For those unaware, the ESL Pro Tour is the yearly highest level of competition for competitive StarCraft Ii. Heading into the 2023 season, we’ve already enjoyed one offline Global Event. Accordingly, we’re currently a few days away from the next event being DreamHack Masters Atlanta SCII – read on to learn how to watch this event below!
Event Background
Taking place offline in Atlanta, the Georgia World Congress Centre, the event will run from 18th to 20th November. With $100,000 on the line, this is only the second international offline event for the 2022/23 season of the ESL Pro Tour.
Bearing this in mind, a total of $100,000 will be up for grabs for the top 80 players in the world:
- Regionals – Astrea, Has, herO, Neeb, ShoWTimE, Clem, Cure, GuMiho, HeRoMaRinE, Maru, TIME, Cham, DRG, MeomaikA, RagnaraoK, Serral
- Open Signups – BeNeFiT, Cognite, Creator, DnS, Galeforce, Gerald, GunGFuBanDa, Harstem, Jieshi, LunaSea, MaNa, Maplez, MCanning, Nice, NightMare, Nina, Oberoth, Padre, PappilJoe, PattyMac, PiLiPiLi, PtitDrogo, Renge, Rhizer, Rob, ShaDoWn, Torkk, trigger, Zain, Zoun, Azure, binski, Bunny, ByuN, csfalcon, DisReSpeCT, Dolan, Epic, FoxeR, Future, GeneParmesan, Jinioh, Kelazhur, LordTimorus, Raza, Ryung, SpeCial, Spirit, universe, Vindicta, Aspera, Elazer, Jay, JonSnow, Lambo, Mixu, Nerosus, PandaBearMe, Quaz, Scarlett, Silky, Solar, soO, Steadfast
Note that apart from the prize pool, there are a tonne of points on the line too. Specifically, ESL Pro Tour 2022/23 points will be awarded depending on placements – these points are essential to see to larger events later on in the year! Furthermore, the champion earns a spot at IEM Katowice 2023.
Format
So, how will we arrive at an international champion from a pool of 80 players?
Naturally, we’ll need to go through another long and thorough format for the event.
First, we’ll go through a First Group Stage. Here, 64 players will be placed in 16 groups of 4 players each, featuring those who have seeded from the Open side of the event. Going through a Dual Tournament Format, all matches are BO3. Indeed, from here, only the top 2 will progress to the next stage. Those who don’t make it will fall to the Knockout Bracket Round 1.
Then, we’ll have 32 players left, moving on to the Second Group Stage. This time, 8 groups of 4 players each will once again fight through a Dual Tournament Format. Once again BO3 matches and only the top 2 progress. Once again, players who fail to make it will seed into the Knockout Bracket, Rounds 3 and 4.
Second and Third Group Stage – DreamHack Masters Atlanta
After the second group stage, we’ll reach the third group stage. Finally, the 16 players from Regionals will face the 16 players from second group stage who made it. Accordingly 8 groups of 4 will fight through a Dual Tournament Format with BO3 matches. Here, the top 2 players move on to the Playoffs. Take a look at the following groups with regional players set:
- A: Clem, Cham, TBD X 2
- B: Maru, Has, TBD X 2
- C: herO, MeomaikA, TBD X 2
- D: Serral, Cure, TBD X 2
- E: Neeb, GuMiho, TBD X 2
- F: Ragnarok, TIME, TBD X 2
- G: HeRoMaRinE, ShoWTimE, TBD X 2
- H: Astrea, DRG, TBD X 2
Seeding from each group of the Third Group Stage is as follows:
- First – Playoffs Round of 16
- Second – Playoffs Round of 24
- Third – Knockout Bracket Round 6
- Fourth – Knockout Bracket Round 5
Playoffs and Knockout Bracket
So, what’s this Knockout Bracket we keep mentioning?
Well, before the Playoffs start, a Knockout Bracket will take place – offering a final route to the Playoffs for all the teams who couldn’t make it directly through the Third Group Stage. Depending on seedings as mentioned below, 8 single elimination brackets will take place, with 6 rounds each.
From each bracket, one player will prevail, with 8 players joining the 16 players who’ve already made it to the Playoffs.
Finally, the Playoffs will finalize the tournament, with the final 24 players involved. One single elimination bracket will sort out the competition, with BO5 matches and an epic BO7 finals.
Schedule for DreamHack Masters Atlanta SCII
As you can tell, it’s a very busy schedule – we recommend visiting the official event page here for an updated schedue in your time zone.
Watch DreamHack Masters Atlanta SCII on esportsguide
You can also watch the event live stream via our very own website. Providing an extensive list of the biggest esports together with streams for each esports match live today or upcoming matches.
Predictions
In terms of competition, the most recent event was the 2022 GSL Season 3 Code S event. Take a look at the standings from this event for an idea of how the competition stacks up:
- #1 – Maru
- #2 – RagnaroK
- #3-4 – GuMiho, herO
However, the open bracket makes the event that much more exciting – anything could happen!
For more esports news, visit: https://www.esportsguide.com/news
