For the first time in StarCraft 2 history, two tournaments at either side of the world will collaborate for the better future of professional SC2.

An unique event arises as MLG and GSL announce their player exchange program. Two of the biggest SC2 events in their respective countries will work together in order to bring prosperity and flexibility in professional StarCraft as well as merge the Korean and foreign scenes even more.

So how exactly will this exchange program work? After every MLG events starting with Columbus 2011, the top players will be awarded Code A or Code S status and will travel to Korea on GSL's expenses to compete in the biggest Korean tournament. In exchange, MLG will invite four Korean players to compete at their events and will in turn pay for their travelling expenses and accommodation.

Pro Circuit Players Competing in the GSL

At MLG Columbus, the Top 3 non-Korean finishers will each be placed into GSL Code A.
At every 2011 Pro Circuit Live Competition after MLG Columbus, GSL placement will occur as follows:
  • Code S status will be awarded to the highest placing player, regardless of country of origin, who does not already have Code S status.
  • Code A status will be awarded to the next three highest placing non-Korean players.
  • If Code S status is awarded to a Korean player, Code A status also will be awarded to the 4th highest placing non-Korean player.
    All travel and accomodation expenses for these players will be provided by the GSL.


GSL Pro Players Competing on the MLG Pro Circuit

MLG will invite four Korean pro players to each Pro Circuit Live Competition.
These players will be placed directly into the Championship Pools, one into each Pool.
Their placement in the Pools will be determined by their GSL rank.
All travel and accomodation expenses for these players will be provided by MLG.
For MLG Columbus, we will also be inviting a player from the CSN tournament, currently in progress. This player will be seeded into the Open Bracket, and their travel and accomodation expenses will be covered by CSN.

This historic partnership marks the first time the GSL has ever qualified a player directly into Code S based on results from another tournament, and MLG Columbus will be the first time Korean players have ever competed live in an open-registration StarCraft 2 tournament in the US. We are working closely with the GSL to coordinate schedules so that all players involved will be able to compete in both the GSL and the Pro Circuit.

We are also given the name of the four Korean pro-gamers that will attend MLG Columbus and those are:
ST_Bomber
IM.Losira
SlayerS_MMA
FOXMoon

The complete player pool for the next MLG event will be announced after four more days, on May 17th. MLG has also altered the competition format to incorporate the changes brought by this new exchange program.

Links
Majorleaguegaming.com - Source
Majorleaguegaming.com - New format explained