ESL One Cologne format revealed

30-7-2015 19:40

ESL has revealed the tournament format for the upcoming ESL One Cologne major.

From August 20-23, Cologne will once again stage a Valve-sponsored CS:GO major, with 16 teams from all over the world battling it out for a share of the $250,000 prize pool.

In recent weeks, ESL had hinted that it could change the format for the tournament following complaints that teams were eliminated from majors after playing just two best-of-one games.

ESL has now revealed that it will stick to the best-of-one format for the group stage while introducing a twist at the end of day one.

ESL One Cologne 2015 will feature a rather peculiar group format

On the first day of the tournament, all four groups will be played out in the Upper Bracket. The four winners will advance straight into the quarter-finals, and then the groups will be redrawn, pairing the 12 remaining sides against new opponents to determine the final teams that will make it to the playoffs.

The quarter-finals, which will be played in a best-of-three, single-elimination format, will be seeded to prevent potential group stage rematches before the grand finals.

Below you can find the scheduled for ESL One Cologne:

Thursday, August 20th - Group Stage Part 1

Per group: Both initial matches and the winners Match
At the end of Day 1, groups redrawn and quarterfinals seeded

Friday August 21st - Group Stage Part 2

Per group: Elimination match and decider Match

Saturday August 22nd - Quarter Finals

Sunday August 23rd - Semi Finals and Grand Finals

nice

2015-07-30 19:41

9 replies

Pick em will be fucked though

2015-07-30 19:49

8 replies

Juts pick Top8 teams

2015-07-30 20:24

1 reply

nice

2015-08-10 17:41

lol. Be happy they've finally addressed their shitty format instead of worrying about some worthless pixle coin

2015-07-30 21:57

Dude fuck your stickers, be happy we finally get a better format.

2015-07-30 23:20

3 replies

B-b-b-but my doritoes :(

2015-07-30 23:41

1 reply

Sorry guise. :(

2015-07-31 18:30

I LOVE MY FUCKING DORITOS MAN

2015-07-31 13:57

It won't. In the challenge you just have to guess the teams who make it out of groups, nothing changes, regardless of the format of the group-stage.

2015-07-31 09:56

gon be gr8

2015-07-30 19:41

c9 2 win

2015-07-30 19:41

1 reply

wake up c9 maybe in semis

2015-07-31 05:19

6th e: i wonder how many concurrent streams i need to watch to catch every game on day 1.

2015-07-30 19:43

10 replies

2 at once (there will be 12 matches on day 1)

2015-07-30 19:45

Multitwitch m8

2015-07-30 19:49

3 replies

livestreamer > multitwitch

2015-07-30 20:09

2 replies

Pornhub > livestreamer > multitwitch

2015-07-30 20:56

1 reply

hooker > Pornhub > livestreamer > multitwitch

2015-08-19 13:45

Why dont you go to Cologne man :(

2015-07-30 19:49

4 replies

Days 1 and 2 aren't held at the LANxess arena, they're held in the ESL studios, so I assume no audience.

2015-07-30 20:05

1 reply

Thats terrible.. there should be audiance even in groups.. what about the supporters of the teams that wont go to quarters?

2015-07-30 20:21

i dont like the smell of 10k nerds. Kappa

2015-07-30 22:24

1 reply

eh I would've loved to go there

2015-07-30 22:27

omg what a twist!1

2015-07-30 19:41

hmm

2015-07-30 19:41

Oh well

2015-07-30 19:41

o_O

2015-07-30 19:42

Actually pretty good idea

2015-07-30 19:42

ELI5 please.

2015-07-30 19:42

thats actually really interesting, i approve ESL!

2015-07-30 19:42

it's the same damn thing? IT IS THE SAME DAMN THING. STILL TWO BO1 LOSSES AND YOU'RE OUT. Anyone who writes that it's interesting doesn't know how to read.

2015-07-30 19:47

5 replies

ikr wtf even cevo lan had bo3 group stage with double elimination

2015-07-30 20:10

2 replies

But cevo only had 8 teams, not 16

2015-07-31 15:37

1 reply

ESL has an extra day of group stage Plus cevo day 1 was only 6 hours, where 2 groups of 4 played. Imagine if esl day 1 was 4 groups with 2 being played out at the same time (just like cevo) for 12 hours total, then day 2 is the winners/elimination/decider matches. Heck, you could even do the winners match on day 1. then day 3 would be quarterfinals and day 4 would be semis/grand finals its almost too s1mple

2015-07-31 19:21

deleted

2015-07-30 20:25

nah 4 or 3 loses Out

2015-07-31 05:51

the return of apoc

2015-07-30 19:42

HYPE

2015-07-30 19:42

garbage format, the major has yet not started and esl already fucked up

2015-07-30 19:43

If this is "largest Counter-Strike: Global Offensive event in the world" why is it still bo1. It's either time that Valve takes Majors away from ESL or if Valve decides the format themselves, that Valve just go away. Look at your Dota2 tournament Valve: 4 day bo2 round-robin group stage, main event double elim bo3 bracket (6-days) This isn't a Major but in name alone. Can't believe its still bo1 at the most important tournament of the year

2015-07-30 19:44

12 replies

Not only that, in dota 2 nobody is out in the groups, they're seeded into upper and lower brackets. So you can determine an exact spot, not like 9-12, you placed 11th instead

2015-07-30 19:46

2 replies

Exactly. I know that TI only happens once a year. But if this is really the "largest Counter-Strike: Global Offensive event in the world" than it should represent that. This is a joke.

2015-07-30 19:47

Although teams in intermediate spots, like 9-12 for example, receive the same amounts of money. To be exact: 5th - $1,153,093 6th - $1,153,093 7th - $798,295 8th - $798,295 9th - $212,879 10th - $212,879 11th - $212,879 12th - $212,879

2015-07-30 19:49

pretty much this, i don't understand it either ...

2015-07-30 20:14

Well, If you want compete in biggest event you have to prepare all maps, otherwise you don't deserve to play on this event. I don't really care if there is bo1 or bo3. If you are pro you gonna qualify anyway If you're just pretending that you're pro you gonna lose. That's it. Why can't you understand a simple thing.

2015-07-30 20:31

6 replies

In a bo1 one single random hs or misstiming can decide the whole game winner. In bo3 this factor is minimalized by playing 3 maps. Smth like that I hope you get the point, my englando very kurwa

2015-07-30 20:59

5 replies

Yep, you are so damn right. If you loose both pistol rounds you are 80% loosing the game as well

2015-07-30 21:07

3 replies

But pistol rounds are still part of the game and strategy. You can reduce pistol loses by training you aim with pistols or just some interesting strats.

2015-07-30 21:13

2 replies

Too bad pistols rounds in csgo are chaotic and random as fuck.

2015-07-30 23:23

1 reply

Yeah, I agree, that's why I used word 'reduce'

2015-07-30 23:32

Don't worry, it's not very kurwa, it's fine. I understand your point of course, but I just simply can't get that. I mean for me bo1 and bo3 is still counter-strike and If you are going to the biggest event of the year you should be prepared for every single map. It doesn't matter if it's train, vertigo or dust2. If you know the map, you know where are sites and you can call all basic spots then what's the problem? (I guess every pro player should know every map that's in the tournament rules, lol) You're not worse aimer because it's dust2 or inferno.. Yeah of course, misstiming or opponent's luck does matter aswell but still you should be able to beat them if you're really better. If potentially better team is losing with worse team it's because the worse team prepared better for the event. It's all about taking it professionally.

2015-07-30 21:12

It's actually Valve itself deciding the format, not ESL. Valve once again fucking up.

2015-07-30 22:40

That's interesting

2015-07-30 19:44

Dota2 - 17 million, 12-15 days of an event, bo2 groups. Cs - 250k, 4 days, bo1 groups GG Valve

2015-07-30 19:44

6 replies

Not actually. There will be much more total prize money, probably $2 mln or more.

2015-07-30 20:50

4 replies

no, stickers do not count as a prize pool

2015-07-30 21:10

3 replies

Why?

2015-07-30 21:13

2 replies

why do you think they would?

2015-07-30 21:30

It is not prize pool, it is just money to the teams. Official prize pool is 250k

2015-07-30 21:42

You left out the number of viewers of DOTA2 and CS:GO, conveniently... Also the number of active teams in each game and number of pros.

2015-07-30 23:15

HYPE BOYSS

2015-07-30 19:45

- Fox +twist

2015-07-30 19:45

EZ EBETTLE

2015-07-30 19:46

try this at a major? i must say no, go bo3!

2015-07-30 19:46

Na'Vi won already

2015-07-30 19:47

good

2015-07-30 19:47

at least something new

2015-07-30 19:48

format as on cologne 2014

2015-07-30 19:50

Still no bo3 groups... RIP

2015-07-30 19:50

seems like a good idea.

2015-07-30 19:51

Looks better than bo3 for me, lesser teams have a chance to advance upsetting teams and better teams if they lost they will likely go through the lower brackets

2015-07-30 19:53

still bo1... FAIL ESL. WE NEED BO3 FOR SUCH BIG TOURNAMENTS, WHATS SO HARD TO UNDERSTAND?!

2015-07-30 19:53

1 reply

even eswc 2015 paris will have bo3 in groups lol

2015-07-30 20:03

Doesn't change anything. Instead of trying fancy crap just use a better format that has proven to be good. ugh Idiots.

2015-07-30 19:54

In practice this makes the shit even more stupid and random because teams get their info on adjustments from playing the teams they might meet in an elimination match. Now they're thrown into an elimination match without knowing shit unless ESL has VOD's up a few hours after the matches are streamed or if they provide demos.

2015-07-30 19:54

3 replies

+1 I just can't wrap my head around ESL's thought process.

2015-07-30 21:33

2 replies

Team A would lose to Team B. Team A would beat Team C and get a chance to play Team B again after B beats D or whatever. The number of "revenge" map wins that happened in the elimination portion of these GSL groups is immense and it is one of the only good parts of such a shitty format. Now that's gone. Now there's zero chance for a great team to fix their shit and do it right the next time. This is the opposite of a second chance that I'm sure ESL thinks it is.

2015-07-30 21:38

1 reply

It's even more random now, just what the masses of kids like I guess :/

2015-07-30 21:42

please dont tell me BO1..........

2015-07-30 19:54

2 replies

can't read?

2015-07-30 19:57

1 reply

i cant

2015-07-30 19:58

Why don't they adopt the bo1 first games, winner matches bo1 and then the elimination and the decider go into bo3... bo1 throughout is just utterly stupid, when will they learn?

2015-07-30 19:58

Cool

2015-07-30 19:58

the decider should be bo3 at least, Dreamhack Valencia managed to pull it off for fuck's sake, why can't the "biggest CSGO tournament ever" do it ?

2015-07-30 20:01

2 replies

Aren't there more teams?

2015-07-30 20:14

1 reply

yes there are 2 times as many teams, there would be 2 extra bo3 matches, shouldn't be unmanageable.

2015-07-30 20:32

This got to be some kind of a joke... BO1 again :DDD pls

2015-07-30 20:02

well we will have bo3 groups on eswc 2015 paris at least....

2015-07-30 20:02

Wtf?

2015-07-30 20:02

maybe at dreamhack..

2015-07-30 20:03

Go LG

2015-07-30 20:03

thats better

2015-07-30 20:05

4 replies

How is it better? It's still the same, 2 map losses = you're out.

2015-07-30 20:19

3 replies

2015-07-30 20:25

1 reply

You can't possibly think that this system is worthy of the biggest cs tournament ever. yes i agree, you should practice all maps, but deciding what team is the best from one map is just wrong

2015-07-30 20:46

no, you need to lose bo1 + bo3 to go out its basically gsl groups with 1 map first match and winners and bo3 for losers and the final match

2015-07-31 18:45

BO1 wtf bb esl im not watching anymore

2015-07-30 20:08

Literally fecal matter.

2015-07-30 20:08

1 reply

2015-07-30 20:11

wait... who win just one match will play QUARTS ?

2015-07-30 20:10

2 replies

whoever tops the groups goes to quarters,like every other tournament...

2015-07-30 20:13

no.. team that win 2 matches of the first group goes to quarter finals the others goes to another group and the process repeat again... if a team lose 1 game in group one they need to win the others 2 games on the seccond group if a team lose on the seccond group, they are out resulting in the same procces that a team can not lose two games in sequence, same shit again

2015-07-30 20:26

all these people crying about bo1 and how they are not going to watch he event lol...

2015-07-30 20:13

AGAIN BO1 FFS

2015-07-30 20:13

ez VP

2015-07-30 20:15

ill be there <3

2015-07-30 20:17

i call it a bullshit, a simple bo3 would save time and this "twist" would not be needed

2015-07-30 20:17

Lmao at everyone saying "good" and "it's better". It's basically the same damn format just that they will play different teams. Teams are still out after two losses. Learn to read you mongs.. ESL get your shit together, biggest csgo tournament ever should NOT have bo1's.

2015-07-30 20:18

3 replies

+ 1 and grandfinal souhld be a bo5, i bet it will be bo3 again

2015-07-30 20:20

2 replies

It's fucking ridiculous that they can't manage to get this done, it's not that hard ffs. It's just embarrasing for csgo

2015-07-30 20:21

1 reply

i dont get it either, fucking morons who dont care about anything in the lead...

2015-07-30 20:21

BO1 groups in a major, nice. FailFish

2015-07-30 20:19

Rip my blog lel

2015-07-30 20:20

no loser bracket? k.bye.

2015-07-30 20:21

seems like they didnt learn a thing from esl esea...

2015-07-30 20:25

how are they going to pull 4 teams out of 12?

2015-07-30 20:25

Ez for twist

2015-07-30 20:37

I like it, so now teams in groups of death have another shot.

2015-07-30 20:40

lulz esl, b01 minor bs

2015-07-30 20:41

shitty format. expected from esl. bo2 would be enough. others make bo7 grand final for 20k price and look at this major. lol

2015-07-30 20:45

Go LG!

2015-07-30 20:47

what's wrong with bo1? who actually play better and not make stupid mistakes like losing eco round, etc deserves the victory.

2015-07-30 20:47

Final should be bo5

2015-07-30 20:48

What the fuck is this bullshit

2015-07-30 20:59

Shit format as always T3 teams in Quarter expected, thx ESL

2015-07-30 21:03

I dig this format, solid work.

2015-07-30 21:04

I like, but I dont like, you know?

2015-07-30 21:06

BO3 Groups BO5 QF & SF BO7 Grand Final When ESL.... when ???

2015-07-30 21:11

1 reply

ayy lmao No.

2015-07-30 21:20

WTF those guys are retards

2015-07-30 21:29

good luck preparing strats for your group games, gg lol. less preparation we give the teams for the major matches the better amiright

2015-07-30 21:29

Sounds cool, hope it works out great

2015-07-30 21:32

EU > NA <3

2015-07-30 21:32

While on first glance reshuffling the groups could be a good idea, the fact that they're still being so god damn stubborn about best-of-ones just blows my mind. This is simply not acceptable for a major in 2015. As someone who's been a fan of Carmac since his ESR column days, I'm deeply disappointed by this.

2015-07-30 21:33

bo1 is great, it makes teams try to play flawless, doesn't allow room for mistakes... it's better than watch a team getting trashed in one side, then they just give up and rush like retards, thinking about the second map. If you are the favorite, you should beat the lower team, no matter if it's bo1, bo3 or bo5, just win the fucking map, train hard and beat the other team.

2015-07-30 21:36

More BO1 instead of BO1? That don't have any sense. Why it can't be 2xBO3 in group stage? It's MAJOR not country LAN...

2015-07-30 21:46

BO1 group-stage and BO3 final, this is just embarrassing to a point it is nothing but frustrating. youtube.com/watch?v=BNsrK6P9QvI

2015-07-30 21:52

1 reply

Sorry, but you're being FailFish worthy if you actually facepalm over a BO3 final. It's the standard set by Valve, and the format teams prepare for the most. They strive to have a map pool strong enough to win BO3 playoffs, not BO5's.

2015-07-30 22:40

4 days for tournament and BO1s. omfg....

2015-07-30 22:10

Well basically it's the same as before only teams like C9 who rely on antistrating receive an arbitrary nerf, because they receive brand new opponents if they dont win 2 straight. GG ESL -.- Kappa

2015-07-30 22:41

1 reply

vulva stawp nerfin NA plssss. c:

2015-07-30 23:29

Bo1 groups again? Fuck this shit

2015-07-30 22:50

quarter finals - WHOLE DAY and then... semis and final on the same day, HAHA what a joke :D

2015-07-30 22:59

2 replies

Make it 4 day long or what? Bo2 group matches would be the bestest solution.

2015-07-30 23:45

Miss

2015-07-30 23:43

bo1 yawn

2015-07-30 23:25

Be the first in the group and stop crying

2015-07-30 23:57

remember when people didn't care about bo1

2015-07-30 23:55

1 reply

People have always disliked bo1 groups. Quick example just from googling: esport.aftonbladet.se/csgo/friberg-panta..

2015-07-31 05:07

Wait doesnt this format mean groups are played as normal which say a team gets two straight losses then they are redrawn to loser groups meaning they have another group stage event to play (i.e. Another 2 losses) then they are out. Only difference is that top 1 advances in both groups instead of the normal 2.

2015-07-31 00:46

That group system is shieet. Why don't you just stick to the god damn BO3.

2015-07-31 00:56

Same shit again fuck BO1s

2015-07-31 02:49

same as before...wtf?

2015-07-31 03:02

1 reply

Did you read the article?

2015-07-31 07:43

Rip NiP!!!

2015-07-31 04:28

It's valve not ESL decision

2015-07-31 07:32

This is an awesome format, good job Valve/ESL.

2015-07-31 07:44

Unexpected. Good to see ESL trying new things. Hoping for a great tournament.

2015-07-31 08:09

Bo1 group stage ggwp

2015-07-31 09:17

If they cant get around time constraints to be able to have it B03 then cut the major into 12 teams instead of 16 (or even less to the point where b03 becomes viable). The bottom 4 that make it to these majors have never really been exciting to watch or worthy of truly being there anyway. This then opens up 4 groups of 3 teams (high, medium, low seed for all). play B03 round robin. Top team after advances to an upper final bracket. Bottom team is straight out. The second team can advance to a b01 lower bracket. Ideally another B03 lower bracket but a B01 I guess is just acceptable. You could do it a number of ways but I think the main point and the point that everyone wants to see is that a team should not be going home or at risk of going home if they have not at least lost a b03. CS is similar to Tennis. Maps = Sets. Any decent Tennis player can take a set off Djokovic. But how many are going to beat him in 3 out of 5 that is required to win? Hardly any. Major is where the highest prize pool and skill is on display. Yet the most variance involved early on. Dumb.

2015-07-31 10:03

It's one of the four most important tournaments in CS and still Bo1 group stage? Also no soundproof booths I presume. How can these people get away with such shitty production?

2015-07-31 12:17

Format C:\

2015-07-31 16:47

Group A:TSM FNC C9 Kinguin

2015-08-02 09:47

team meeting exclusive video by zeus - skip his comments and then listen to what the players were warned about, schedule. detail etc all in EN youtube.com/watch?v=3rGm3foYhoA

2015-08-30 07:21