This is interesting: Blizzard will help by promoting SSL9 through their official homepage and SNS.
"~SSL9 afreeca broadcasts will reach the entire world and are also a hot issue in the world's most famous foreign community TeamLiquid.^^"
Commentary for SSL9: Kim Carry + Lee Seung Won (doesn't actually state Sonic as a commentator, but I doubt he wouldn't)
SSL8 Finals - Kim Carry, Sonic & Lee Seung Won, photo by Kimbilly
Other details: Some kind of HD support for SSL9 will be provided by Afreeca.
Ro32 onwards will be offline, free admissions for viewers in the studio.
There will be 2 "interview girls" at the offline, Sonic's version of stargirls.
A lot else will be different from SSL8 (like these item giveaways at the studio).
Final message: "StarCraft: Brood War is still a loved game. As the famous foreign baseball player Yogi Berra said "The game isn't over until it's over." - in that spirit, the StarCraft transmision did not stop although it was only through online means. I believe the transmition can continue until the very end.
I think Brood War's competition and popularity will be alive after 10 years as well. The tradition of Korean Brood War can still stand strong. I will do my best to make it happen. [Sonic refers to BW as similar to Baduk/Go, a board game that is very famous in Korea.]
We look forward to seeing you all at the offline group selection ceremony. Please cheer on us heartily and come visit the studio. Thank you."
More info including schedule, players etc. here: 9th Sonic StarLeague info or + Show Spoiler [here] +
Schedule - not final
Group Selection Ceremony
2014 1/4 - location TBD - 300~400 seats
Round of 32
1/10 Ro32 Group A - 1/11 Ro32 Group B
1/17 Ro32 Group C - 1/18 Ro32 Group D
1/24 Ro32 Group E - 1/25 Ro32 Group F
1/31 Ro32 Group G - 2/01 Ro32 Group H
Round of 16
2/07 Ro16 Group A - 2/08 Ro16 Group B
2/14 Ro16 Group C - 2/15 Ro16 Group D
Round of 8
2/21 Ro8 Groups A, B - 2/22 Ro8 Groups C, D
Round of 4
2/28 Ro4 Groups A, B
Grand Finals
3/01 Saturday 7PM KST - location TBD - 2100~3500 seats
Live casts from SonicTV Studio at 7PM KST Friday/Saturday.
That's 2 hours earlier than the currently ongoing Sonic ProLeague casts.
Player FPVs will probably only be available on 50 inch screens at the studio.
Players - not final
The Triumph of War: Terran
Mind
PianO
Midas
Sea
sSak
Mong
HiyA
Ample
Shinee
Victory after Victory: Protoss
JangBi
Bisu
Pure
Movie
Shuttle
Tyson
Lazy
Jaehoon
Mini
Brave
Britney
Zeus
Pusan
Overcome All: Zerg
Killer
s2
Great
ZerO
Terror
FengZi Chinese #1 ranked Zerg invited to the offline at SonicTV expenses
Kwanro
by.hero
Larva
ZergMaN
beast
Cola
Prizepool
1st place ~$14.000
2nd place: ~$4.700
3rd place: ~$1.900
(8th SSL was $4.600, $2.760, $1.840, $920)
Sources: SSL9 entry, sponsorship
Group Selection Ceremony
2014 1/4 - location TBD - 300~400 seats
Round of 32
1/10 Ro32 Group A - 1/11 Ro32 Group B
1/17 Ro32 Group C - 1/18 Ro32 Group D
1/24 Ro32 Group E - 1/25 Ro32 Group F
1/31 Ro32 Group G - 2/01 Ro32 Group H
Round of 16
2/07 Ro16 Group A - 2/08 Ro16 Group B
2/14 Ro16 Group C - 2/15 Ro16 Group D
Round of 8
2/21 Ro8 Groups A, B - 2/22 Ro8 Groups C, D
Round of 4
2/28 Ro4 Groups A, B
Grand Finals
3/01 Saturday 7PM KST - location TBD - 2100~3500 seats
Live casts from SonicTV Studio at 7PM KST Friday/Saturday.
That's 2 hours earlier than the currently ongoing Sonic ProLeague casts.
Player FPVs will probably only be available on 50 inch screens at the studio.
Players - not final
The Triumph of War: Terran
Mind
PianO
Midas
Sea
sSak
Mong
HiyA
Ample
Shinee
Victory after Victory: Protoss
JangBi
Bisu
Pure
Movie
Shuttle
Tyson
Lazy
Jaehoon
Mini
Brave
Britney
Zeus
Pusan
Overcome All: Zerg
Killer
s2
Great
ZerO
Terror
FengZi Chinese #1 ranked Zerg invited to the offline at SonicTV expenses
Kwanro
by.hero
Larva
ZergMaN
beast
Cola
Prizepool
1st place ~$14.000
2nd place: ~$4.700
3rd place: ~$1.900
(8th SSL was $4.600, $2.760, $1.840, $920)
Sources: SSL9 entry, sponsorship