Announcing the ESL Guild Wars 2 Pro League

Greetings, Mist heroes,

It’s been a wild and exciting ride to see the Guild Wars 2 competitive scene grow from community-organized tournaments, to the ESL Go4GuildWars2 Cups, all the way to this year’s World Tournament Series in which players were given the chance to compete for cash prizes and glory around the globe. Over the past year, we’ve created some unforgettable memories and have seen the popularity of Structured Player vs. Player grow at an explosive rate, securing itself as the fastest-growing area of Guild Wars 2. With the momentum from last year’s successes driving us forward, we’re excited to announce that we’re taking competitive play to the next level by partnering with the Electronic Sports League to bring you the ESL Guild Wars 2 Pro League!

Welcome to the Big Leagues
In the ESL Guild Wars 2 Pro League, eight teams from each region will compete for a combined prize pool of $400,000 USD over the course of two action-packed, seven-week seasons. Each season will ultimately lead up to our Season Finals event that will feature the top two teams from North America facing off against the top two teams from Europe. At the conclusion of each season, all North American and European teams are guaranteed winnings from the $200,000 USD prize pool for that season.

But wait—there’s more! At the end of season two awaits the Guild Wars 2 World Championship event with our largest tournament prize pool to date. Sounds exciting, right? Don’t get ahead of yourself—you need to make it into the league first!

Making the Cut
Four of the eight Pro League slots per region will be given to existing top teams—teams that have either participated in World Tournament Series Finals events or are top ranking in the ongoing October Go4GuildWars2 Cups. The other four slots will be up for grabs in an open qualifier event in which any team can participate. We’ll be kicking off the Season One Pro League Qualifier in mid-November, so you have plenty of time to put your team together for a shot at going pro. More information on the qualifiers will be available in the near future, but for now, here are the main things you should know:

• Four of the eight team slots per region will be up for grabs in the open qualifier. The other four slots are reserved for World Tournament Series finalists and high-ranking teams from the October Go4GuildWars2 Cups, which you can still participate in on October 18 and 25. These cups do not have age or region restrictions. See more details here.
• In an effort to make the Pro League as competitive as possible, we are lowering the minimum age requirement to 16 years old. Additionally, we will no longer require players to be citizens of any particular country to compete—all are welcome.

What If I Don’t Make the Cut?
Don’t despair. While we were designing this system, we strongly felt that there should be a clear and concise path of progression for any team to attempt to make their way into the Pro League. Now that the Pro League has been announced, we can talk to you about the Guild Challenger League, formerly known as the Guild Team Leaderboard in previous blogs. The first step to making it into the Pro League is to dominate the Guild Challenger League during regular PvP League seasons.

At the end of each Pro League season, the bottom-ranked Pro League teams will have to prove to their fellow competitors that they have what it takes to compete at the highest level. They will face off against the top teams from the Guild Challenger League in the Challenger Cup, risking possible removal from the Pro League. The top teams from the Challenger Cup will then be promoted into the next season of Pro League for their region. This system gives anyone who plays Guild Wars 2 PvP a shot at the top—so get your team together, practice, play in ranked play during a PvP League season, and get ready to give the top teams hell.

Looking at the Big Picture
Now that we’ve announced all the parts of leagues, we want to take a moment to put it all together. The Pro League, the Guild Challenger League, and the PvP League all run in parallel at the same time during a season. The PvP League provides individual challenges and rewards. The Guild Challenger League provides that next step in which a team of players can compete during a league season for guild rewards, prestige, and a shot at going pro in the Pro League. The Pro League offers players the highest level of competitive play for cash prizes and entrance into our World Championship. However, there is one final piece to this picture that we have not yet discussed—balance.

We strongly believe that regular balance updates are one of the key pillars of building a successful competitive game. As such, prior to each season, there will be a balance update. League play will generally begin about two weeks after a balance update to ensure that the metagame has stabilized in an appropriate manner. Balance will be closely monitored throughout the season with the goal of having solid balance going into the postseason tournaments.

The ESL Guild Wars 2 Pro League is a momentous occasion in the evolution and growth ofGuild Wars 2 as a competitive game. We’d like to thank all of our players, shoutcasters, admins, analysts, and everyone in our amazing community for making this possible. We can’t wait to see where this goes, and we look forward to seeing you during our first season. You’ll be able to follow along with the progress of the Pro League at www.twitch.tv/guildwars2.

For more information on how you can get involved in the ESL Guild Wars 2 Pro League, clickhere. Don’t forget to stay tuned to the official Guild Wars 2 site for updates on the open qualifier and the Pro League!

We’ll see you in the Mists!

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Did you miss this week’s matches? Don’t worry; you can catch the matches on the officialGuild Wars 2 YouTube channel at your leisure. If you’re just looking for the highlights, you can get the details you’re looking for via ESL’s Week 2 recap, and be sure to check out Academy Gaming’s newest article for a deep dive on what’s happening in the North American league.

Week three kicks off next Monday, December 7, on the official Guild Wars 2 Twitch channel. The European Pro League broadcast begins at 10:00 AM. Pacific Time (UTC-8) and is followed by North America at 5:00 PM Pacific Time (UTC-8).



Here are the match-ups and standings for the week:

ESL Guild Wars 2 Pro League Week Three Matchups—EU
Match #1 Rank Fifty Five Dragons (2–0) vs. Car Crashed (1–1)
Match #2 Vermillion (2–0) vs. Purple Noise (0–2)
Match #3 Orange Logo(1–1) vs. More Guns Than Roses (1–1)
Match #4 The Civilized Gentlemen (1–1) vs. Chaotic Contingency (0–2)
Broadcast English: twitch.tv/guildwars2
Spanish: twitch.tv/ESL_GuildWars2_ES
German: twitch.tv/guildnews
French: twitch.tv/ogamingtv
Chinese: www.twitch.tv/gw2cbc
Showtime: 10:00 AM Pacific Time (UTC-8)
Map Rotation: Battle of Khylo, Temple of the Silent Storm, Forest of Niflhel

ESL Guild Wars 2 Pro League Week Three Matchups—NA
Match #1 Final Form (1–1) vs. The Abjured (2–0)
Match #2 Team PZ (0–2) vs. Spoookie (2–0)
Match #3 Zero Counterplay (0–2) vs. Ez Pz Lemon Squeezy (1–1)
Match #4 Never Lucky (0–2) vs. Apex Prime (2–0)
Broadcast English: twitch.tv/guildwars2
Chinese: www.twitch.tv/gw2cbc
Showtime: 5:00 PM Pacific Time (UTC-8)
Map Rotation: Battle of Khylo, Temple of the Silent Storm, Forest of Niflhel

You can catch a recap of each week’s matches on Fridays with On Point—our newest PvP-focused livestream. Hosts (and Pro League commentators) Jebro and Heurix will be your guides to the world of PvP, bringing you insider information on the players, teams, and even the drama behind high-tier competition. On Point airs on the official Guild Wars 2 Twitch channel right after Guild Chat.

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Next Monday, December 14, marks the fourth and final Pro League broadcast of 2015, after which we’ll be entering into a month long hiatus for the holiday season. We’ll be back on January 11, fully recharged from the holiday break, to resume with week five. If you want all the details on last week’s match, you can catch a recap at ESL Gaming, or you can rewatch every Pro League match over the official Guild Wars 2 YouTube channel.

Week four kicks off next Monday, December 7, on the official Guild Wars 2 Twitch channel. The European Pro League broadcast begins at 10:00 AM Pacific Time (UTC-8) and is followed by North America at 5:00 PM Pacific Time (UTC-8).

Here are the match-ups and standings for the week:

ESL Guild Wars 2 Pro League Week Four Matchups—EU

Match #1 More Guns Than Roses (2–1) vs. Vermillion (3–0)
Match #2 Rank Fifty Five Dragons (3–0) vs. Chaotic Contingency (0–3)
Match #3 Orange Logo(1–2) vs. Purple Noise (0–3)
Match #4 Car Crashed (1–2) vs. The Civilized Gentlemen (2–1)
Broadcast English: twitch.tv/guildwars2
Spanish: twitch.tv/ESL_GuildWars2_ES
German: twitch.tv/guildnews
French: twitch.tv/ogamingtv
Chinese: www.twitch.tv/gw2cbc
Showtime: 10:00 AM Pacific Time (UTC-8)
Map Rotation: Legacy of the Foefire, Battle of Khylo, Temple of the Silent Storm

ESL Guild Wars 2 Pro League Week Four Matchups—NA
Match #1 Never Lucky (1–2) vs. Team PZ (1–2)
Match #2 Apex Prime (2–1) vs. Spoookie (2–1)
Match #3 Zero Counterplay (0–3) vs. Final Form (1–2)
Match #4 Ez Pz Lemon Squeezy (2–1) vs. The Abjured (3–0)
Broadcast English: twitch.tv/guildwars2
Chinese: www.twitch.tv/gw2cbc
Showtime: 5:00 PM Pacific Time (UTC-8)
Map Rotation: Legacy of the Foefire, Battle of Khylo, Temple of the Silent Storm

You can catch a recap of each week’s matches on Fridays with On Point—our newest PvP-focused livestream. Hosts (and Pro League commentators) Jebro and Heurix will be your guides to the world of PvP, bringing you insider information on the players, teams, and even the drama behind high-tier competition. On Point airs on the official Guild Wars 2 Twitch channel right after Guild Chat.

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Week seven of Pro League airs today (Monday, January 25) on the official Guild Wars 2 Twitch channel. The European Pro League broadcast begins at 10:00 AM Pacific Time (UTC-8) and is followed by North America at 5:00 PM Pacific Time (UTC-8).

Event Preview
While teams such as the Abjured, Vermillion, and Rank Fifty Five Dragons have already secured their spot in the Season One Finals event in Leicester, UK, on February 20, some teams’ fates are considerably less certain, and today’s matches may be the most important of the entire season.

In Europe, some of the best matches of the season have been saved for last. We’ll see undefeated teams Vermillion and Rank Fifty Five Dragons collide, each vying to earn the number one seed in the Season One Finals. Fan favorites Orange Logo and the Civilized Gentlemen will clash in one of the most anticipated grudge matches of the season. The stakes are high for Orange Logo, as a loss against TCG will force Orange Logo into relegation—potentially losing their spot in the Pro League for Season 2.

Over in North America, the battle for second place and entrance to the Season One Finals continues, with both Team PZ and Team Spoookie currently tied for second in total league points. Both teams are projected to win their week seven matchups, which means the tie-breaker mechanic of rounds difference (total rounds won/lost) will come into play, likely making Team PZ the second place team for Season One.

Attend the Season Finals!
The ESL Guild Wars 2 Pro League Season One Finals will take place at ESL Studios in Leicester, UK, on February 20. Event entry will be ticketed and will be open to any interested fans. If you’re interested in attending the Season One Finals, hanging out with like-minded Guild Wars fans, chatting up some ArenaNet staff, securing swag, and possibly even enjoying an adult beverage or two (assuming you’re eligible), make sure to keep an eye on the official Guild Wars 2 websitefor updates over the next few weeks!

ESL Guild Wars 2 Pro League Week Seven Matchups—EU
Match #1 The Civilized Gentlemen (4–2) vs. Orange Logo (2–4)
Match #2 More Guns Than Roses (2–4) vs. Chaotic Contingency (1–5)
Match #3 Rank Fifty Five Dragons (6–0) vs. Vermillion (6–0)
Match #4 Car Crashed (3–3) vs. Purple Noise (0–6)
Broadcast English: twitch.tv/guildwars2
Spanish: twitch.tv/ESL_GuildWars2_ES
German: twitch.tv/guildnews
French: twitch.tv/ogamingtv
Chinese: www.twitch.tv/gw2cbc
Showtime: 10:00 AM Pacific Time (UTC-8)
Map Rotation: Battle of Kyhlo, Temple of the Silent Storm, Forest of Niflhel

ESL Guild Wars 2 Pro League Week Seven Matchups—NA
Match #1 Team PZ (4–2) vs. Ez Pz Lemon Squeezy (2–4)
Match #2 Zero Counterplay (0–6) vs. Team Spoookie (4–2)
Match #3 Final Form (2–4) vs. Apex Prime (3–3)
Match #4 Never Lucky (3–3) vs. The Abjured (6–0)
Broadcast English: twitch.tv/guildwars2
Chinese: www.twitch.tv/gw2cbc
Showtime: 5:00 PM Pacific Time (UTC-8)
Map Rotation: Battle of Kyhlo, Temple of the Silent Storm, Forest of Niflhel

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Teams in both North America and Europe are in close competition for top placement in Season 2 of the ESL Guild Wars 2 Pro League. With only three weeks left in the season, the stakes are higher than ever. The teams that prove themselves worthy and secure first or second place in their region will earn themselves a spot at the Season 2 Finals in Burbank, California on June 25, where they’ll play for the $100,000 tournament prize pool.

The second half of Season 2 brings a level of uncertainty regarding the performance of the Pro League teams. The April 19 Spring Quarterly Update has prompted a slight meta shift, forcing teams to scramble to identify the new apex compositions.

Week five of the Pro League airs on Monday, May 9 on the official Guild Wars 2 Twitch channel. The European Pro League broadcast begins at 10:00 AM Pacific Time (UTC-7) and is followed by North America at 5:00 PM Pacific Time (UTC-7).

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On Point with Jebro and Heurix

be hosting a new episode of On Point this Friday! They’ll recap the week’s Pro League matches for both North American and European leagues, break down key moments in league play, and discuss changes in the meta and strategy as the competitive season progresses. The show will also regularly feature top players from the Pro League giving insight on high-level play and the hottest new builds.

On Point will air on May 13 at noon Pacific Time (UTC-7).

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Pro League Matchups

Europe

Orange Logo vs. Purple Noise
Orange Logo grabbed their second victory of the season 500–343 over Purple Noise in Temple of the Silent Storm. They continued to surge forward on the Forest of Niflhel map, where they won game two with a 490–263 score.

Orange Logo will face off against Super Smash next week and are looking to move on up in the final standings. Purple Noise will be given the default 2–0 victory over Car Crashed, concluding their season two play.

Rank Fifty Five Dragons vs. More Guns Than Roses
It was Rank Fifty Five Dragons all night as they thwarted More Guns Than Roses 500–107 in Temple of the Silent Storm. More Guns Than Roses couldn’t recover on the second map, dropping the series and losing 501–77.

Rank Fifty Five Dragons will face off against Vermillion in week seven, where they will need to seize victory to solidify their finals appearance and the number one seed for Europe. More Guns Than Roses hopes to take down The Civilized Gentlemen, but will need to make some changes to defeat one of the top European teams.

The Civilized Gentlemen vs. Super Smash
The Civilized Gentlemen showed why they’re not to be messed with, leaving Super Smash nearly empty-handed all series long. TCG claimed a 501–42 victory in the first match, and cruised past the competition to win 500–34 in Forest of Niflhel.

A week seven match with More Guns Than Roses is all that stands in the way of TCG’s return to the season finals. Super Smash seeks their second victory this season by facing off against Orange Logo.

North America
Team PZ vs. Never Lucky
This week was Team PZ’s time to shine and guarantee a finals appearance, while Never Lucky had one last chance to grab theirs. Team PZ maintained control throughout most of a back-and-forth battle in game one, and pulled through with a 500–366 victory over Never Lucky. Never Lucky is more familiar with the Forest of Niflhel map and managed to grab a lead halfway through the second game, but Team PZ powered through and showed their consistency with a 500–381 win, claiming a spot in the season two finals.

Team PZ’s match with Astral Authority next week will determine the seeding for North America at the finals. This will be their second consecutive LAN appearance. Never Lucky will attempt to steal Ez Pz Lemon Squeezy’s third-place spot.

Astral Authority vs. Gems N Tonic
Gems N Tonic were no match for the might of Astral Authority this week. Astral’s Chaith moved over to revenant to show us a deadly composition, with Toker still on thief. The opener in game two was a thriller; Gems N Tonic grabbed the lead in the opening minutes. This false hope for the underdog turned around swiftly when Astral’s experience helped them come out with a 500–251 win.

Astral will face off against their rival Team PZ next week, and they plan to reclaim their number one spot for North America. Gems N Tonic will seek their second victory of the season when they go up against eDream.

Spoookie vs. eDream
Unfortunately, eDream were unable to field a full roster, giving a 2–0 victory to Spoookie by default. eDream’s week seven match with Gems N Tonic will finalize the bottom half of the standings, and Spoookie will battle Final Form.

Final Form vs. Ez Pz Lemon Squeezy
Final Form and Ez Pz Lemon Squeezy brought us a thrilling three-game series in the final match of week six. Game one was down to the wire, but Final Form held on until time expired and won 460–410 in Temple of the Silent Storm. Ez Pz was out on top early in Forest of Niflhel until Final Form clawed back in with a Svanir kill and 30 seconds left on the clock. They seemed to have secured the win, but Ez Pz killed Chieftain Utahein with 10 seconds left and tied up the series with a 464–453 victory.

The final match was a tight one, as the Legacy of the Foefire graveyard node wasn’t captured until nearly fourteen minutes into the game. Final Form’s last-minute attempt at a lord kill fell short, and Ez Pz secured the third place spot in the standings with a 407–251 win in game three. They’ll need to claim victory over Never Lucky next week to hold onto third place. Final Form may find their hands full with an improving Gems N Tonic roster.

Tune in to the action on the official Guild Wars 2 Twitch channel!

ESL Guild Wars 2 Pro League Matchups—EU

Match #1 Orange Logo (2–4) vs. Super Smash (1–5)
Match #2 The Civilized Gentlemen (5–1) vs. More Guns Than Roses (3–3)
Match #3 Rank Fifty Five Dragons (6–0) vs. Vermillion (5–1)
Broadcast English: twitch.tv/guildwars2
Spanish: twitch.tv/ESL_GuildWars2_ES
German: twitch.tv/guildnews
French: twitch.tv/fureurwebtv
Chinese: www.twitch.tv/gw2cbc
Showtime: 10:00 AM Pacific Time (UTC-7)

ESL Guild Wars 2 Pro League Matchups—NA

Match #1 Gems N Tonic (1–5) vs. eDream (0–6)
Match #2 Ez Pz Lemon Squeezy (4–2) vs. Never Lucky (3–3)
Match #3 Spoookie (1–5) vs. Final Form (3–3)
Match #4 Team PZ(6–0) vs. Astral Authority (6–0)
Broadcast English: twitch.tv/guildwars2
Chinese: www.twitch.tv/gw2cbc
Showtime: 5:00 PM Pacific Time (UTC-7)

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Yeah but ony 2 regions NA and EU , cant really compare to lol or dota but still nice to see it in a mmorpg