If you haven’t already been watching the Gold Series International 2016 in Shanghai, you’re in for a real treat in the coming days!

Our survival guide below has all the info you need to keep up with the tournament, including links and other resources. Read on for the full details.

The Gold Series International 2016 celebrates the 18^th anniversary of StarCraft’s release. It is the first premier tournament of the Gold Series and the second major StarCraft II tournament of the year, featuring 16 top players from across the world in a week-long series of matches.

The winners will each take a slice of the $50,000 prize pool. As a WCS Circuit 5000 event, winners will also earn WCS points putting them in the race for the WCS Circuit Standings.

The tournament takes place March 21-26, with an extra day of cross-regional competition on March 27 featuring special guest all-star players to compete against the Circuit champions!

Location: World Expo Exhibition & Convention Center Silver Hall in Shanghai, China

Dates:

• March 21–24 @ 2 AM Each Day: Ro16
• March 24 @ 10 PM PDT: Quarterfinals
• March 25 @ 11:30 PM PDT: Semifinals
• March 26 @ 5:15 AM PDT: Grand Finals

Streams:

• English:
  • Ro16: https://www.twitch.tv/n3rdstgamers
  • Quaterfinals, Semi Finals and Grand Finals: https://www.twitch.tv/neotvbaoxue

Casters & Hosts:

• Host: Sue ’Smix’ Lee

• Host: Ai ’Ali’ Li
• ENG Commentator: Kevin ’Rotterdam’ van der Kooi
• ENG Commentator: Jared ’PiG’ Krensel
• ENG Commentator: Alex ’Zeweig’ Lind
• ENG Commentator: Lucas ’Tenshi’ Collard

• CN Commentator: Huang ’Xiaose’ Xudong
• CN Commentator: Sun ’F91’ Yifeng
• CN Commentator: Qian ’Nostalie’ Zanqi
• CN Commentator: Ma ’Mayuki’ Xue

Top players from around the world are competing at this event, each of whom competed in the Gold Series International 2016 Qualifiers. Slots for each region are as follows:

• 8 slots awarded via WCS Passport Qualifiers
  • European – Elazer, Nerchio
  • North America – puCK, Scarlett
  • ANZ/Oceania – Sioras
  • Latin America – MajOr
  • Taiwan – Has
  • China – Jieshi
• 4 slots awarded to offline qualifiers on March 19
  • Harstem, Snute, TooDming and Coffee
• 4 slots given to invited players
  • Circuit event: PtitDrogo, MarineLord, iAsonu, Xigua
  • All-Stars: ByuN, Stork, DongRaeGu, ByuL

The Gold Series International 2016 will begin with a 16-player dual-tournament group round. All matches from the Round of 16 will be determined by a best-of-three, with the playoffs being single elimination, the quarterfinals and semifinals being best-of-five, and the Finals being best-of-seven.

• Total prize pool: $50,000 and 5,000 WCS Circuit Points divided among the 16 competitors.
• 1^st Place: $16,000 and 1,000 WCS Circuit Points
• 2^nd Place: $8,000 and 700 WCS Circuit Points
• 3^rd – 4^th Place: $5,000 and 450 WCS Circuit Points
• 5^th – 8^th Place: $2,000 and 300 WCS Circuit Points
• 9^th – 16^th Place: $1,000 and 150 WCS Circuit Points

Join the conversation here!

• Team Liquid – WCS Circuit Shanghai thread
• Reddit.com/r/StarCraft
• Esports Forum on StarCraft II.com
• And of course . . . in the livestream chat!

More Information

Liquipedia page

VODs coming soon!