by hsdecktech - 7 years ago     show comments

A couple days ago, those slated to participate in the 2017 HCT Spring Playoffs were informed that they had qualified, the date of the competition (May 27-28, 2017), and authorized venues from which they are allowed to compete.

Since that time, there has been some moderate twitter backlash regarding the announcement as a whole and the Americas venues in particular. Briefly, there were complaints about the timing of the announcement (less than three weeks to make travel accommodations for the already-busy Memorial Day weekend); the amount of venues available (20 for the entire Americas region, whereas EU got 23); the locations of the venues (the map, courtesy of college phenom Noblord, shows that players in the US Northeast must either have passport or go to Georgia); and the quality of the venues (five Buffalo Wild Wings locations; no traditional venues like Esports Arena or The Cave).

Edit: On May 11, 2017, Blizzard updated the Americas Playoff locations to add The Cave, in Fairfax Virginia, as an official cite. All other venues appear to have remained the same and no other venues appear to have been added at this time. (cite)

After the initial backlash, there was a bit of pushback from fellow pros and people involved in the tournament production. EU pros, naturally, engaged in some good-natured ribbing at NA pros for having “discount” locations to account for their “discount” skills/achievements. Still other pros voiced opinions that things like travel and sub-optimal venues are part of the work of being a pro, and that those serious about Hearthstone should not complain about the offered venues. Finally, those involved in hosting the events–including Sam Benson, one of the most experienced Innkeepers in the world–assured the public that a lot of effort was put into making this event great.

And so, within just a few days, the playoffs announcement went through the entire Internet life-cycle of outrage, counter-point, and meme.

This morning, two days after this all started, Blizzard announced that location of the 2017 HCT Spring Championships: Shanghai! The bustling city promises to provide a stark contrast from the Winter Bahamas location. The announcement also gave some specifics about the dates of the event (July 7-9, 2017, Chinese Standard Time), the venue, the format, and the prize pool. Check out the entire blue post, below.

Originally Posted by Blizzard Entertainment (Blue Tracker / Official Post)

After our island getaway in the Bahamas for the Winter Championship, the Hearthstone Championship Tour (HCT) is headed to the big city for the Spring Championship. We’re trading palm trees and blue waters for a bustling metropolis and shimmering skyline.

 

That’s right — HCT Spring will come to a legendary conclusion against the brilliant backdrop of Shanghai.

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Where

The Spring Championship will take place in the Silver Hall of the Expo Center in Shanghai, China. More information regarding how to attend, including ticketing details, is coming soon!

 

When

The Spring Championship runs from Friday, July 7 through Sunday, July 9, 2017​ (in China Standard Time). Group stage matches will take place on Friday and Saturday, and Sunday will focus on the playoff bracket.

 

Qualification and Format

The top four players from each region’s Spring Playoff will qualify for a spot in the Spring Championship. In Shanghai, those 16 players will battle in a dual tournament group stage, and the top two players from each group advance to the single-elimination playoff bracket. Additional information is available in the Spring details update, and further HCT information can be found in the Official Rules.

 

Prize Pool

The total prize pool for the Spring Championship is $250,000 USD.

The tavern continues to travel as Hearthstone ventures east — and we hope you’ll join us for the epic Spring Championship in Shanghai! Stay tuned for more information as we get closer to the event, and let us know your thoughts on the second tour stop of 2017 via Twitter and Facebook using #HCT.

The original post also can be found here: link.

As it turns out, Shanghai is famous for its cuisine, so hopefully some delicious pork buns can take the sour taste of wings out of any American champions’ mouths.