[Frustration]

Originally Posted by SLCN.NXZ

Regarding format, I heard from quite a few different people who said they'd prefer to see only 16 people in groups. Commonly mentioned was 12 qualified and 4 open bracket slots with 2 players advancing from each group. I don't know if I agree or not, I have found the large 6 person groups rather clunky and I think it gives the broadcast more flexibility regarding covering the group stage matches.

Now obviously that's 8 players who are getting spots taken away but it adds MUCH more competitiveness to the open bracket and the qualifiers which are for the most part quite stale. Food for thought I guess.

Regarding top 12 single elim, we've never had a top 4 with the 4 best players in it with this format (PiG and KK seem to have been continuously on the receiving end of this). We're not as stacked as we used to be back after ACL Brisbane 2013 when we first brought this idea in. The group stage is fascinating each year because theres always a few good players who don't make it through.

If top 3 made it through for this ACL, we'd be looking at:

A: Alopex, NXZ, frust (all expected.)
B: MK, Pigeon, Law (for the most part expected, azure could make an upset)
C: Wally, Crimson, Probe (expected.)
D: Kingkong, Pox, Soundwave (mostly expected except from perhaps soundwave, move one of pigeon or MK down here from OB and all these groups go as expected.)

I far prefer the 2 advance for the drama that it adds to the group stage.

I do agree with the +2 advance from groups makes them harder and drama, and i also like the double elim champ bracket, also if u get the top 2 in groups you get money no matter what so everybody wants to make top 2 not just for champ bracket also the money involved.