th December – Sunday 6th December
Round 4 Loser-Bracket. Monday 7th December – Sunday 13th December
Round 4 Winner-Bracket. Monday 14th December – Sunday 20th December
Map pool
* Blue Storm
* Othello
* Colosseum
* Python
* Athena
* Return of the Kings
Detailed Rules
+ Show Spoiler +
Be sure to read the rules so you know what to do an when to do. Please note that Blue Storm is now in the map pool, replacing Peaks of Baekdu.
One very important thing - it is only possible to reschedule matches by using a wildcard, of which you have only one in the group stage. To reschedule, open a protest ticket in your match link. Since the matches are supposed to be on ESL TV, we ask you not to reschedule your matches.
General
Definitions
Participant - A participant is any team, player or player that is on ESL Major Series team account that is taking part in the ESL Major Series.
Time - All times are given in Central European Time (CET).
Season - The season lasts from the beginning of the first playweek of the Main Round until the end of the playoffs.
Playweek - A playweek is from 00:00 Monday CET to Midnight CET Sunday.
Tournament Administration
Tournament Directors
* Antony 'TheRogue' Seedhouse
For the head admins of this ESL Major Series see #Head_Admins
Protest
A protest can only be made using the protest form on the ESL page. Protests filed by email or IRC are not valid. At most, they can help explain the circumstances. Please see the protest procedure: http://www.esl.eu/eu/ems/faq/protest_rules/
If a participant wants to submit a protest concerning a specific match, the protest needs to be filed within 72 hours after the starting time of the match. Any protest filed after the deadline will be discarded.
Continuously filing protests for the sole purpose of getting an advantage out of filing protests will be treated as violation of fair play.
Penalties
Penalties are given for violations of the rules and fair play.
Any rule violation that does not directly interfere with the competition of the ESL Major Series and does not violate fair play will be punished with a minor penalty.
Any rule violation that directly affects the competition of the ESL Major Series or which is not in line with fair play will be punished with a major penalty, and a forfeit loss in relegation and playoffs.
Participants that accumulate any of the following combinations of penalties will be removed from the ESL Major Series.
* two major penalties
* one major penalty and five minor penalties
* ten minor penalties
Penalties given within the ESL Major Series only apply for the ESL Major Series and not for the normal ESL leagues and ladders. The only exception to this are penalties given for cheating and severe violations of the code of conduct or fraud which will also be penalised in accordance with the normal ESL system.
Penalty points and barrages of the ESL do not apply to the ESL Major Series, except barrages for cheating.
Rule modifications
The ESL Major Series administration reserves the right to change or modify these rules, and in special cases make decisions not covered by these rules to preserve the spirit of fair competition and sportsmanship.
Internal texts
All texts written in either protest or support tickets or written by the ESL Major Series administration to members of the ESL Major Series cannot be published without the written permission of the ESL Major Series administration.
Tournament direction
The ESL Major Series is organised by the Electronic Sports League (ESL). The Electronic Sports League is part of Turtle Entertainment GmbH.
Turtle Entertainment GmbH
Siegburger Str. 189
50679 Köln
Germany
http://www.turtle-entertainment.de
Requirements
Player and team accounts
All ESL Major Series players must comply to the following:
* Have their full name entered and made public
* Have a suitable photo uploaded
* Have their necessary gameaccounts entered (see #Gameaccounts)
Pre-match statements and line-ups
Between 7 days and 24 hours before a match is scheduled it is compulsory for both players or teams to post a pre-match statement and announce their line-up for the match (for team games). This should be done using the 'add report' link on the match page.
Players or teams that do not comply to the above will be punished with 1 minor penalty per match.
Tournament Structure
Qualification
Qualification will consist of four qualification cups where by the top four players of each cup qualify for the ESL Major Series.
Groupstage
The groupstage will consist of four groups of four players.
Playoffs
The playoffs will be a double elimination tournament with the top two players from each group.
Schedule
Qualification Cups
EMS Quali Cup #1 Sunday 31th August – Monday 1th September
EMS Quali Cup #2 Wednesday 3th September – Thursday 4th September
EMS Quali Cup #3 Sunday 7th September – Monday 8th September
EMS Quali Cup #4 Wednesday10th September – Thursday 11th September
Groupstage
Playweek 1 Groups 1/2. Monday 15th September – Sunday 21th September
Playweek 2 Groups 1/2. Monday 22th September – Sunday 28th September
Playweek 3 Groups 1/2. Monday 29th September – Sunday 5th October
Playweek 1 Groups 3/4. Monday 6th October – Sunday 12th October
Playweek 2 Groups 3/4. Monday 13th October – Sunday 19th October
Playweek 3 Groups 3/4. Monday 27th October – Sunday 2th November
Playoffs
Round 1. Monday 10th November – Sunday 16th November
Round 2 Winner-Bracket. Monday 17th November – Sunday 23th November
Round 1 Loser-Bracket. Monday 17th November – Sunday 23th November
Round 2 Loser-Bracket. Monday 24th November – Sunday 30th November
Round 3 Winner-Bracket. Monday 1th December – Sunday 6th December
Round 3 Loser-Bracket. Monday 1th December – Sunday 6th December
Round 4 Loser-Bracket. Monday 7th December – Sunday 13th December
Round 4 Winner-Bracket. Monday 14th December – Sunday 20th December
Scheduling
Any agreement to reschedule a match must be made by both participants on the ESL website, either in a protest ticket or match comments, otherwise the official match time is that stated on the match page.
The deadline for rescheduling a match is midnight Sunday of the preceding play week. Rescheduling after this deadline will result in penalties
It's only allowed to reshedule by usage of the wildcard!
Wildcard
Participants have 1 wildcard to use in the groupstage.
A wildcard is used when within 48 hours of the scheduled match time a participant reports they cannot play. Usage of the wildcard will automatically lead to 1 minor penalty.
No show
If a participant is not ready, in full, for the match 30 minutes after the scheduled start time they are a no show.
If the participant still has a wildcard, one major penalty will be given and a wildcard will be removed. If they do not have any wildcards remaining they will receive 1 major penalty and 1 minor penalty.
During the groupstage a no show does not result in a forfeit loss, all matches must be played.
Starcraft Broodwar Specific Rules
Head Admins
* Santo - santo@staff.esl.eu
Default match time
By default all matches are scheduled for Monday 21 CET of the playweek. Matches may be rescheduled, see #Scheduling for details.
Gameaccounts
Players must enter their SCBW ICCup on their ESL profile before taking part in ESL Major Series matches. Playing with a wrong or missing gameaccount will be punished with 1 minor penalty point.
Match Media
Replays
It's mandatory to save a replay of every match. In addition, one of both players have to upload it on the EMS page. The duty for upload the replays lies by the matchwinner. You have to store the replays 14 days.
Client Settings / External Tools
ICCup Launcher
It's mandatory to start the game over the ICCup Launcher!
Illegal Scripts/Binds/External Tools
All other Scripts/Binds/Tools which aren't listed in 4.4.1 are strictly forbidden!
Server Settings
Hosted Game Settings
It's mandatory to set the ingame Speed to 7 (fastest). Observers have to be allowed.
Observing
It's not allowed to observe the other EMS Matches. Admins and/or ESL-TV Broadcaster are excepted from this rule
Maps
Map pool
* Bluestorm
* Othello
* Colloseum
* Phyton
* Athena
* Return of the Kings
The Mappack can be downloaded at [1]
Mapchoice Qualification
In the qualification Cups, the fixed map in the match is the first map. The next maps wil be decided through „looser's choice“. It is not allowed to play a map twice!
Mapchoice Groupstage / Playoffs
To decide which map is played in a groupstage or playoff match a veto system is used. A coin flip is done by an admin, the loser eliminates the first map. Players take it in turns removing maps until three remains (five in playoffs). The winner of the coinflip decids then the firstmap from the pool of the remaining three. The next maps will be decided by „looser's choice“
Matchformat
Matchformat Qualification Cups
A match in the qualification cups is a best of three.
Matchformat Groupstage / Playoffs
A match in the groupstage is a best of three (best of five in playoffs).
Neutral Host
In the Starcraft Broodwar EMS it's mandatory to play on a neutral host. If both players agree, it's possible to play on a host from one of the players.
In-Game Rules
Before the Match
It is each players own responsibility to check if the correct version of the map is loaded. In addition you have to be available at the Channel ESL Major Series on the Server The Absyss.
Bug Using
Using bugs which arent listed below is strictly forbidden:
* Observer over turret
* Units pressed through minerals
* Drops to defuse mines
* Mineral walk
* Hold lurker
* Larvae Move
Leaving the Game
Leaving the game is allowed, but this round will be rated for the other player as a win!
Crash Procedures
If the game crashes within the first two minutes, the game will be restarted. If the game crashes after this 2 minutes, an admin will decide if the game will be restarted or not.
Prize Money
1st Place - 450 Euro
2nd Place - 200 Euro
3rd Place - 100 Euro
The Qualification
Qualifier 1
Qualifier 2
Qualifier 3
Qualifier 4
The Groups
Group A


![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tlpd/images/Ticon_small.gif)
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tsld/images/flags/us.png)


![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.gif)
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tsld/images/flags/hn.png)
Group B




![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.gif)
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tsld/images/flags/us.png)


Group C
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tlpd/images/Ticon_small.gif)
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tsld/images/flags/sw.png)






Group D
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.gif)
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tsld/images/flags/hn.png)






Race, team and nation distribution:
6 ToT
6 MYM.
1 NaW
1 [VT]
1 88)
1 Clanless (?)
7
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.gif)
6
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tlpd/images/Picon_small.gif)
3
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tlpd/images/Ticon_small.gif)
3 USA
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tsld/images/flags/us.png)
3 Poland
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tsld/images/flags/pl.png)
2 Ukraine
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tsld/images/flags/ua.png)
2 Hungary
1 Canada
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tsld/images/flags/ca.png)
1 Germany
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tsld/images/flags/de.png)
1 Sweden
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tsld/images/flags/sw.png)
1 Spain
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tsld/images/flags/es.png)
1 Italy
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tsld/images/flags/it.png)
How to watch:
(Vods are also available later as far as I know)1) Create a free ESL account (Link)
2) Download and install the Octoshape plugin
3) Visit the ESL TV page
4) Click on FreeStream (either Flash or WMP version)
5) Have fun watching
