MLG has their WCS page up.
http://www.majorleaguegaming.com/news/wcs-america-season-1/#qualify
http://wiki.teamliquid.net/starcraft2/2013_WCS_Season_1_America
Premier and Challenger leagues mimick that of the GSL, as we know.
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WCS America Premier League:
The format of the WCS America Premier League is very similar to the Code S format popularized by GSL, with two Group Stages followed by an Eight-Player, Single Elimination Bracket called the Regional Finals.
The Premier league will include 32 players – 24 invited players and eight players advancing from the WCS America Qualifying Tournament. Players will be divided amongst eight groups with four players in each group.
Group Stage 1: Players will compete online.
Group Stage 2: Players will compete LIVE, in-person from the MLG Studio in New York City. See schedule below.
WCS America Premier League Regional Finals:
Players will compete LIVE, in-person the weekend of June 1. The top five finishers will advance to the WCS Season 1 Finals. Additional details will be provided soon.
WCS America Challenger League:
The format of the WCS America Challenger League is very similar to the Code A format popularized by GSL, with a Single Elimination Bracket followed by a Group Stage. The Challenger League provides Players with the opportunity to qualify for the WCS Season 2 Premier League.
The Challenger League will include 40 players – 16 from the Qualifying Tournament and 24 Players who drop out of the Premier League. All Matches will take place online and be best of 3 games.
The format of the WCS America Premier League is very similar to the Code S format popularized by GSL, with two Group Stages followed by an Eight-Player, Single Elimination Bracket called the Regional Finals.
The Premier league will include 32 players – 24 invited players and eight players advancing from the WCS America Qualifying Tournament. Players will be divided amongst eight groups with four players in each group.
Group Stage 1: Players will compete online.
Group Stage 2: Players will compete LIVE, in-person from the MLG Studio in New York City. See schedule below.
WCS America Premier League Regional Finals:
Players will compete LIVE, in-person the weekend of June 1. The top five finishers will advance to the WCS Season 1 Finals. Additional details will be provided soon.
WCS America Challenger League:
The format of the WCS America Challenger League is very similar to the Code A format popularized by GSL, with a Single Elimination Bracket followed by a Group Stage. The Challenger League provides Players with the opportunity to qualify for the WCS Season 2 Premier League.
The Challenger League will include 40 players – 16 from the Qualifying Tournament and 24 Players who drop out of the Premier League. All Matches will take place online and be best of 3 games.
Infographic posted by juicyjames, from reddit: (# of players in 2nd qualifier unconfirmed and 512 players in first qualifier)
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Qualifier league info:
The WCS America Qualifying tournament on April 20 and 21 will feature 512 players competing online in a, BO3, double elimination bracket.
Registration:
Players worldwide can register beginning Friday, April 12 at 5pm ET online. - SIGN UP NOW!
http://gamebattles.majorleaguegaming.com/pc/starcraft-ii-wings-of-liberty/tournament/wcs-america-season-1-qualifyin/info?mlg_source=wcsqual1info
Registration will close on Friday, April 19 at 5pm ET.
Registration is FREE and 512 players can sign up!
Check the rules page if you are having trouble signing up!
Over 1.1k people have entered! but keep signing up as many will likely not show
(remember the tournament starts Saturday, Apr 20 5:00pm GMT (GMT+00:00))
http://gamebattles.majorleaguegaming.com/pc/starcraft-ii-wings-of-liberty/tournament/wcs-america-season-1-qualifyin/info?mlg_source=wcsqual1info
Registration will close on Friday, April 19 at 5pm ET.
Registration is FREE and 512 players can sign up!
Check the rules page if you are having trouble signing up!
Over 1.1k people have entered! but keep signing up as many will likely not show
(remember the tournament starts Saturday, Apr 20 5:00pm GMT (GMT+00:00))
Notable Participants: (ones i can readily identify and recognize by 'team' name)
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Demuslim
Lzgamer
Succeed
Incontrol
Qxc
Kif1re
Masa
KawaiiRice
Kyo
Caliber
Massan
Trimaster
Ryze
Gretorp
SeoHyeon
Hyun
Glon
Macsed
Fitzy
Center
Hwangsin
Xenocider
Crank
Blade
Koma
Desrow
Jimrising
Rotterdam
JYP
Rossi
STC
Catz
Sarovati
Zenio
Prplppleatr
Lzgamer
Succeed
Incontrol
Qxc
Kif1re
Masa
KawaiiRice
Kyo
Caliber
Massan
Trimaster
Ryze
Gretorp
SeoHyeon
Hyun
Glon
Macsed
Fitzy
Center
Hwangsin
Xenocider
Crank
Blade
Koma
Desrow
Jimrising
Rotterdam
JYP
Rossi
STC
Catz
Sarovati
Zenio
Prplppleatr
Prizing:
Top eight players earn a spot in the WCS America Season 1 Premier League.
A second qualifying tournament will be held to determine the 16 spots in WCS America Season 1 Challenger League. Details will be released soon.
Broadcast Schedule: (All broadcasts begin at 8pm ET)
Monday, April 22 – Thursday, April 25: Qualifying Tournament (four matches each night)
Monday, April 29 – Thursday, May 2: Premier League, Group Stage 1 (one group each night)
Monday, May 6 – Thursday, May 9: Premier League, Group Stage 1 (one group each night)
Monday, May 13 – Thursday, May 16: Challenger League Bracket
Monday, May 20 – Thursday, May 23: Premier League, Group Stage 2 (Four Players LIVE in the MLG Studio each night)
Monday, May 27 – Thursday, May 30: Challenger League Bracket
Weekend of June 1 – Premier League Regional Finals (details TBD)
Monday, June 10 – Thursday, June 13: Challenger League Group Stage
Monday, June 17 – Thursday, June 20: Challenger League Group Stage
My thoughts:
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Good luck to those who are signing up. While I am happy that there is 'open' qualification, and not pure invites, the korean player list is quite intimidating. Hopefully we see at least a few foreigners get through the qualifier (though you may get to be beat by your favorite korean, consolation! ).
POLL: Given the three qualifier formats which MLG, ESL, and GSL have used. Which of the three would you want to be used for Code A qualifiers in EU/NA? (They have not released how the challenger (code A) qualifiers will be done, so just assume that it could be one of the 3 formats we have seen used!)
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MLG format - One qualifier, (Bo3) double elim, top 8 advancing.
ESL format - Four qualifiers, (Bo1 to ro128 then Bo3) single elim, top 2 advancing from each qualifier.
GSL format - One qualifier, (Bo3) multiple single elim group brackets with 16 players each group, top player in each group advances.
ESL format - Four qualifiers, (Bo1 to ro128 then Bo3) single elim, top 2 advancing from each qualifier.
GSL format - One qualifier, (Bo3) multiple single elim group brackets with 16 players each group, top player in each group advances.
PS. haven't seen a topic on this, go ahead and delete if MLG posts one. (and sorry to haverstall who may have had an earlier post that I didn't notice, added the broadcast schedule, which he had)