“Watching Starcraft is like watching 10 games of chess on crack.” – TotalBiscuit (14-Dec-2013 – On the Shoutcraft Qualifier show)
I’ve been watching professional StarCraft for the majority of my life, going as far back as 2009 with Ozzy Osbourne at BlizzCon.
With the ESL (Electronic Sports League) announcing that they won’t be hosting a 2025 season for StarCraft and the appalling decision to hand StarCraft over to the EWC (Esports World Cup)—a league bankrolled by the Saudis and their sovereign wealth fund—I’m left with a deep sense of disgust.
Mohammed bin Salman, better known as MbS, is one of the most vile individuals I can imagine. He has been accused of supporting, if not directly orchestrating, the killing of reporters and journalists. If those allegations are somehow proven false, I will retract my words. But even then, I would still consider him a vile swine of a man, But I digress. Where was I? Oh, right—I was talking about the sad state in which we find professional StarCraft in 2025.
The ESL published a joke of a statement when they finally pulled the plug on the League.
“there are still great StarCraft II esports moments to look forward to in 2025. As you might have already seen, StarCraft II is making its return to the Esports World Cup 2025, where a new World Champion will be crowned this summer in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Find out more on the official social media channels of the Esports World Cup.” – ESL Press-release
Directing fans to look toward the EWC has left many wondering: What options do we have? Where do we go from here? What will happen to StarCraft?
Well, I have a theory. With BlizzCon returning in 2026 to its homeland at the Anaheim Convention Center, we might witness the revival of the WCS (StarCraft II World Championship Series) and the return of the GSL (Global StarCraft II League).
Personally, I believe the best approach is to bring together both classic fans and new fans. How can we do that? I have an idea—feature the best of the old generation and the new.
Perhaps we could have Richard Lewis or Izak for those who follow Counter-Strike, while also bringing back Jarett Cale for the old-school fans. When I think of early StarCraft II, the name that always comes to mind is TotalBiscuit. But since he sadly passed away from cancer, the next best choice is Jarett Cale.
When it comes to bands, I’m unsure which would be perfect for WCS if it returns—that’s a tough question.
There are a few thematic options. It could go for a more comical vibe, similar to the times BlizzCon featured Weird Al Yankovic (2016) or Tenacious D (2010).
Comedy acts like Ninja Sex Party, Starbomb, or The Protomen might be a good fit, but they may not work as the headliners for the first year back—perhaps a second or third year would be better.
For a more epic approach, I could picture Nightwish reconciling with their former lead singer Tarja Turunen for a spectacular show, featuring songs like “Wish I Had an Angel.”
On the other hand, if a new StarCraft title is announced, they could create a magical atmosphere by having Maduk perform “Ghost Assassin” to usher in a new age of StarCraft.
Sadly, we don’t know for sure what will happen. But I’m hopeful. While the EWC might damage the heart of professional StarCraft with its association with Saudi sports-washing and human rights violations, there are groups like RSL Revival that want to keep the true spirit of professional StarCraft alive.
With the return of BlizzCon, I believe this community—like a phoenix—will rise from the ashes, giving another generation of fans something to celebrate.