MLG Raleigh and ESL’s Group Stage where set to take place on the same weekend. This was forcing some players to pick which event they would participate in. Either the first lan event or an online qualifier. Majority of the players decided they would attend MLG and hope to play the online matches in their hotel room.
ESL has now announced they have changed the dates of the Group Stage to September 4-5th.
Below are the full details for the Group Stage.
Check-in: 1:30pm EST
Matches Start: 2:00pm EST
– Round Robin Scheduling
– 4 Groups (Groups A,B,C,D)
– 4 Players in each Group: 1st seed will be pre-determined, the rest will be a random draw
– 2 maps per match against each opponent; each map considered a win or loss (6 maps total)
– 2nd and 3rd place Main Group Stage finishers
– 1 Best of three match
– $25 per map win
– $100 to the Top Winner of each group
– Top Winner in each group (4 total) will advance to the Intel Extreme Masters LAN Finals in NYC
– $25 to the winner
– Winner also advances to the Intel Extreme Masters National LAN Finals in NYC
Blistering Sands
Delta Quadrant
Lost Temple
Kulas Ravine
Metalopolis
Scrap Station
Steppes of War
Xel’Naga Caverns
Battle.net Region: North America
Race: Any (yes, Random is allowed)
Color: Any
Category: Melee
Mode: 1v1
Game Speed: Faster
Observers: National ESL Staff and Official Casters ONLY
Please note this is for North and South Americans only.
ESL has also announced details for the lan event which will be taking place from October 8-10th. Below is the full list of information from ESL.
– Top 8 Group Stage players qualify
– Round Robin scheduling
– 2 Groups of 4 players
1st – $4000
2nd – $2000
3rd – $1200
4th – $800
5th – $550
6th – $550
7th – $450
8th – $450
Several winners will advance to the IEM World Championships!