Introducing Hearthstone Grandmasters – The Top-Tier of Competitive Hearthstone

2019 in Hearthstone esports is surely going to be a fresh start. After Blizzard has announced that they drop the entire Hearthstone Championship Tour and replace it with Hearthstone Masters roughly a month ago (read more here), they are now coming back with more information about Hearthstone Grandmasters. It’s supposed to be the top-tier of Hearthstone competition, where only the best and most deserved players will fight against each other.

Grandmasters will be divided into 3 regions – Americas, Europe and Asia-Pacific, with 16 players from each region (48 in total). Those 16 will be divided into two groups randomly, and players within the same group will compete with each other using a new Specialist format (here’s a reminder on how it works), and they will be ranked within their division depending on the number of wins they get. The first roster will be revealed over the next few weeks, and we should learn players’ divisions during HCT 2019 World Championship (April 28).

During the first Grandmasters year (2019/2020 season), players will be invited based on multiple criteria, such as lifetime earnings, HCT points or just a general contribution to the Hearthstone community. Grandmasters will earn money based on how well they perform and will be automatically qualified to compete at all Hearthstone Masters Tour events.

At the end of the season, top three players from each division (six in total per region) will face each other, after which two top players from each region will be joined by two players from the China Gold Series to compete in 8 players Hearthstone Global Finals at the end of the year (with a $500,000 prize pool).

Starting from second season, players who finish last in their divisions will be at risk of relegation – they might be replaced by the players with highest winnings during Masters Tour in each region.

2019 will have two Grandmaster Seasons (each 8 weeks long), and all of the matches will be streamed live on the official PlayHearthstone Twitch channel – with 16 matches in total per weekend (Friday-Sunday) during the season. Season 1 begins May 17. Keep an eye on the official schedule page after HCT 2019 World Championship concludes.

Read more details in the official blog post below!

Hearthstone Grandmasters– the Top-Tier of HS Competition – Season One Begins May 17

Last month we revealed the new three-tiered Hearthstone Masters program which is now well underway with ongoing Masters Qualifiers sending approximately 250 players to the Hearthstone Masters Tour Las Vegas this June.

Today we’re ready to reveal the top of the mountain. Hearthstone Grandmasters is the pinnacle of Hearthstone esports, providing consistent and entertaining online-based competition between the very best Hearthstone players in the world.

How It Works

Hearthstone Grandmasters will feature three regions—Americas, Europe and Asia-Pacific—with 16 players per region making a grand total of 48 players. Each region will be randomly separated into two divisions of eight players each. Players in each division will play a double round robin using the best-of-three Specialist format. After all matches are finished, players will be ranked within their own division according to the number of wins they accumulate. We will unveil the divisions at the HCT 2019 World Championship in Taipei on April 28 before the Grand Finals.

Players will be invited to join Hearthstone Grandmasters in its inaugural year by Blizzard Entertainment based on criteria including lifetime earnings, points earned during HCT 2018, seasonal points leaders, contributions to the Hearthstone community, and more. Hearthstone Grandmasters will earn performance-based prize money during the season and are automatically qualified to compete at all Hearthstone Masters Tour events. We will be revealing the inaugural Grandmasters rosters by region in the coming weeks.

The top three players in each division at the end of each season will play in a six-player Grandmasters Seasonal Playoff. The finalist from each region for both 2019 seasons, plus two players from the China Gold Series—a total of eight players—will compete in the Hearthstone Global Finals at the end of the year for a $500,000 prize pool.

Following the conclusion of Season 2 of Hearthstone Grandmasters, each player who finished last in their respective division will be at risk of relegation. The top cash prize-earners from the Masters Tour program in each region will become eligible to receive an invitation to replace the bottom finishing Grandmasters in the 2020 seasons.

When It Happens

There will be two seasons of Hearthstone Grandmasters in 2019, each featuring eight weeks of online matches broadcast live on Twitch.tv/PlayHearthstone. Five matches will be broadcast every Friday, with five more matchups on Saturdays, and six on Sundays.

Mark your calendars, because Grandmasters Season 1 begins May 17! Our website will evolve as we get closer to this date, so please keep an eye out for a shiny new schedule page following the HCT 2019 World Championship to find out when your favorite players will be playing!