StarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm featured in MLG Winter Season

News by Stephany Nunneley-Jackson News Editor

Published on Jan. 31, 2013

StarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm will be featured in the MLG Winter Season, through two invite-only competitions, it has been announced.

The invite-only, Winter Season Showdowns features 56 of the top StarCraft 2 players battling it out in Heart of the Swarm before it is released to the public on March 12.

From Monday, February 4 through Friday, March 8, each weeknight, and select Sundays, at 5pm ET, MLG will broadcast one Showdown, and the 28 players who win their Showdowns will advance to an invite-only, exhibition tournament at the Winter Championship.

The Winter Championship takes place in Dallas, Texas, from March 15-17 will include an invite-only, 32-player, Heart of the Swarm exhibition tournament just days after the game is released.

The 28 players who win their Winter Season Showdowns will join the top four from the MLG 2012 Fall Championship to compete in a single elimination bracket for $75,000 and a first place prize of $25,000. All matches will be broadcast via two streams.

Here's the full schedule and more information, courtesy of MLG:

Winter Season Showdowns Overview: 56 of the world’s best StarCraft II players will compete in one Showdown Match each, playing StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm before it is released to the public on March 12.

Format: Invite-Only online matches; Winner takes all, Best of five games
Broadcast: February 4 –March 8: 28 Matches, 28 Days broadcast each weekday at 5pm ET and select Sundays online and Twitch. Schedule below and online.
Prize: The 28 winners will receive placement at the Winter Championship in Dallas from March 15-17 where they will compete with Life, Leenock, Flash and Bomber.

Winter Season Showdowns Broadcast Schedule: All Broadcasts begin at 5pm EST online and Twitch. Schedule below and online:

Monday, 2/4: Parting vs Fantasy
Tuesday, 2/5: Roro vs Hero
Wednesday, 2/6: Innovation vs Ty
Thursday, 2/7: Soulkey vs Last
Friday, 2/8: Rain vs Flying
Sunday, 2/10: Sase vs Snute
Monday, 2/11: Nerchio vs BabyKnight
Tuesday, 2/12: Stephano vs Titan
Wednesday, 2/13: Mana vs Bly
Thursday, 2/14: Socke vs Thorzain
Friday, 2/15: Ret vs Feast

Broadcast dates for the following matchups will be announced soon:

Grubby vs Dimaga
Sen vs Moonglade
MC vs Alive
Taeja vs Violet
Hero vs Polt
Creator vs Nestea
Mvp vs Curious
Sniper vs Seed
MarineKing vs Gumiho
DongRaeGu vs Jjakji
Scarlett vs Goswser
Idra vs Ddoro
Fenix vs State
Vibe vs Illusion
Suppy vs Maker
Killer vs Qxc
Huk vs Sasquatch

Winter Season Showdowns - Players

KESPA (5) - 10 KESPA players competing for 5 spots:

Parting vs. Fantasy
Rain vs. Flying
Innovation vs. TY
Roro vs. HeroSoulkey vs. Last

ESF (5) - 10 ESF players competing for 5 spots:

DongRaeGu vs. Jjakji
MarineKing vs Gumiho
Mvp vs Curious
Creator vs Nestea
Sniper vs Seed

Independent/Western - 6 Western plus Independent Korean players competing for 3 spots:

MC vs Alive
Hero vs Polt
Taeja vs Violet

North America - 14 NA players competing for 7 spots:

Killer vs Qxc
Huk vs Sasquatch
Scarlett vs Goswser
Idra vs Ddoro
Suppy vs Maker
Fenix vs State
Vibe vs Illusion

Europe - 14 EU players competing for 7 spots:

Stephano vs Titan
Nerchio vs BabyKnight
Mana vs Bly
Grubby vs Dimaga
Socke vs Thorzain
Ret vs Feast
Sase vs Snute

Southeast Asia - 2 SEA players competing for 1 spot: Sen vs Moonglade

Winter Season Showdowns Maps:

Akilon Wastes
Bifrost
Cloud Kingdom
Daybreak
Entombed Valley
Korhal City
Newkirk City
Ohana
Planet S
Star Station
Whirlwind

Exhibition Tournament at the MLG Winter Championship:

Dates: March 15 - 17
Format: Invite-only, exhibition tournament (no open bracket) with all matches taking place on the main stage and one feature station.
32-Player Single Elimination Bracket (Bo5s & 7s) featuring: 28 Players from Winter Season Showdowns; Life, Leenock, Flash, Bomber - Top 4 Players from 2012 Fall Championship

Prizes: $75,000 total