- \n
- Rounds 1 & 2:<\/b> Friday, Aug 12 11:00am GMT (GMT+00:00)<\/span><\/li>\n
- Rounds 3 & 4:<\/b> Saturday, Aug 13 11:00am GMT (GMT+00:00)<\/span><\/li>\n
- Semis and grand final:<\/b> Sunday, Aug 14 11:00am GMT (GMT+00:00)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/p>\n
Deciphering the Format<\/h3>\n
The WTL playoffs format is notoriously complicated, so we’ll try to break it down as we do every season.<\/p>\n
It’s easiest to think of WTL as having a LOSE CONDITION<\/b> rather than a win condition. Each team has four ‘lives,’ and the first team to reach zero lives loses the match.<\/p>\n
As in the regular season, the teams play a series of best-of-two matches. Only the initial players for each team are predetermined, while the remaining players are chosen as the match progresses. If a player wins a series 2-0, the winner remains and plays in another match against the opposing team’s next selected player\u2014this is similar to the all-kill format used in other leagues. But if the result of a series is a 1-1 tie, both players are eliminated<\/b> and both teams must send out a new player.<\/p>\n
Each team is allowed a single revive during a match, where an eliminated player can return to play. The match ends once a team has lost all four lives and is defeated.<\/p>\n
There is a rare scenario where both teams can go down to zero lives simultaneously: a 1-1 tie when both teams are down to their last life (the team that goes up 1-0 first does NOT win automatically; the second game of the series must be played). In that case, a single BO1 ace-match is played to decide the outcome of the series. <\/p>\n
![\"[image](\"https:\/\/platogaming.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/playoffexample.png\" "\\"\\"")
This format is awesome once you understand it, we swear.<\/i><\/div>\nAlright, let’s break down the teams that are playing.<\/p>\n
Team NV (#7 seed): 18 points, 6-5 record, +12 map differential<\/h3>\n
Roster and regular season records:
<\/b><\/p>\nTeam NV held the #1 spot for the first half of the season thanks to an easy initial schedule, but really fell apart in the second half once they had to face the stronger, playoff-level teams. Some of this pain was self-inflicted, as they played NightMare in a few too many matches. But it was also due to mediocre performances from DRG and Creator, who seemed to save their best play for GSL Code S.<\/p>\n
Creator made it as far as the Code S finals this year, but he struggled to consistently play at that level in other events. Similarly, DongRaeGu blazed his way to consecutive top six finishes in Code S, but has been a far worse player in other competitions. The saving grace for Team NV is Bunny, who lit up the WTL with a fantastic 14-6 performance while also making a top four run in Code S. The highlight of Bunny’s season was his 3-0 against #1 seed DPG, where he took down both Dark and Rogue. He’s the one steady force on the team, and the player I expect to be the most reliable in the playoffs.<\/p>\n
Because of Creator and DRG’s inconsistency, Team NV is the team that has the biggest gap between best and worst outcomes. We’re currently in the break period between Code S Seasons, so you would expect Creator and DRG to focus solely on WTL and play at 100% of their abilities. If they can do that, then Team NV should be a top three team at least, and maybe even longshot title contenders. However, if Creator and DRG can’t play at their GSL level, even a first round exit is possible.<\/p>\n
Kwangdong Freecs (#6 seed): 19 points, 8-3 record, +3 map differential<\/h3>\n
Roster and regular season records:
<\/b><\/p>\nIf I had told you before the start of the season that KeeN would be a contender for most disappointing player in the league, soO would plateau as a mid-tier player, and that Trap would inexplicably be benched for four out of eleven weeks, where would you have expected KDF to finish? Probably not as high as 6th place, in the upper half of the league.<\/p>\n
However, thanks to a very solid season from Armani, and some truly awful showings from Liquid and Team NV, the Freecs have somehow limped into the playoffs as the #6 seed. Though Armani didn’t have any spectacular performances, he was a very steady hand who didn’t give up a single 0-2 loss<\/a> during the entire season (he also gave up a lot of 1-1 ties where he was favored to win 2-0, but let’s not get greedy here).<\/p>\n
Now that we’re in the playoffs, you expect Afreeca to bench KeeN and stick with a three-man squad of Trap, Armani, and soO. That line-up may not inspire much excitement, but it’s a pretty decent team that could win a round or two.<\/p>\n
- Rounds 3 & 4:<\/b> Saturday, Aug 13 11:00am GMT (GMT+00:00)<\/span><\/li>\n