Season One of this year's Grandmasters starts tomorrow. The tournament features a drastically revamped format that we've recapped below. 48 players will compete -- including some newly crowned Grandmasters for a total of eight weeks. Prizing for the Season includes $500,000 and of course the right to compete at the World Championship later this year. All the competition can be viewed over on the Hearthstone YouTube Channel.
- Venue: Online
- Stream: the Hearthstone YouTube Channel.
- Dates: Friday, Saturday, Sunday - April 9th - June 6th
- Casters:
- Americas: Not Known At Time of Posting.
- Asia-Pacific: Not Known At Time of Posting.
- Europe: Not Known At Time of Posting.
- Prize Pool: $500,000 USD
- Stream Times: Broadcasts begin at 2AM PT/5AM ET/11AM CEST w/ the Asia-Pacific Region.
EDIT: Added Blizzard's statement that America's GM Zalae is now suspended.
Free Packs
Drops will be returning for Grandmasters Season 1. Viewers can earn up to six free packs just for watching the action live on YouTube. They will be awarded as follows for watching two hours of the stream. Viewers are required to link their Blizzard and YouTube accounts to claim packs -- directions can be found here.
- Week 1 - Year of the Phoenix (max 2 packs)
- Weeks 2-7 - Year of the Phoenix (max 2 packs)
- Playoffs - Forged in the Barrens (max 2 packs)
Format
As we mentioned earlier, the format for this year's competition has been revamped. The first seven weeks consist of a rotating format. Players will compete in a weekly Dual Tournament format, beginning each Thursday, to earn placement in the weekend's top-8 tournament. Points will be awarded based on number of wins. Points totals will determine the final standings before the playoffs in Week 8.
- Thursday - Each region competes in an off-broadcast group play tournament.
- Friday - The 4 decider matches are played to determine who makes the Top-8, per region.
- Saturday - Day 1 of the Top-8 single elimination tournament.
- Sunday - The final 4 advance to complete the tournament.
- Rotating Formats:
- Week 1 - Conquest
- Week 2 - Conquest
- Week 3 - Specialist
- Week 4 - Specialist
- Week 5 - Last Hero Standing
- Week 6 - Last Hero Standing
- Week 7 - Conquest
The Playoffs - Week 8
The first 7 weeks lead up to the playoffs -- which will qualify one player from each region to compete at the World Championship.
- The top 8 players advance to the playoffs.
- Players 9-12 are eliminated from tournament play, but safe from relegation.
- The bottom 4 players from each region are automatically relegated from the Grandmasters.
- The winner from each region is invited to the World Championship. If an invited player from Season 1 is relegated in Season 2, their invitation is rescinded and given to the next highest finisher.
The Grandmasters
16 players from each of the three regions will compete. Three will advance to the World Championship, while four from each region face relegation.
— Hearthstone Esports (@HSesports) April 8, 2021
Go Thijs Go Thijs !!
Im routing for Zale becuz Zeddy is a simp loser whos trying to actively ruin zalaes career by continually bringing up a he said/she said accusatipon from months ago. Nobody should be attacked like this. what makes it even scummier, is Zeddy is trying to act like a white night ewhen hes just an lonely old man with real prospects af a mate. Online attacks with no evidence is not ok. Neither is actively campaigning for Blizzard to investigate said matter. Can u imagin if everytime a disgruntled ex gf accused her ex of something, somebody tried to get ypour job taken away etc....just crazy.
Languagehacker and Zalae, get after it gentlemen. Best of luck!
oof
Zalae got the boot not long after I put this out there. I still wish he was competing, though.
"If an invited player from Season 1 is relegated in Season 2, their invitation is rescinded and given to the next highest finisher."
There will be no Feno or Silvername anymore :D
Live channels for Week1 are already online in HS Youtube and HS Esport, you can select the desired lives based on regions and set some reminders.
Enjoy your Free Packs!!
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