SOOP, in partnership with Intel, is kicking off the Round of 12 for the '2026 GSL (Global Starcraft 2 League) Season 1' this Wednesday, April 29. Played on 'StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void', the GSL has stood as the pinnacle of StarCraft II competition for 17 years since 2010. Intel is the main sponsor, with Onside also joining as a tournament supporter.

The '2026 GSL Season 1' runs for three weeks, starting with the Group A matches on April 29 and culminating in the grand final on Sunday, May 17. The Round of 12 features a dual tournament format for each group of four, played as a best-of-three. Those who advanced through the qualifiers—Rogue, Solar, trigger, Percival, Bunny, ByuN, Zoun, and Cure—have made it to the main stage. Meanwhile, Classic, SHIN, herO, and Maru have secured direct seeds into the Round of 8.

The opening matches on April 29 feature Rogue, Percival, Zoun, and Solar competing for a spot in the Round of 8. Rogue is aiming for a record-breaking 5th 'G5L' title, while Percival looks to capitalize on his recent form, alongside the seasoned tactical play of Zoun and Solar. The action continues on Thursday, April 30, with Group B featuring Cure, trigger, Bunny, and ByuN.

The Round of 8 is set for Wednesday, May 6, and Thursday, May 7, at 18:30. The semi-finals and the grand final will take place on May 17 at 17:00 at the FreecUP Studio in Daechi-dong, Seoul. While the Round of 12 and Round of 8 are held online, the semi-finals onwards will be played offline with a live audience. Tickets for the offline matches can be purchased via Ticketlink.

SOOP will be the exclusive home for both the Korean and global broadcasts. Once again, fans can participate via 'user crowdfunding' through SOOP channel subscriptions, with special pledges prepared for when certain funding milestones are reached.