ESL Major qualifier format & schedule

1-6-2016 15:11

ESL have revealed the new format that will be used at the upcoming ESL One Cologne 2016 Main Qualifier.

The Major qualifier set to take place at the ESL Studios in Katowice, Poland will use a Swiss-system, which is a widely used format in chess tournaments, ESL have revealed.

In this format, all 16 teams will be in the same group as each team will play a maximum of five matches in a non-elimination format. Three losses will result in elimination. After the pre-determined first round matchups, teams with the same win totals that have not played each other will get matched in the subsequent four rounds.

Graphic explaning the whole format

When all five rounds are complete, top eight teams will qualify for ESL One Cologne. The tie-breaker rules are below:

– Win-Loss ratio

– Buchholz score system (the sum of wins of the team’s opponents)

– Head-to-head match result

– Initial seeding of the tournament

The pre-determined first round matchups use the following seeding system:

Seeding Pool 1: Rank 9-12th of the last Major (MLG Columbus 2016)
Seeding Pool 2: Rank 13-16th of the last Major (MLG Columbus 2016)
Seeding Pool 3: Winners of Regional Minor Championships for Cologne 2016
Seeding Pool 4: Runner-ups of Regional Minor Championships for Cologne 2016

The first round matches will be:

G2	vs. TYLOO
FaZe	vs. Dignitas
Gambit	vs. OpTic
MOUZ	vs. Binary Dragons
Envy	vs. Tempo Storm
Cloud9	vs. Empire
FlipSid3	vs. Renegades
Splyce	vs. HellRaisers

ESL also revealed the schedule for the qualifier:

Thursday, June 9
12:30	- Pre-show
13:00	- First round starts, eight matches one after another
22:00	- Estimated end of day
Friday, June 10
12:30	- Pre-show
13:00	- Second round starts, eight matches one after another
22:00	- Estimated end of day
Saturday, June 11
12:30	- Pre-show
13:00	- Third round starts, eight matches one after another
22:00	- Estimated end of day
Sunday, June 12
12:30	- Pre-show
13:00	- Six fourth round matches followed by three fifth round matches
23:15	- Estimated end of day

If you can catch the action live from the ESL Studios in Katowice, grab yourself a ticket on the Eventbrite page.

Follow HLTV.org writer BenjaCS on twitter.

2016-06-01 15:11

16 replies

ez medkit tournament format system

2016-06-01 15:29

14 replies

Instead trying this Format and seeding in a Fun Tournament like ESL Barcelona No lets test it in the Major Main Qualifier

2016-06-01 16:18

13 replies

Gamers2 FaZe OpTiC Mousesports EnVyUs Cloud9 Flipsid3 Hēllraisers

2016-06-01 16:56

8 replies

Ts > nV

2016-06-01 17:23

6 replies

probably, I just posted who I want to see qualified, sick of favela fans

5 replies

True favela worst no problem with supporting your Teams But Brazilians are just annoying

2016-06-01 17:52

4 replies

Yes, I like the favelas for their amazing support, and how they allways help other favelas out, but I think it's just HLTV has made me hate them a bit

2016-06-01 17:53

3 replies

yo, just saying to you that if you want a peaceful place go to fucking reddit. HLTV is the cancer of internet, don't know why you still here

2016-06-01 19:09

2 replies

Because you hav Perfect Coverage of what is happening

2016-06-01 20:08

1 reply

Yes indeed, can confirm.

2016-06-02 00:25

*dignitas

2016-06-01 18:30

I actually think its the best way to find out who the best team is. IF you fuuck up 2 bo1 in normal quali but if you fuck up 2 matches you could still qualifie

2016-06-01 21:49

Sounds like a Good Format but still you could run a Test Tournament before like ESL Barcelona and then maybe the Seeding wouldn't be Fucked up

2016-06-01 22:44

This format is over a hundred years old and a shit ton of tournaments have been run with it :|, in different games yeah, but it still gives you the optimal opponent each round based on your previous record.

2016-06-01 23:56

I do not remember a ESL Tournament with this Format To test it in CSGO as a Host they could've make a testrun to figure out Time needed and everything Ik its a Old Systeme

2016-06-02 01:36

OMFG GG TYLOO probably 0-3 back home gl next major qualifier

2016-06-03 09:29

ay seems legit

2016-06-01 15:12

awesome

1st

first

lold

Best match 1st, G2-Tyloo

9 replies

FaZe - Dignitas 5x Better

2016-06-01 15:51

Dignitas? You mean cajunB? Also Dignitas in Qualifers? 4Head

2016-06-01 15:52

cajunB cant play with dignitas on the qualifiers if im not wrong

2016-06-01 20:01

He actually can, cuz Astralis were already qualified when Minor season started. It's just Kjaerbye who isn't allowed to play because he played with Dignitas at the minor.

2016-06-01 20:31

OKEOK

2016-06-01 20:26

Go tyloo

2016-06-01 16:36

inb4 visa issues, g2-selfless

2016-06-01 18:11

faktual

2016-06-01 20:05

Visa issues with Germany? I aren't think that

2016-06-01 21:40

cool

wait wat

Interestinng format, looking forward for it!

2016-06-01 15:13

Wow this looks solid

Why do EnVy and TS always get matched up against each other, wherever they go? First IEM Katowice, then DH Malmo, and now here as well? lol wtf

It's like LG and Na'vi some time ago.

2016-06-01 15:36

and VP vs C9

2016-06-07 20:42

nv in qualifiers xD

2016-06-01 15:14

G2 new major champions inc.

G2 - FaZe Major Final Fox will carry Jkeam will Camp and b8 Rain will Clutch 5 1v5s on 3 Maps Aizy will entry every Round Kio will trade aizy very efficient 50/50 Chance

2016-06-01 17:48

Let the splyce stickers riiiise muhahaha

wat

wow really nice imo

finally some good system

lol nV will lose to Tempo

Not with DEVIL...

2016-06-01 16:35

i really like the format. better than having groups

With this format they can go for 32 teams- Major.

2016-06-01 15:21

Swiss-System! But still #34

2016-06-01 15:15

OPTIC+ TEMPO STORM+ RENEGADES- TYLOO- EMPIRE- FLUFFY GANGSTERS- HELLRAISERS+ DIGNITAS- SPLYCE- MOUSEPORT+ G2+ ENVY- FAZE+ FLIPSIDE+ CLOUD9+ GAMBIT-

are you retarded? dignitas obviously have a better chance than flipside

2016-06-01 15:58

Yea, dignitas is weaker now because of the roster changes but I'm sure they'll ezez the noobsid3 players.

2016-06-01 16:26

F3 and HR have a curse. F3 always qualifying on a major and going home from group stage. HR don't qualifying

2016-06-01 21:43

- C9 + TYLOO

2016-06-01 18:02

New major winnner isn't qualified yet :P

Still good for us G2 fans - more games to watch :)

2016-06-01 15:57

Yah Maikelele was the Problem ahead Ezy FaZe Cologne Major winner No Kappa

2016-06-01 17:38

Olof will come on colonge dont worry dude

2016-06-01 18:40

I think even if he will he wont be the Keyplayer anymore

2016-06-01 22:47

G2 vs. TyLoo FaZe vs. dignitas Gambit vs. OpTic mousesports vs. Binary Dragons EnVyUs vs. Tempo Storm Cloud9 vs. Empire FlipSid3 vs. Renegades Splyce vs. HellRaisers

20 replies

i disagree on first three,after all dignitas is without kjarb=no win

2016-06-01 15:18

15 replies

They have cajunb.

2016-06-01 15:20

canjub is shit

He is good

2016-06-01 15:27

nonono

2016-06-01 16:27

Not enough practice to beat FaZe right now. FaZe have been improving a lot recently

2016-06-01 15:31

I think he outruled Qualified with another Team?

Cajun can play with Dig, Ast just can't play with Kjaerbye

2016-06-01 17:08

Thanks

2016-06-01 17:20

Dig will not win against Faze...

2016-06-01 18:15

i dont agree with the tyloo > g2 pick but the rest looks fine also empire > cloud 9 any day .........................

2016-06-01 15:37

Lol when empire is going to get nordan shat on

2016-06-01 16:40

hahaha shut up kangaroo, empire are tier 1645454 nonamers, didnt even know who played on that team. prolly gonna get 16-0d without hacks on lan lol

2016-06-01 18:05

no? empire could probably beat splyce, easily the best team in the quals

2016-06-01 18:26

you said empire -> c9 idiot

2016-06-02 22:18

yes and i proved my point by then saying empire are so good that they could beat splyce whatever just watch empire make GF at cologne

2016-06-02 23:30

nV are practice so much. I think they comeback.

2016-06-01 15:19

No way Tyloo win vs G2. Neither do Gambit beat Optic. Plus, C9 win vs Empire. And Renegades are really bad, so they will lose vs F3.

#G2WIN

2016-06-01 15:39

you didnt even highlights 1 on c9 vs empire

2016-06-01 18:04

ah fuck, RIP envy.

2016-06-01 15:16

Wait what. Weird format will be cool to see how it plays out

WTF my brain is done

2016-06-01 15:17

Huge Bo5 after every Map you Switch Opponents You win 3 Maps you Qualify You loose 3 you're Out

2016-06-01 17:50

ez for c9 an g2

Faze vs dig Nice seeds

Easy for Nordish Superstars: Rain, Jkaem and Aizy With Support of South Awp "Fox" and French Firepower "Kio"

2016-06-01 17:40

polish flag for the news ?? please edit admin, ESL One is held in Germany

qualifier is in poland.

you should read the article first.

2016-06-01 15:50

who do Minor winners get punished? what is weird is why does Pool 1 play Pool 3 first instead of Pool 1 playing Pool 4 as I expected, give Asian teams the hardest match. Its so blatant

10 replies

You're right, this is rigged with Tyloo facing G2 and FaZe facing Dignitas.

2016-06-01 15:28

They play more than 1 match. All they have to do is come top 8. If they can't do that, they don't deserve to get to the major.

what do you mean? loser of G2-Tyloo plays loser of Faze-Dignitas? is so, its over. no way Tyloo qualifies

need 3 losses not to qualify. They'll qualify

2016-06-01 15:32

well starting 0-2 is very bad for morale and nerves

Tyloo will lose to Cloud9. THANK ME LATER

2016-06-01 16:43

No I'm just talking about 1st round: #1 Pool vs #3 Pool when it should have veeb #1 Pool vs #4 Pool... 2nd round matches are drawn randomly.

2016-06-01 15:34

yy thats crazy

They will play the other teams as well.

2016-06-01 15:30

That's only the first game. You have to lose 3 matches to be out. That means they have several chances. Considering the pool, Tyloo has to be favored to be in the top 8, and that's all that's needed to get in the Major.

i like it.

2016-06-01 15:22

Gotempo

2016-06-01 15:23

ez for mouz, other pairs are pretty tough

2016-06-01 15:26

rip ENVY

go RNG

Wait, are matches going to be Bo3s, or Bo1s? I guess Bo3s take way too much time. Also, 5 CIS teams in the qualifier. Also also, ez for Waylander.

bo1

2016-06-01 15:46

There are only 4 CIS teams m8

7 replies

Well, I can be wrong, but let's count together: Gambit Binary Dragons Empire Flipside Hellraisers

Let's be serious , HR can't be considered anymore a CIS , it's more like an EU team like FaZe or a balkanic team

2016-06-01 17:54

Alright, alright, 4.5 CIS teams in the qualifier, just was trying to point out that CIS scene is AWAKENS.

2016-06-01 17:57

Yeah you have a point

2016-06-01 18:31

balkanic, ayy lmao, gypsy school system :-D (eastern europe, if u wish, but not balkan)

2016-06-01 22:01

Yeah maybe ur right ! Btw make sure u make a good TWC tournament

2016-06-01 22:02

Passive aggressive but wrong at the same time lol

2016-06-01 18:38

tyloo no visas inc

2016-06-01 16:11

Nah,they've got visas now,from Poland ;)

2016-06-01 16:29

not really a fan of formats with tiebreakers

ez binary dragon blyat

So the people that are first seed get fucked by having to play #9 when the #8 seed gets to play #16??? Great logic as usual ESL. Punishing teams who were in the last major...

+1 this format actually rewrads the lower seeded teams. ESL is a joke

2016-06-01 15:38

yup.. ROFL esl is a joke

2016-06-01 15:45

basically you won 3 times = qualified you lost 3 times = eliminated

2016-06-01 15:35

Both interesting and unfair. hoping that tyloo can impress

gl liTTle <3

2016-06-01 15:40

Probably : G2 FaZe OpTic mousesports EnVyUs Cloud9 FlipSid3 Splyce

2016-06-01 15:43

-Splyce -F3 +Tyloo +Tempo

2016-06-01 17:14

Wow, hopefully envyus can qualify, otherwise its rip envy.

2016-06-01 15:44

this is nice!

Rip envyus again

interesting format but terrible execution by esl as usual esl is ass

2016-06-01 15:47

Best seeds favela country.

2016-06-01 15:48

Swiss System best

Yeah man

2016-06-01 15:54

I get that round difference is a bad tie breaker, but surely it's a better 4th choice than initial seeding.

2016-06-01 15:49

fuck yeah nice

free skins match: envyus-tempo all in on tempo they will rek the frenchies. fallen will learn them how to play and beat the shit out of envy my predicition :D

ez for tyloo

2016-06-01 15:53

NICE As far as picks: Optic Hellraisers Dignitas G2 FaZe Flipsid3 Cloud9 Gambit

2016-06-01 15:55

gonna be fun for sure, also preparing my best skins to bet and win...

EnvyUs vs Tempo Storm LUL rip envy

very nice format, seems really fair

2016-06-01 16:02

yayyy another major less than a month after another this is so fucking exciting !!!!!!!!! !u gotta be kiddin me

it's 2 months since the last one, and the next one is still a month away..

2016-06-01 16:25

2016-06-01 16:59

so what?? the eleague with 1,2 mil is not a major?:)

2016-06-01 20:17

no that's a league pal

2016-06-01 20:18

expected logic from wide medkit

2016-06-02 07:01

so hard for tyloo...

2016-06-01 16:06

Ence?

2016-06-01 16:08

matches are all bo1?

that's a really good format tbh :D

2016-06-01 16:12

ez 4 nV

2016-06-01 16:15

Not a bad format. I'd like to see how it goes.

benja m8, it's not "non-elim" if 3 losses = youre eliminated. that's triple elimination

FOR FUCKS SAKE TYLOO, YOU BETTER NOT HAVE VISA ISSUES THIS TIME.

2016-06-01 16:24

They have the visa already

some1 understands this? xD

2016-06-01 16:31

Huge Bo5 after every Map you switch Opponent You win 3 you Qualify You loose 3 ur out

I don't understand why are there Tie Breaker Rules?

2016-06-01 16:34

<333333 BERNIE

2016-06-01 16:41

"When all five rounds are complete, top eight teams will qualify for ESL One Cologne. The tie-breaker rules are below: – Win-Loss ratio – Buchholz score system (the sum of wins of the team’s opponents) – Head-to-head match result – Initial seeding of the tournament" Why do they need tie-breaker rules if they have exactly 8 teams at 3-2 or better, while all other teams are at 2-3 or worse?

11 replies

Good point lol...Didn't think of that just as ESL didn't think of this either.

2016-06-01 16:37

That what I try to figure out as well

Sorting 4th and 5th for major group seeds.

2016-06-01 16:44

Thanks m8 didn't think about that

2016-06-01 16:48

Yeah, I assume that is what they mean. Just badly worded.

2016-06-01 20:28

thank you for explaining, I was having trouble understanding

2016-06-02 07:03

cause there's a probability of 10 teams to be 3-2, so, u can still win 3 games and do not qualify

2016-06-01 20:54

No, there is not. It will always be 8 teams at 3-2 and better.

2016-06-01 22:22

dude, please. ofc it is. even 12 teams can have 3 wins, think about it

2016-06-02 18:12

you seriously need to read the article again

2016-06-02 19:10

just imagin that the bottom 6 teams go 0-6, u can have at least 10 teams with 3 winsm but imagin that the bottom 4 teams go 0-5, u can have 12 teams 3-2 / 4-1 / 5-0

2016-06-02 18:17

good formay

2016-06-01 16:38

Some really odd opening matchups. Oh well.

2016-06-01 16:50

balanced matchups for 1st round xD

2016-06-01 16:54

The opening matchups are fucked wtf Why are teams punished for winning minors, 1 seed should play 4 seed, this is basic failure in seeding the matchups by the all mighty industry leader :/

2016-06-01 17:01

great format!

2016-06-01 17:02

13:00 - First round starts, eight matches one after another 22:00 - Estimated end of day BO1 cuz 22-13 = 9 hours Each match 1 hour + breaks and analysing

2016-06-01 17:04

G2 vs. TyLoo FaZe vs. dignitas Gambit vs. OpTic mousesports vs. Binary Dragons EnVyUs vs. Tempo Storm Cloud9 vs. Empire FlipSid3 vs. Renegades Splyce vs. HellRaisers Close matches FaZe vs Dig Gambit vs OG nV vs Tempo F3 vs RNG Blowouts G2 vs TyLoo mouz vs BG C9 vs Empire Splyce vs HR

I sent this : hltv.org/?pageid=135&userid=568400&blogi.. to ESL last year but I didn't think they were actually going to make it :o Really glad to see this :D

2016-06-01 17:17

Thank mr topeiko

2016-06-01 17:25

Yeah but now I've just seen the matchs.. Why dignitas is playing against better opponent than HellRaisers is beyond me :P

2016-06-01 17:27

Ranking this week?

Today I think, but I'm not involved anymore

2016-06-01 21:36

Yeah, I don't get why they changed the seed matchups, they make teams want to throw the final of the minor so that they play a worse opponent honestly.

2016-06-01 20:58

2016-06-01 18:52

GL to everyone, except Cloud9.

2016-06-01 17:09

rapported

2016-06-01 17:44

lol why are all swedistans hating on Na, that c9 2-0 vs fnatic must still hurt.

2016-06-01 18:07

i love it

2016-06-01 17:10

So it's basically a 'triple elimination' format. Interesting.

2016-06-01 17:15

gl tyloo

2 ez 4 tyloo

2016-06-01 17:18

2016-06-01 17:24

great format much better than old 4 groups of 4 gsl format

2016-06-01 17:26

Mindfuck format

2016-06-01 17:29

NiP , Fnatic , Astralis and LG wondering dafuck is a major qualifier

2016-06-01 17:33

Except 3 of them are worse than G2

They were better than G2 up until ex6tenz was kicked

I dont see envy qualifying to this major, really.

2016-06-01 17:39

Nt maniac

2016-06-01 17:55

So, tyloo has to play against g2 while renegays has to play against flipsid3? So 2nd place got easier opponent than 1st? NICE FUCKIN LOGIC. I'M DONE. FUCKIN RIGGED

2016-06-01 17:58

Very good format. I like it +1337

Why couldn't ESL put the teams and first matches into the graphic? I know that the graphic shows the hypothetical/projected results based on seeding, but I have to keep cross referencing the list of opening matches and the graphic.

+ Tempo Storm + EnVyUs + Mousesports + OpTiC + FaZe + Cloud9 + Flipsid3 + Renegades Go Tempo Storm

2016-06-01 18:13

-Renegades +G2

2016-06-01 20:42

SLOJNA

2016-06-01 18:21

too hard to understand lol

2016-06-01 18:22

then you are a retard and going to clean toilets all your life

2016-06-04 18:29

that's gonna be tough for envy

2016-06-01 18:24

got lost in that format

2016-06-01 18:47

let's go TS !

2016-06-01 18:53

YES! LET'S GO TEMPO!

2016-06-01 19:36

Ez for TS VAMOS BRAZIL! TS VS LG IN FINALS!! this time LG let TS have a major!! We smart we loyal we friendly we are from BRAZIL

2016-06-01 19:24

hehehehehehehe

2016-06-01 19:56

this format seems stupid to me ... seriously.. isnt there a chance you get the 5 best opponents possible and someone else who is like 6th worst gets the worst 5 and get qualified because of lucky schedule? sorry man im a normal worker not a fucking einstein to understand this damn retard system

2016-06-01 19:50

I think loosers get loosers but not sure

2016-06-01 20:09

i just studied it for like 10 minutes and it makes sense... :D all good... sounds pretty dope if you ask me :)

2016-06-01 20:10

Swiss System?

2016-06-01 19:54

yes cuz every good system in this world is made in switzerland :) we have best education system, best working system, best bank system everything important we've got the best system thats why we are the best country in the world :) thank me later

2016-06-01 20:11

fucking mid week games , fuck i have to work xd

2016-06-01 20:16

quinta a domingo..

2016-06-01 20:56

mas os faze jogam o primeiro jogo na quinta de manha xd

2016-06-01 21:19

G2 and nV please don't choke

2016-06-01 20:23

I don't see G2 choking against tier3/4 teams but not sure about nV

This format seems really good, I can't find anything bad about it.

2016-06-01 20:36

LET's go BRAZIL! we can do it, we immortals, we smart, we loyal, we friendly, we are from BRAZIL!

2016-06-01 21:35

Really interesting and novateur!

2016-06-01 22:23

great news

2016-06-01 22:33

where's navi, fnatic and lg?

2016-06-01 22:57

they were top 8 in Columbus, so they're automatically in the next major

2016-06-02 02:00

Ambulance system ! Let's try it guys ! Swiss=Quality

BO1? This increases occasionality. TyLoo bad luck, met G2 in opening match :<

2016-06-02 03:41

Initial Seeding Teams are placed into four seeding pools based on how they qualified for the Offline Qualifier. The first round matches were drawn to match Pool 1 vs Pool 3 and Pool 2 vs Pool 4. Seeding Pool 1: Rank 9th-12th of the last Major (Columbus 2016) Seeding Pool 2: Rank 13th-16th of the last Major (Columbus 2016) Seeding Pool 3: Winners of Regional Minor Championships for Cologne 2016 Seeding Pool 4: Runner-ups of Regional Minor Championships for Cologne 2016 Why 1 V.S. 3, 2 V.S. 4? Should 1 V.S. 4, 2 V.S. 3 MORE reasonable???

2016-06-02 04:10

I actually think that overall this matching makes it more reasonable to assume BOTH seed 1 and 2 will get through to the winners side. Ie. 1 should still be able to beat 3, 2 will probably have a much easier time beating 4 than 3. Of course this depends on actual teams that are better/worse than their seeding, but overall I think it is to try to give ALL teams from the previous major the best start possible!

2016-06-02 06:14

good format

2016-06-02 04:12

G2 Tempo Storm Optic Dignitas Tyloo NiKoesports FaZe Gambig/FlipSid3/Renegades/Cloud9/

2016-06-02 05:20

This is gonna be fantastic CS, this qualifier is absolutely stacked. 3-0: G2 3-0: Mouz 3-1: FaZe 3-1: OpTic 3-1: Immortals 3-2: C9 or dignitas 3-2: TyLoo or NV 3-2: Renegades or HR Really looking forward to, I cannot tell who is gonna get in at all, really. :D

2016-06-02 07:11

Ez for medkit system

2016-06-02 07:18

All BO1 or BO3?

2016-06-02 19:43

Mixed

2016-06-03 10:05

Anyone else NOT buying stickers this major? I'm tired of funding and supporting all cheaters so I'm out untill they all have VAC

2016-06-02 22:03

wtf is this format

2016-06-03 12:24

What in the fuck is this shit. Just do a round robin Bo2 with two extra large 8 team groups. Teams veto one map, pick their map, pick sides on opponent's map. Three points for a 2-0, one point each for a 1-1. Top 6 teams move on into Bo3 brackets. First bracket byes for top seeds from the groups. That's all you have to do.

2016-06-04 15:58