The OnGameNet Starleague (OSL for short) was a reoccurring StarCraft tournament broadcasted on the channel OnGameNet (OGN) in South Korea. OnGameNet is a cable gaming company in Korea that heavily focused on StarCraft. The Starleagues roots date back all the way back to 1999, but it wasn’t until 2001 that the tournament was considered a professional competition. As the oldest professional tournament in Korea, featuring some of the most lucrative prize purses in competitive StarCraft, many consider the Starleague to be the most prestigious tournament in the history of the game. OSL competitions were held, initially, once per year before expanding to as many as three times a year from 2001 through 2010.

The OSL transitioned to StarCraft II briefly in 2012 before ceasing operations in 2013.

Notables: What the OSL is Known For [ edit ]

The Royal Road

The term "Royal Roader" originated at OSL. It refers to a player who wins the OSL the first time they participate in the OSL. Any player who achieves this feat is said to have walked the "Royal Road". Currently the following players have walked the Royal Road: Grrrr..., Garimto, Boxer, NaDa, July, Anytime, sAviOr and Jaedong.

The Legend of the Fall

The term "Legend of the Fall" originated at OSL. It refers to a belief that a Protoss player will win the OSL in the Fall (Autumn). This Legend started in SKY 2001 where Garimto defeated Boxer in the fall, stopping Boxer from winning three back to back OSLs. This curse was perpetuated the following fall in 2002 SKY OSL where Reach defeated Boxer once again in the Fall. It continued through Anytime's miraculous run in the So1 OSL and was repeated in the Incruit OSL by Stork, defeating Fantasy in the fall. Most recently, JangBi kept the Legend of the Fall alive by defeating Fantasy himself in his second consecutive OSL Final appearance during the 2011 Jin Air OSL and then again in the 2012 Tving OSL.

The Golden Mouse

The term "Golden Mouse" originated at OSL. It refers to an award for any player who wins three OSLs. Currently there are four recipients of the award; NaDa, July, Jaedong, and Flash. The award was created in late 2005 before the finals of So1 OSL. The award is a solid gold mouse statue worth approximately $8000 USD. There is also a Platinum mouse awarded for a player who has won 5 OSLs and a Diamond mouse for a player who has won 7 OSLs.

Curse of the OSL Champion

This "Curse" refers to the belief that the champion of the previous Starleague would fail to advance out of the Round of 16, usually with a victory in their opening match and then two subsequent losses.

Groundbreaking Map Pool

The OMAT was created in 2005 and introduced its first radical map in Ride of Valkyries. Since then, the OMAT have released maps which have either been hits or misses. Notable favourites include Peaks of Baekdu, 815 and Fantasy, while notable failures include Pioneer Period, Tears of the Moon and Demon's Forest.

Most watched individual league to date.

From its inception in 1999, the OSL has been the most watched Individual e-Sports League in Korea. Statistics show that the MBCGame's MSL has always been behind in terms of ratings.

Tournament Format [ edit ]

The OSL is a 40-player tournament that goes takes about 4 months to finish. There are multiple stages, all of which will be explained. Usually after an OSL is finished, the season has ended and there is a short break. Afterwards, another OSL is started and the cycle continues.

There are two levels to the OSL; OSL (the StarLeague) and the offline preliminaries. The OSL is the major tournament and the other rounds are preliminaries to qualify for the OSL. The OSL itself is divided into Round 1 and Round 2 - both of which will be explained. Of the 40 OSL players, those who finish in the top four of the previous OSL are rewarded with what is called a seed. Seeded players are guaranteed a spot in the second round of the next OSL.

The offline preliminaries [ edit ]

The offline preliminaries, or PSL, are the qualifiers for OSC. PSL stands for Pc-Bang Star League and is not the official name, just one that became popular with the Korean communities. The official name is OSC Round 1, but for simplicities sake we just call it the PSL. Any registered Progamer who is a member of a Progaming team can participate in the tournament, and as you can imagine, it is a very very large tournament. There are 24 groups in which only one person advances. The groups generally have around 7 to 8 people each, groups with 7 generally have one player having a bye round. This player is ranked highly on the KeSPA rankings and is given an advantage because of it. Each group is played out like an 8-man single-elimination tournament. Each match is best of 3, as to increase the chances the better player will advance. The 24 group winners then advanced to OSC. Typically the groups are played out over 2 days.

Round 1 [ edit ]

The 12 players who qualified for Round Two of the previous OSL but didn't receive seeds to Round 2, automatically get a place in the following seasons Round One and have a small advantage which will be explained soon. In each of the 12 groups there is 1 player who was in the previous OSL and didn’t get in the top 4. The other 2 spots in each group are taken by those who passed through the offline preliminaries. One person from each group advances. The two players who advanced from the offline preliminaries who were randomly assigned to the group play each other in a best of three match. The winner of this match plays the player in the group who played in last seasons OSL Round 2. The winner of this second Best of 3 advances to the OSL round 2. The advantage that the player who played in last seasons round two gets is that they only need to play one Bo3 to advance from the group whereas the other two gamers must play two.

In the end, 12 players advance from Round One into Round Two. 4 Seeded players + 12 qualified players = 16 players.

Round 2 [ edit ]

There are two parts to Round Two of the OSL - the Group Stage and the Elimination Stage

Group Stage [ edit ]

Group Selection

The 4 seeds are placed in separate groups so that Seed #1 is 1st in Group A, Seed #2 is 1st in Group B and so on. The seeds then get to choose their groups. Seeds #1->#4 get to pick one player each from the player pool which then joins the seed in their group as the 2nd player. After that the 2nd player in Group D picks a player, then the 2nd player in Group C, then Group B then Group A. Then the 3rd player in Group A picks, then group B, then Group C, then Group D. And Voilá! We have 4 groups of 4 players.

Group Play

Each of those groups plays in a round-robin style so that everyone plays everyone else. The top 2 qualifiers from the group enter into the Bracket Phase. Occasionally there are ties in the group, for example 3 players are on 2-1. In the event of such a tie another round robin takes place between the tied players until usable results are attained. For example, if there are three tied players and they each go 1-1, they play another round of tiebreakers until one player goes 2-0, 1-1 and 0-2. This way it allows the players to be ranked even in the event of a tie. If two players are tied first with 2-1, the player who defeated the other one takes the first spot.

Elimination Stage [ edit ]

The elimination stage is the final round of the OSL. It works in a classic 8 man single-elimination tournament. The quarterfinals (the first round of the bracket phase) are best of 3, whereas the Semifinals and Finals are best of 5. Originally, the OSL used a group round robin system similar to the Round of 16 with two groups instead of four to determine the semi-finalists. All players would play on the same day over three weeks, but it was announced by OnGameNet at the start of the Gillette OSL that they would switch to the more fan-friendly single-elimination system.

Trivia [ edit ]

Total: 33 Starleagues and one pre-Starleague tournament, the Progamer Korea Open (1999).

Medals won per Race [ edit ]

As of August, 2012, there have been:

Race 1st 2nd Terran 14 12 Zerg 10 13 Protoss 10 9

Medals won per Player [ edit ]

Gold [ edit ]

Silver [ edit ]

History [ edit ]

Celebrating the First Ten Years of Starleague (OSL and MSL)





Pre-Starleague Tournament:

Starleagues:





OSL Locations and Venues [ edit ]

The OSL were held in largely indoor venues in Seoul, until expanding to sites across South Korea, starting in 2003. The 2010 Korean Air OSL Season 2 finals would expand beyond's South Korean borders for the first and only time in Shanghai, China.[1]

OSL Locations and Venues OSL Locations and Venues (Korean) Freechal Star League 2000 Finals = Seoul, Yonsei University Centennial Hall 프리챌 스타리그 2000 결승=서울 연세대학교 백주년기념관 HanbitSoft Star League Final 2001 = Ocean Hall, Sejong University, Seoul 한빛소프트 스타리그 2001 결승=서울 세종대학교 대양홀 Coca-Star League 2001 Finals = Jangchung Gymnasium in Seoul 코카콜라 스타리그 2001 결승=서울 장충체육관 Sky Star League 2001 Finals = Jangchung Gymnasium in Seoul 스카이 스타리그 2001 결승=서울 장충체육관 Nate Star League 2002 Finals = Jangchung Gymnasium in Seoul 네이트 스타리그 2002 결승=서울 장충체육관 Sky Star League Final = 2002 Seoul Olympic Park 스카이 스타리그 2002 결승=서울 올림픽공원 Panasonic Star League 2002 Finals = Jamsil Indoor Stadium 파나소닉 스타리그 2002 결승=서울 잠실 실내체육관 Olympus Star League 2003 Finals = Jamsil Indoor Stadium 올림푸스 스타리그 2003 결승=서울 잠실 실내체육관 My Cube Star League Quarterfinals = 2003 Busan hard University 마이큐브 스타리그 2003 8강=부산 경성대학교 (첫 8강 지방투어) My Cube Star League 2003 Finals = Jamsil Baseball Stadium 마이큐브 스타리그 2003 결승=서울 잠실야구장 Hangame Star League Quarterfinals 03-04 = Busan Sajik Gymnasium 한게임 스타리그 03-04 8강=부산 사직체육관 Hangame Star League finals 03-04 = Seoul Olympic Park Gymnastics Stadium 한게임 스타리그 03-04 결승=서울 올림픽공원 체조경기장 Gillette Star League 2004 Quarterfinals = Jamsil Indoor Stadium 질레트 스타리그 2004 8강=서울 잠실 실내체육관 Gillette Star League Final = Daegu EXCO (the first provincial finals) 질레트 스타리그 결승=대구 EXCO (첫 지방결승) G- Boys Challenge League 6 Recurrence = City, Gimhae, Gyeongnam gym G-보이스 챌린지리그 6회차=경남시 김해체육관 EVER Star League 2004 Quarterfinals = Chonnam National University, Gwangju EVER 스타리그 2004 8강=광주 전남대학교 EVER Star League 2004 Finals = War Trade Exhibition EVER 스타리그 2004 결승=대전 무역전시관 IOPS Star League Quarterfinals 04-05 = Hongcheon Daemyung Vivaldi Park Ski Resort, Gangwon-do 아이옵스 스타리그 04-05 8강=강원도 홍천 대명비발디파크 스키장 04-05 IOPS Star League Final = Incheon College Gym 아이옵스 스타리그 04-05 결승=인천전문대 체육관 EVER Star League 2005 Quarterfinals = Pusan National University rigid EVER 스타리그 2005 8강=부산 경성대학교 EVER Star League 2005 Final Ilsan KINTEX, Goyang, Gyeonggi = EVER 스타리그 2005 결승=경기도 고양시 일산 KINTEX So1 Star League 2005 Round of 16 = Suwon Sports Complex Amphitheatre So1 스타리그 2005 16강=수원 종합운동장 야외무대 So1 Star League 2005 Final = Incheon City College gymnasium So1 스타리그 2005 결승=시립인천전문대 체육관 Shinhan Bank 2005 Star League Quarterfinals = Gyeonggi Province Gwangmyeong Velodrome 신한은행 스타리그 2005 8강=경기도 광명 스피돔 Shinhan Bank Star League Final 2005 KINTEX, Ilsan, Goyang, Gyeonggi = 신한은행 스타리그 2005 결승=경기도 고양시 일산 KINTEX Shinhan Bank Star League 2006 Season 1 Quarterfinals = Cheongju Seowon University 신한은행 스타리그 2006 시즌1 8강=청주 서원대학교 Shinhan Bank Star League 2006 Season 1 Finals = SNU grass playground 신한은행 스타리그 2006 시즌1 결승=서울대학교 잔디운동장 Shinhan Bank Star League 2006 Season 2 Quarterfinals = Ju Kim Dae-jung Convention Center 신한은행 스타리그 2006 시즌2 8강=광주 김대중 컨벤션센터 Shinhan Bank Star League 2006 Season 2 Finals = Jeju International Convention Center 신한은행 스타리그 2006 시즌2 결승=제주 국제컨벤션센터 Shinhan Bank Star League 2006 Season 3 Quarterfinals = Daegu EXCO 신한은행 스타리그 2006 시즌3 8강=대구 EXCO Shinhan Bank 2006 Star League Season 3 Finals = Seoul Olympic Park Stadium Weightlifting 신한은행 스타리그 2006 시즌3 결승=서울 올림픽공원 역도경기장 Next Star League 2007 Finals = Ulsan World Cup Stadium Hsiu Lakeside Square 다음 스타리그 2007 결승=울산 문수 월드컵경기장 호반광장 EVER Star League 2007 Quarterfinals = Indoor Stadium Bucheon, Gyeonggi-do EVER 스타리그 2007 8강=경기도 부천 실내체육관 EVER Star League 2007 Final Ilsan KINTEX, Goyang, Gyeonggi = EVER 스타리그 2007 결승=경기도 고양시 일산 KINTEX Bacchus Star League 2008 Finals = Ju beads gym 박카스 스타리그 2008 결승=광주 염주체육관 EVER Star League 2008 Quarterfinals = Daegu EXCO EVER 스타리그 2008 8강=대구 EXCO EVER Star League 2008 Finals = Incheon Samsan World Gym EVER 스타리그 2008 결승=인천 삼산월드체육관 Gumtree Star League 2008 Quarterfinals, Dankook University, Cheonan, Chungnam = gym 인크루트 스타리그 2008 8강=충남 천안 단국대학교 체육관 Gumtree Star League 2008 Finals = COEX Convention Hall 인크루트 스타리그 2008 결승=서울 코엑스 컨벤션 홀 Batu Star League finals 08-09 = Busan Sajik Arena 바투 스타리그 08-09 결승=부산 사직 실내체육관 Bacchus Star League 2009 Final = Seoul Olympic Park Fencing Stadium 박카스 스타리그 2009 결승=서울 올림픽공원 펜싱경기장 EVER Star League 2009 Final = Seoul Olympic Park Olympic Hall EVER 스타리그 2009 결승=서울 올림픽공원 올림픽홀 KAL Star League 2010 Season 1 Quarterfinals = Ulsan World Cup Stadium Lakeside Square 대한항공 스타리그 2010 시즌1 8강=울산 월드컵경기장 호반광장 KAL Star League 2010 Season 1 Finals = Gimpo Airport hangar for Air Headquarters Special Stage 대한항공 스타리그 2010 시즌1 결승=김포공항 대한항공 본사 격납고 특설무대 KAL Star League 2010 Season 2 Quarterfinals = Haeundae Beach 대한항공 스타리그 2010 시즌2 8강=부산 해운대 해수욕장 KAL Star League 2010 Season 2 Finals = Oriental Pearl Tower in Shanghai, China 대한항공 스타리그 2010 시즌2 결승=중국 상해 동방명주탑 Bacchus Star League 2010 Finals = Ju beads gym 박카스 스타리그 2010 결승=광주 염주체육관 Jin Air Star League 2011 Finals = Square War Memorial in Seoul Peace 진에어 스타리그 2011 결승=서울 전쟁기념관 평화의 광장 Tving Star League 2012 Finals = Jamsil Student Gymnasium 티빙 스타리그 2012 결승=서울 잠실 학생체육관

Gallery [ edit ]