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Global StarCraft II League

From Liquipedia StarCraft 2 Wiki

The Global StarCraft II League (or GSL for short) is a large tournament-based League held on location in South Korea and holds multiple events each year. Having started in late August 2010, the league was first step towards a professional league in South Korea for StarCraft II. The event is broadcast up to 2 nights a week (Wednesday and Friday) on AfreecaTV. GOMeXP (formerly GOMTV) organized it until the third season of 2015.

Tournaments[edit]

The first tournament in the league was the GOMTV StarCraft II Open 1 and ran from August 28 to October 2, 2010.

GSL Events organized by GOMTV and GOMeXP[edit]

Event Date Winner Runner-Up Score TL Articles
2010 Open Seasons
2010 TG Sambo Intel StarCraft II Open Season 1 2010-08-28 – 2010-10-02 South Korea Zerg FruitDealer South Korea Terran RainBOw 4-1 R&S
2010 Sony Ericsson StarCraft II Open Season 2 2010-10-09 – 2010-11-13 South Korea Zerg NesTea South Korea Terran MarineKing 4-3 R&S
2010 Sony Ericsson StarCraft II Open Season 3 2010-11-15 – 2010-12-18 South Korea Protoss MC South Korea Terran Rain 4-1 R&S
2011 Sponsorship League

2011 Sony Ericsson Global StarCraft II League January

2011-01-02 – 2011-01-29

South Korea Terran Mvp South Korea Terran MarineKing 4-0

R&S

South Korea Terran TOP South Korea Terran ByuN 4-3

2011 2nd Generation Intel® Core™ GSL March

2011-02-21 – 2011-03-19

South Korea Protoss MC South Korea Zerg July 4-1

R&S

South Korea Zerg LosirA South Korea Terran SuperNova 4-3
2011 LG Cinema 3D World Championship Seoul 2011-03-28 – 2011-04-09 South Korea Terran Mvp South Korea Terran MarineKing 4-2 R&S

2011 LG Cinema 3D Global StarCraft II League May

2011-04-18 – 2011-05-14

South Korea Zerg NesTea South Korea Protoss InCa 4-0

R&S

South Korea Terran Bomber South Korea Terran Mvp 4-2
2011 LG Cinema 3D GSL Super Tournament 2011-05-23 – 2011-06-18 South Korea Terran Polt South Korea Terran MMA 4-0 Recap

2011 Pepsi Global StarCraft II League July

2011-06-27 – 2011-07-30

South Korea Zerg NesTea South Korea Zerg LosirA 4-0

R&S

South Korea Protoss Puzzle South Korea Protoss Tassadar 4-2

2011 Pepsi Global StarCraft II League August

2011-08-08 – 2011-09-10

South Korea Terran Mvp South Korea Terran TOP 4-1

[ R&S]

South Korea Terran GanZi South Korea Terran MarineKing 4-3

2011 Sony Ericsson Global StarCraft II League October

2011-09-19 – 2011-10-22

South Korea Terran MMA South Korea Terran Mvp 4-1

Recap

South Korea Zerg Curious South Korea Protoss Oz 4-0
2011 Sony Ericsson Global StarCraft II League November 2011-10-27 – 2011-12-23 South Korea Terran jjakji South Korea Zerg Leenock 4-2 [R&S]
2012 Sponsorship League
2012 Hot6iX Global StarCraft II League Season 1 2011-12-19 – 2012-03-03 South Korea Zerg DongRaeGu South Korea Protoss Genius 4-2 [R&S]
2012 Hot6iX Global StarCraft II League Season 2 2012-03-10 – 2012-05-19 South Korea Terran Mvp South Korea Protoss Squirtle 4-3 [R&S]
2012 Monsieur J Global StarCraft II League Season 3 2012-05-21 – 2012-07-27 South Korea Protoss Seed South Korea Protoss MC 4-1 [R&S]
2012 Hot6iX Global StarCraft II League Season 4 2012-08-27 – 2012-10-20 South Korea Zerg Life South Korea Terran Mvp 4-3 [R&S]
2012 Hot6iX Global StarCraft II League Season 5 2012-10-22 – 2012-12-14 South Korea Zerg Sniper South Korea Zerg HyuN 4-3 [R&S]
2013 Sponsorship League
2013 Hot6iX Global StarCraft II League Season 1 2013-01-06 – 2013-03-09 South Korea Zerg RorO South Korea Zerg Symbol 4-2 [R&S]
2013 StarCraft II World Championship Series
2013 WCS Season 1 Korea GSL 2013-03-04 – 2013-06-01 Premier League South Korea Zerg Soulkey Premier League South Korea Terran INnoVation 4-3 [R&S]
2013 WCS Season 3 Korea GSL 2013-08-06 – 2013-10-19 Premier League South Korea Protoss Dear Premier League South Korea Zerg soO 4-2 [R&S]
2014 StarCraft II World Championship Series
2014 Global StarCraft II League Season 1 2014-01-15 – 2014-04-05 South Korea Protoss Zest South Korea Zerg soO 4-3 [R&S]
2014 GSL Global Championship 2014-04-19 – 2014-04-26 South Korea Protoss Zest South Korea Protoss PartinG 4-3 [R&S]
2014 Global StarCraft II League Season 2 2014-04-09 – 2014-06-28 South Korea Protoss Classic South Korea Zerg soO 4-2 [R&S]
2014 Global StarCraft II League Season 3 2014-07-16 – 2014-10-04 South Korea Terran INnoVation South Korea Zerg soO 4-2 [R&S]
2015 StarCraft II World Championship Series
2015 Global StarCraft II League Season 1 2015-01-07 – 2015-03-22 South Korea Zerg Life South Korea Protoss PartinG 4-3 Recap
2015 Global StarCraft II League Season 2 2015-04-01 – 2015-06-28 South Korea Protoss Rain South Korea Zerg ByuL 4-1 [R&S]
2015 Global StarCraft II League Season 3 2015-07-08 – 2015-10-04 South Korea Terran INnoVation South Korea Zerg ByuL 4-2 [R&S]
= Global Event (ongoing)
= Global Event (finished)

= GOMtv World Championship

GSL Events organized by AfreecaTV[edit]

EventDatePrizeP#LocationWinnerRunner-UpScore
2016 StarCraft II World Championship Series
2016 Global StarCraft II League Season 1: Code S2016-02-27 - 2016-05-01$194,48032South Korea Seoul
(Offline)
South Korea Protoss ZestSouth Korea Terran TY4 - 2
2016 Global StarCraft II League Season 2: Code S2016-07-06 - 2016-09-10$194,48032South Korea Seoul
(Offline)
South Korea Terran ByuNSouth Korea Protoss sOs4 - 1
2017 StarCraft II World Championship Series
2017 Global StarCraft II League Season 1: Code S2017-01-04 - 2017-03-26$142,66032South Korea Seoul
(Offline)
South Korea Protoss StatsSouth Korea Zerg soO4 - 2
2017 AfreecaTV GSL Super Tournament 12017-04-06 - 2017-04-09$26,94016South Korea Seoul
(Offline)
South Korea Protoss herOSouth Korea Terran aLive4 - 2
2017 Global StarCraft II League Season 2: Code S2017-04-19 - 2017-06-24$152,10032South Korea Seoul
(Offline)
South Korea Terran GuMihoSouth Korea Zerg soO4 - 2
Global StarCraft II LeagueGlobal StarCraft II League2017 GSL vs the World2017-08-03 - 2017-08-06$96,00016South Korea Seoul
(Offline)
South Korea Terran INnoVationSouth Korea Terran TY4 - 0
2017 Global StarCraft II League Season 3: Code S2017-07-05 - 2017-09-16$152,10032South Korea Seoul
(Offline)
South Korea Terran INnoVationSouth Korea Protoss sOs4 - 3
2017 AfreecaTV GSL Super Tournament 22017-09-28 - 2017-10-01$26,94016South Korea Seoul
(Offline)
South Korea Zerg RogueSouth Korea Protoss herO4 - 3
2018 StarCraft II World Championship Series
2018 Global StarCraft II League Season 1: Code S2018-01-06 - 2018-03-31$159,45232South Korea Seoul
(Offline)
South Korea Terran MaruSouth Korea Protoss Stats4 - 2
2018 AfreecaTV GSL Super Tournament 12018-04-05 - 2018-04-08$28,18516South Korea Seoul
(Offline)
South Korea Protoss StatsSouth Korea Zerg Dark4 - 3
2018 Global StarCraft II League Season 2: Code S2018-04-18 - 2018-06-23$159,47432South Korea Seoul
(Offline)
South Korea Terran MaruSouth Korea Protoss Zest4 - 0
2018 Global StarCraft II League Season 3: Code S2018-07-04 - 2018-09-15$159,47432South Korea Seoul
(Offline)
South Korea Terran MaruSouth Korea Terran TY4 - 3
Global StarCraft II LeagueGlobal StarCraft II League2018 GSL vs the World2018-08-02 - 2018-08-05$94,15116South Korea Seoul
(Offline)
Finland Zerg SerralSouth Korea Protoss Stats4 - 3
2018 AfreecaTV GSL Super Tournament 22018-09-27 - 2018-09-30$26,65716South Korea Seoul
(Offline)
South Korea Protoss ClassicSouth Korea Protoss sOs4 - 3
2019 StarCraft II World Championship Series
2019 Global StarCraft II League Season 1: Code S2019-02-02 - 2019-04-14$151,26532South Korea Seoul
(Offline)
South Korea Terran MaruSouth Korea Protoss Classic4 - 2
2019 AfreecaTV GSL Super Tournament 12019-04-18 - 2019-04-21$24,65316South Korea Seoul
(Offline)
South Korea Protoss ClassicSouth Korea Terran GuMiho4 - 1
2019 Global StarCraft II League Season 2: Code S2019-04-29 - 2019-06-22$151,26532South Korea Seoul
(Offline)
South Korea Zerg DarkSouth Korea Protoss Trap4 - 2
2019 Global StarCraft II League Season 3: Code S2019-07-03 - 2019-09-28$141,700.1832South Korea Seoul
(Offline)
South Korea Zerg RogueSouth Korea Protoss Trap4 - 0
Global StarCraft II LeagueGlobal StarCraft II League2019 GSL vs the World2019-08-15 - 2019-08-18$82,588.9916South Korea Seoul
(Offline)
Finland Zerg SerralPoland Zerg Elazer4 - 2
2019 AfreecaTV GSL Super Tournament 22019-10-03 - 2019-10-06$25,089.1616South Korea Seoul
(Offline)
South Korea Zerg DarkSouth Korea Terran TY4 - 0
ESL Pro Tour 2020/21
2020 AfreecaTV GSL Super Tournament 12020-03-18 - 2020-03-28$30,00016South Korea Seoul
(Offline)
South Korea Terran MaruSouth Korea Zerg Dark4 - 3
2020 Global StarCraft II League Season 12020-04-11 - 2020-06-06$140,00028South Korea Seoul
(Offline)
South Korea Terran TYSouth Korea Terran Cure4 - 0
2020 Global StarCraft II League Season 22020-06-20 - 2020-08-15$140,00028South Korea Seoul
(Offline)
South Korea Zerg RogueSouth Korea Protoss Stats4 - 1
2020 Global StarCraft II League Season 32020-08-29 - 2020-11-01$140,00028South Korea Seoul
(Offline)
South Korea Terran TYSouth Korea Terran Maru4 - 2
2020 AfreecaTV GSL Super Tournament 22020-12-02 - 2020-12-12$30,00016South Korea Seoul
(Offline)
South Korea Protoss TrapSouth Korea Protoss Stats4 - 3
ESL Pro Tour 2021/22
2021 AfreecaTV GSL Super Tournament 12021-01-27 - 2021-01-30$25,60016South Korea Seoul
(Offline)
South Korea Protoss TrapSouth Korea Protoss Zoun4 - 2
2021 Global StarCraft II League Season 1: Code S2021-04-05 - 2021-05-06$118,00016South Korea Seoul
(Offline)
South Korea Zerg RogueSouth Korea Terran Maru4 - 1
2021 AfreecaTV GSL Super Tournament 22021-05-17 - 2021-05-27$25,60016South Korea Seoul
(Offline)
South Korea Protoss TrapSouth Korea Protoss Zoun4 - 2
2021 Global StarCraft II League Season 2: Code S2021-06-28 - 2021-07-29$118,00016South Korea Seoul
(Offline)
South Korea Zerg DarkSouth Korea Protoss Trap4 - 1
2021 Global StarCraft II League Season 3: Code S2021-08-30 - 2021-10-07$118,00016South Korea Seoul
(Offline)
South Korea Terran CureSouth Korea Protoss Zest4 - 2
2021 AfreecaTV GSL Super Tournament 32021-11-22 - 2021-12-02$25,60016South Korea Seoul
(Offline)
South Korea Zerg RogueSouth Korea Terran Maru4 - 3
ESL Pro Tour 2022/23
2022 AfreecaTV GSL Super Tournament 12022-01-17 - 2022-01-27$30,50016South Korea Seoul
(Offline)
South Korea Protoss ZestSouth Korea Zerg Dark4 - 3
2022 Global StarCraft II League Season 1: Code S2022-03-21 - 2022-05-05$123,00020South Korea Seoul
(Offline)
South Korea Zerg RogueSouth Korea Protoss Creator4 - 2
2022 Global StarCraft II League Season 2: Code S2022-06-06 - 2022-07-29$123,00020South Korea Seoul
(Offline)
South Korea Protoss herOSouth Korea Terran Maru4 - 1
2022 Global StarCraft II League Season 3: Code S2022-08-22 - 2022-10-15$123,00020South Korea Seoul
(Offline)
South Korea Terran MaruSouth Korea Zerg RagnaroK4 - 0
2022 AfreecaTV GSL Super Tournament 22022-11-28 - 2022-12-08$30,50016South Korea Seoul
(Offline)
South Korea Zerg SolarSouth Korea Zerg Dark4 - 3
ESL Pro Tour 2023/24
2023 Global StarCraft II League Season 1: Code S2023-04-25 - 2023-05-18$52,427.3416South Korea Seoul
(Online/Offline)
South Korea Terran MaruSouth Korea Terran Cure4 - 2
2023 Global StarCraft II League Season 2: Code S2023-07-04 - 2023-07-27$54,861.7016South Korea Seoul
(Offline)
South Korea Terran MaruSouth Korea Zerg Dark4 - 2
2023 Global StarCraft II League Season 3: Code S2023-10-10 - 2023-11-02$54,018.0216South Korea Seoul
(Offline)
South Korea Zerg SolarSouth Korea Terran GuMiho4 - 1
2024 Global StarCraft II League Season 1: Code S2024-02-29 - 2024-04-11$15,190.3016South Korea Seoul
(Offline)
TBDTBD
2024 Global StarCraft II League Season 2: Code STBD$15,258.2016South Korea Seoul
(Online/Offline)
TBDTBD
= Global Event (ongoing)
= Global Event (finished)
= GSL vs the World

Invitationals organized by GOMTV and GOMeXP[edit]

Cup Events[edit]

Event Date Winner Runner-Up Score TL Articles
2011 GSL Blizzard Cup 2011-12-12 – 2011-12-17 South Korea Terran MMA South Korea Zerg DongRaeGu 4-3 Recap
2012 GSL Blizzard Cup 2012-12-17 – 2012-12-22 South Korea Zerg Life South Korea Protoss PartinG 4-2 [ R&S]
2013 Hot6ix Cup 2013-12-04 – 2013-12-08 South Korea Protoss Rain South Korea Zerg Soulkey 4-2 Recap
2014 Hot6ix Cup 2014-11-18 – 2014-12-07 South Korea Protoss sOs South Korea Terran MarineKing 4-1 [ R&S]

Arena of Legends[edit]

Event Date Winner Runner-Up Score TL Articles
Arena of Legends 1 2011-09-17 – 2011-10-01 South Korea Terran MarineKing South Korea Zerg DongRaeGu 4-1 [ R&S]
Arena of Legends: Team Ace Invitational 2011-11-03 – 2011-11-13 South Korea Terran Mvp South Korea Terran GanZi 3-2 [ R&S]
Arena of Legends: The King of Kongs 2012-01-02 – 2012-01-05 South Korea Zerg DongRaeGu South Korea Zerg LosirA 4-1 [ R&S]

Other Invitationals[edit]

Event Date Winner Runner-Up Score TL Articles
GOM TV All-Stars Invitational 2010 2010-11-18 – 2010-11-21 South Korea Zerg Kyrix South Korea Terran MarineKing 2-0 [ R&S]

Tournament Format[edit]

The GSL is an elaborate tournament which is separated into two tiers:

  • Code S contains the top tier players who are competing against each other to win the GSL.
  • Code A contains players who are competing against each other to enter Code .

Code S[edit]

  • Ro32: Dual Tournament format.
  • Best of 3.
  • The 4 players of each group are split into two pairs and play each other.
  • The winners of these matches will then face each other in the Winner’s match.
  • The victor places first in the group and advances to the Ro16.
  • The losers of the initial matches face each other in the Loser’s match.
  • The loser places fourth in the group, will fall to Code .
  • The loser of the Winner’s match and the winner of the Loser’s match will face each other in a fifth match.
  • The winner gets second place in the group and advances to the Ro16.
  • The loser places third in the group and will fall to Code .
  • Ro16: Dual Tournament format.
  • Best of 3.
  • The 4 players of each group in Ro16 will face off similar to Ro32.
  • Players who place 3rd and 4th in their group will fall to Code .
  • Ro8: Single elimination playoffs.
  • Players who reach Ro8 will retain their Code status.
  • Round of 8: Best of 5.
  • Semi Finals: Best of 7.
  • Finals: Best of 7.

Code A[edit]

  • 48 players from the Qualifier are matched up against each other.
    • The winner of the Bo5 advances to the Code Round of 32.
    • The loser of the Bo5 is eliminated and may qualify through next season's qualifiers.

Maps[edit]

The GSL map pool is an ever-evolving set of maps. Players are each allowed to veto one map for each match.

Current Pool[edit]

Coverage[edit]

The GSL broadcasts on AfreecaTV and Twitch.

English streams main commentators are Dan "Artosis" Stemkoski and Nicolas "Tasteless" Plott a.k.a Tastosis. Korean to English translation provided by So Jung Lim, and in the past by John "Junkka" Park and "Jay".

Other English commentators have been:

Awards[edit]

Trivia[edit]

  • GSL 3 saw the qualification of the league's first Random player South Korea Random GuMiho (though he later found more success after picking Terran).
  • GSL 3 and GSL 4 saw Sweden Terran Jinro reach the Ro4 twice, the only foreigner to do so. United States Protoss Neeb reached the Ro4 in 2018 GSL Season 3, the only other foreigner to make the Ro4.
  • South Korea Terran MarineKing was the first player to reach the finals twice and then first to play in three finals, placing 2nd three times.
  • GSL 4 saw the league's first mirror match and 4-0 final (South Korea Terran Mvp vs. South Korea Terran MarineKing)
  • South Korea Protoss MC was the only Protoss player to win GSL, until South Korea Protoss Seed won the 2012 GSL Season 3.
  • The GSL WC Final was not only a rematch of GSL Jan 2011 Final, but also the second mirror match-up (again South Korea Terran Mvp vs South Korea Terran MarineKing).
  • GSL 6 was the GSL to become available for viewing in China.
  • GSL 7 saw the third mirror match-up and second unique mirror match up (ZvZ) and the first team-kill Finals.(South Korea Zerg NesTea and South Korea Zerg LosirA)
  • GSL 9 saw South Korea Protoss MC fall into Code B, the first GSL champion to do so.
  • South Korea Zerg NesTea during GSL 7, is the first and only player to win GSL without losing a single game.
  • The Arena of Legends tournament saw the second draw in GOMTV events history. In Group D, game 1 between South Korea Terran BoxeR and Sweden Protoss NaNiwa, BoxeR had floating buildings with no ability to produce units, and NaNiwa had ground units, but no ability to produce air units to attack floating buildings, resulting in a draw.
  • South Korea Terran MMA won the first Blizzard Cup in 2011, 4-3 over South Korea Zerg DongRaeGu.
  • 2012 GSL Season 3 saw the first PvP finals, held between South Korea Protoss MC and South Korea Protoss Seed. After this, the GSL finals have seen all six matchups. Additionally, there has been at least one winner of each race in all possible matchups.
  • Features the Nestea award, given to any player to remain in Code S for 10 consecutive seasons. The first player to win this award was it's namesake South Korea Zerg NesTea.
  • Features the PartinG award, given to any player who reach the Ro16 in Code S for 10 consecutive seasons. The first player to win this award was it's namesake South Korea Protoss PartinG.
  • In GSL 2012 Code S, South Korea Terran MarineKing was the only player to advance to the Ro16 in all 5 seasons.
  • 2014 GSL Season 2 saw South Korea Zerg soO become the first player to reach three consecutive Code S finals. He then broke his own record the following season by reaching a fourth consecutive Code S final.
  • South Korea Zerg soO is the only player to lose in six GSL finals.
  • 2015 GSL Season 2 saw South Korea Protoss Rain become the first player to win a GSL while playing for a foreign team, after a long era of KeSPA dominance (7 previous GSL seasons were won by players on a KeSPA team).
  • 2016 GSL Season 2 saw South Korea Terran ByuN become the first teamless player to win a Korean premier league in the history of both Starcraft: Broodwar and Starcraft 2.
  • South Korea Zerg NesTea was the only player to win two consecutive Code S titles, until South Korea Terran Maru won 2018 GSL Season 1 and 2018 GSL Season 2.
  • 2018 GSL Season 1 saw Canada Zerg Scarlett become the first foreigner to reach the Round of 8 since Sweden Protoss NaNiwa in 2012 GSL Season 3, as well as being tied with Canada Protoss HuK with the longest foreigner Code S streak at 5 seasons. Her streak would extend to 6 before breaking off after 2018 GSL Season 2
  • 2018 GSL Season 3 saw Italy Zerg Reynor become the youngest foreigner, at the age of 16 to advance the Round of 16.
  • 2018 GSL Season 3 is the first season since January 2011 to have two foreigners in the Round of 16 (Italy Zerg Reynor and United States Protoss Neeb)
  • South Korea Terran Maru is both the first player to win two consecutive Code S finals since South Korea Zerg NesTea's May and July 2011 wins, and the first player to win a Code S finals 4-0 since South Korea Zerg NesTea in July 2011 GSL. No other player besides South Korea Zerg NesTea has won 2 in a row.

Medal Counts[edit]

  • Note: Medal Counts per Race, per Player and per Team only count GSL-branded events, except Code . They also do not count other GOMTV/GOMeXP Events.
  • Medal Counts include: "GSL Code S", "GSL Super", and "GSL vs World" events.

Medals won per Race[edit]

Medals won per Player[edit]

Medals won per Team[edit]

  • Until August 31, 2013, SouL was known as STX SouL.
  • Until September 7, 2013, Samsung Galaxy was known as Samsung KHAN.
  • Until April 28, 2015, SBENU was known as StarTale.[1]
  • SBENU is known as Freecs nowadays.

External links[edit]

References[edit]