Updated Information on China's Grand Event.



As the start date for CEPL draws ever closer, many stakeholders are busily readying themselves in zealous preparation. However, preparing for an event of this size and magnitude can be challenging. Much remains to be done before the grand event. This update will focus on three particular aspects of CEPL: The Ranking Qualifier; Custom CEPL Maps; and Team News. Additional news can be found at the CEPL homepage: http://www.e-sports.org.cn/

The Ranking Qualifier
CEPL will provide a golden opportunity for sprouting Warcraft talents to cross blades with the favorites. However, before the league gets underway, all participants will be required to participate in the CEPL ranking qualifier. The qualifier is scheduled to occur from Dec. 28, 2010 to Jan. 04, 2011 and will commence at the Holdfast Battle Platform. The rules for this qualifier were recently released. Among other things, they contain a litany of provisions on computer/network failure, drawn matches, and disqualifications. Most notable are the rules on map selection and match format. All map selections have been pre-determined by the referees. Additionally, the rules also establish the match format: Best of Three; Round Robin. After ten-rounds of round robin, 256 of the 280 players will qualify for the "knock-out rounds," which will slowly churn out a winner by halving the number of contestants each round. Winners will receive the following:

CEPL Qualifier Prizes
RankCashAdditional Prizes#11500 RMB 1-Year Membership at Holdfast Battle Platform#21200 RMB1-Year Membership at Holdfast Battle Platform#3900 RMB1-Year Membership at Holdfast Battle Platform#4600 RMB1-Year Membership at Holdfast Battle Platform#5-#8200 RMB1-Year Membership at Holdfast Battle Platform#9-#160 RMB6-Month Membership at Holdfast Battle Platform#17-#320 RMB3-Month Membership at Holdfast Battle Platform#33-#640 RMB1-Month Membership at Holdfast Battle Platform
A full list of qualifier rules, participants, and other details can be found in the links at the end of the article.

CEPL Maps Complete
As previously noted: here, at GosuGamers, CEPL has commissioned a number of custom-made maps. The new maps, along with old favorites will be used in the aforementioned ranking qualifier.

Custom CEPL Maps
NameMap TypeMap PreviewValley Guardian1v1
Deciduous Forest1v1Central Island2v2
The new maps are anything but ordinary: Deciduous Forest contains two marketplaces and red-dragon roosts; Valley Guardian is devoid of taverns; while the new 2v2 map, Central Island, contains four shipyards. Additionally, all of the new maps contain extremely aggressive creeps. The standard "point-and-move" will often 'agro' nearby creep camps. Each map can be downloaded by clicking on the preview picture.

*(Due to an ongoing technical issue, the new maps can ONLY be downloaded by right-clicking the preview picture and manually saving the map. Left-clicking will result in a 404 error. This issue should be fixed soon.)

Team News
CEPL's Warcraft III teams have been quite busy these days. Although some have been successful in scouting and retaining personnel, others have far less fortunate. However, even for those teams with top-tier players, the specter of Starcraft II still remains a mesmerizing temptation.

RAGE eSports
RAGE eSports has undergone a massive shakeup of its player roster. After thirteen of its players departed for two separate teams, the RAGE Warcraft III team now consists of six players:

RAGE eSports
Yumiko WhO Huan_Feng BoC.wp Lawliet Razzorman
Although, the RAGE Warcraft III team has received a direct invite to CEPL, it currently appears that only Yumiko will attend. RAGE's trump card, WhO, will be unable to participate in CEPL. Additional details can be found here.

World Elite
The team members of World Elite seem quite interested in their names of late. With Moonfans and PanXiang changing their names to Una and PX respectively, it comes with little surprise that Future has also decided to make the switch. In a prepared statement, Future stated that the name 'Future' was given to him when he joined his previous clan, the now defunct Colorful Gaming. In order to gain a fresh start for the upcoming new year, Future has decided to change his name to BBB. Additional details can be found here.

World Elite
Sky TeD Una BBB PX suHo Like
Furthermore, World Elite team-captain, Sky, recently gave an interview to Reuters Sports where he spoke on a variety of topics. Sky commented on the inevitability of change in technology, and especially in video games. This lead-in acted as a transition into a series of comments on the state of Warcraft and Starcraft II. Sky charged Warcraft III's lack of updates (patches and maps) as a major cause of "de-motivation." Additionally, he revealed that he: (1) Has access to Starcraft II; and (2) is spending approximately one-fifth of his time practicing in preparation for a potential transition. Finally, he softened his previous statement by noting that he would not rule out being a player of both games. Additional details can be found here. With respect to the CEPL qualifiers, Sky is reportedly 2-0. TATA notes that one of the victories was secured while playing night elf. Additional details can be found here.

PanDa
As previously noted: here, at GosuGamers, PanDa has acquired Infi from World Elite. Now, the PanDa Warcraft III team has expanded once again with the acquisition of EleGaNt and uhen:

PanDa
TH000 Infi EleGaNt uhen
EleGant, AKA: Otaku, is no Warcraft novice. As a former member of eXpertise, the veteran has recently begun raising his game to the next level. After punching a ticket to the 2010 World GameMaster Tournament (here), and defeating orc legend Fly100% in G-League (here), Otaku now becomes PanDa's resident night elf player. An interview with the new PanDa cub can be found here. Also joining Panda will be uhen, an undead player of some renown.

WeMadeFox
As previously noted: here at GosuGamers, WeMadeFox's schedule conflict will prevent Lyn and Moon from attending CEPL. On 12-27-10, WMF management indirectly confirmed by releasing a statement on ECL 2010:

By the way, There was the other tournament named ECL 2010 in Beijing, Warcraft3 tournament. Moon & Lyn have considered so many times then after contemplation, they determined to participate GSL Code A tournament instead of ECL 2010. Because Moon & Lyn have joined in GSL since last September,it is hard to quit midway through the GSL this whole season
Two Tournaments coincided within same time (2011.01.10~01.17) as known GSL Code A and ECL 2010
Consequently, because neither Moon nor Lyn can be in Beijing for ECL 2010, CEPL will be out of the question. Whether Soccer or RohJinWook will attend remains to be seen. Additional details can be found: here.

Links
TATA - CEPL Qualifier Rules
Replays.net - Qualifier Participants
Replays.net - Qualifier Map Schedules