Here is how it works

"The Top 16 ranked players in StarCraft 2 heading into each Live Competition will be divided into four pools of five players each. The fifth player in each pool will be derived from the four players that emerge from the Open Bracket undefeated. The Open Bracket format has not changed from the 2010 Season. It is still a double-elimination, best-of-three bracket.

Pool Play will begin on the Friday of each Pro Circuit Live Competition weekend, with the Top 16 players playing every other player in their pool in a best-of-five series. After Open Bracket play is complete and the undefeated competitors become the fifth player in each pool, they will then run the gauntlet, playing each player in the pool based on the current pool standings, beginning with the 4th Place player and ending with the 1st Place player.

The results of Pool Play will dictate where each team/player is placed in the Championship Bracket.

Pool Play Results

1st Place – Winners Bracket Semi-Finals

2nd Place – Losers Bracket Round 6

3rd Place – Losers Bracket Round 5

4th Place – Losers Bracket Round 4

5th Place – Losers Bracket Round 3

A simulated bracket can be seen at http://media.mlgpro.com/site/files/P...ySimulated.htm

Once Pool Play is complete, the Championship Bracket Format is identical to the 2010 Season. The Bracket will play out until one player remains and is crowned Champion. Players that lose in the Open Bracket will be placed in the Championship Losers Bracket, based on the same criteria as the 2010 Season.

More details on specifics regarding Pool Play, including how pools are determined and tiebreakers, can be found in the Pro Circuit Section."