With some players believing Challenger League no longer gives Premier seeds, the WCS EU Challenger league concluded its bracket stage with the Ro16.
Challenger League Primer*
Challenger League is comprised of 40 players: 8 from qualifiers, 8 from the previous season of Challenger League, and the 24 Premier League players who did not finish in the top eight.
Bracket Stage: 8 players earn Premier League spots
All the forty players are placed into a three round, single elimination tournament. Players who finished top 16 in the previous Premier League are seeded into the third and final round. The eight players who are victorious in the third round receive spots in the next Premier League.
Group Stage: 16 players earn Premier League spots
The 32 players who did NOT advance to the Premier League from the Bracket Stage move on to the Group Stage of the tournament, where they are placed into eight different four-man groups. Each group is played in GSL/Premier League double elimination style, with the top two players receiving spots in the next Premier League. The third place finisher receives a spot in the next Challenger League, while the fourth place finisher is eliminated and must requalify.
Round of 24 results - Full brackets on LiquipediaChallenger League is comprised of 40 players: 8 from qualifiers, 8 from the previous season of Challenger League, and the 24 Premier League players who did not finish in the top eight.
Bracket Stage: 8 players earn Premier League spots
All the forty players are placed into a three round, single elimination tournament. Players who finished top 16 in the previous Premier League are seeded into the third and final round. The eight players who are victorious in the third round receive spots in the next Premier League.
Group Stage: 16 players earn Premier League spots
The 32 players who did NOT advance to the Premier League from the Bracket Stage move on to the Group Stage of the tournament, where they are placed into eight different four-man groups. Each group is played in GSL/Premier League double elimination style, with the top two players receiving spots in the next Premier League. The third place finisher receives a spot in the next Challenger League, while the fourth place finisher is eliminated and must requalify.
Starbuck 2 - 0 San
NaNiwa 2 - 0 ForGG
HappyZerG 2 - 1 BabyKnight
Tefel 2 - 0 TitaN
Welmu 2 - 1 FireCake
Bunny 2 - 0 ThorZaIN
LucifroN 2 - 0 Happy
ShoWTimE 2 - 0 sLivko
Congratulations to the winners for making it to the Premier League, or at least getting a better seeding in some 2014 Premier League qualifier that Blizzard has yet to mention! It would sure be swell if there was an official confirmation or denial.
*(This was the system for 2013. Certain players are stating a memo from Blizzard stated this will not be the case for 2014).