Starting next season, GSL will endure huge changes in both its broadcasting schedule and the format itself.

GomTV are constantly trying to find the optimal format of their Global StarCraft 2 League. Now, with the start of the GSL/MLG exchange program and the need for GSTL format improvements, the organizers are bringing serious alterations to the tournaments.

The biggest change comes in the GSTL format. Up until now, the team league spanned across only four days but now, it will be transformed into a full league with the ten pro-teams in Korea divided into two groups of five. Those ten teams will battle through the entire season, aiming for the top 3 spots in each group so they can advance to the playoffs.

Changes are also made to the Code A/Code S system, namely how statuses will be allocated, depending on how well the players has performed.

Code S Group League Match Format Change

Pre-existing GOMTV League Format -> Dual Tournament Format
Group stage games will always have 5 sets and the last game will be the deciding game for 2nd and 3rd Place.
From each group, 3rd Place will stay in Code S and 4th Place will go through Up and Down Match.
1st and 2nd Place from each Group will advance to Ro16

Code A Morning Time Broadcast

For the 5 days of the first week, Code A games will be broadcasted at 1:10 PM.
Starting from the second week, Code A game will only be broadcasted at 7:10 PM.

Up & Down Match Format Change

Code A Winner will automatically advance to Code S without going through Up & Down Match
MLG Winner will receive a GSL Code S seed for the following month. (Even if the winner is a Korean player, the seed will be provided). If the winner turns down the Code S seed or is already a Code S player then the runner-up will be given the seed.
Code S 4th Place Players (8) + Code A Top 7 = 15 players
Players will be divided into 3 groups of 5.
One group per day will be broadcasted. Each group’s 1st and 2nd Place will advance to Code S.

GSTL 2 Group Full League

Every Thursday and Friday, GSTL 2 Group Full League will be held.
The current 10 SC2 pro teams will be divided into 2 groups of 5.
Each team will go through a full league and top 3 teams from each group will advance to the playoff (20 matches / twice a week = will be broadcasted for 10 weeks).
Playoff will be played with the following format: Group A 1st Place vs. (Group B 2nd Place vs. Group A 3rd Place) / Group B 1st Place vs. (Group B 3rd Place vs. Group A 2nd Place)

Schedule changes have also been made to implement the alterations in the format. In the span of a week, viewers will be able to watch both individual and team league plays.

gsl%20schedule.png

Links
GOMtv - Source

GSL with schedule and format changes