Long tweet regarding @MLG and their recent change in event/league structure. Please read on if #CODeSports means something to you.



If you haven't heard, @MLG has recently modified their event structure in a way that separates professional teams from amateur teams at events (Read details here http://bit.ly/1eSlQKJ). This involves having seasonal professional leagues starting with a number of professional teams who are grandfathered in. Amateur teams have an opportunity of making it into the next professional season by performing well at Play-In tournaments at events (first one being at MLG's upcoming Anaheim event). This process involves relegation meaning any of the grandfathered professional teams in the first season can lose their invite to the next season by performing poorly in the regular season and Play-In tournament.



As of now, the top 8 teams in the first regular season will maintain their status into the next season regardless of their performance in the first playoffs in Anaheim. However, the other professional teams not within that top 8 must compete in the Play-In tournament against amateur teams to retain a spot in the next professional season. Likewise, amateur teams can qualify for the next professional season by outperforming the other teams entering into that Play-In tournament. I hope I didn't make that sound too confusing. If you are familiar with relegation in English Premier League football (soccer), this is very similar.



So why am I writing all of this? Well, I think there is a lot of misunderstanding from amateur competitors who seem to feel slighted by the change when, in my honest opinion, this is the best chance they will have to make a name for themselves and the most progressive way to formalize #CODeSports. This is why:



-Easier road for amateur teams: As the events are ran now, amateur teams must compete against professional teams in all competition. In almost every single case, they get throttled. Every now and then an amateur team will come through and upset professional teams resulting in a top 8 finish. However, it is very rare for a team to repeat this at the next event. If they do, this new method still caters to them and in an even bigger way which leads me to my next point.

-Sustained recognition: this structure is great for the amateur teams who actually do make a nice run because they don't just get 15 minutes of fame. They now get to participate as a professional team for the duration of an entire season and have a chance to maintain their status thereafter. This is how you make a name for yourself.

-Formalization: With a league structure like this, @MLG can now begin to evolve and formalize league by-laws, rules and regulations that govern the players and teams. Every major sport league has gone through this. Hell, the NFL and NBA still make constant rule changes year after year.



All in all, I think the new beginnings @MLG have set forth actually make things much better for amateur competitors who aspire to turn pro. Anyone who complains about the prize pools for the Play-In tournament or anyone who has a problem with the way this is presented has complete tunnel vision in my opinion. Setting your eyes on some prize money shouldn't be the only thing you're after as an aspiring pro competitor in eSports. For me, it's about proving you're at the top level and capable of staying there. I would hope that's what the fans want to see out of the players and teams too. With this method, I really believe @MLG is laying the foundation to find the best teams who deserve the recognition. It works, because no team is ever safe. Every team is playing for the right to maintain their status season after season. There is an even bigger chopping block now.



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