The CSL began with a simple idea in mind - weekly, collegiate team-based competition between players of all skill levels, leading up to a final showdown between the best of the best. Since 2009, the number of teams participating has grown rapidly, from 26 in its first season of Brood War, to an astonishing 144 after the release of SC2. How would things change with the advent of a new game and a level playing field?

CSL Playoffs: Where Titans Fall

Throughout the 17 week regular season there were a great many teams that separated themselves from the rest of the 140 plus universities we saw at the outset. They battled and fought and climbed their way to the top of the standings. A brief snapshot of the top teams in each division shows that this is the season in which titans were born.

Indiana and Toronto: two CSL titans

Xeris discusses the RO32 Blue Conference of the CSL Playoffs! UCSD takes down Georgia Tech in a "upset" 3-0 score, while the rest of the results were... expected? The headlining teams won, no David's slew their respective Goliaths last week... The Ro16 begins... THIS WEEKEND!

The CSL began with a simple idea in mind - weekly, collegiate team-based competition between players of all skill levels, leading up to a final showdown between the best of the best. Since 2009, the number of teams participating has grown rapidly, from 26 in its first season of Brood War, to an astonishing 144 after the release of SC2. How would things change with the advent of a new game and a level playing field? How many teams would have the stamina and the fortitude to survive an excruciating season of over 17 weeks of divisional play, let alone a 32-team bracket for playoffs?

Just a note before you read this recap: if you haven't seen the matches, you can do so here at the Collegiate Starleague Justin.tv stream. Trust me, you'll enjoy it. But for those who need textual support or are hiding their CSL addiction at work and can't watch video, here's a brief on the Waterloo/Illinois action!

1) CombatEX (p) vs. esiex (p)
Map: Xel’Naga Caverns

The contest is over... we will announce the winner as the season draws to a close!

Fill out your bracket, March Madness style! Just download the bracket image, fill out your teams, and send your submission to cslbracket@gmail.com! The winner of the contest (who perfectly predicts the result or gets the closest) will receive a prize from Tt eSports and $100 cash!

Thanks to Jdubya for the banner!

Starting next week, there will be jam-packed CSL action every Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday 9pm EST. Tune in for next week's matches! But before that, tune in for the

when we interview teams, ask MasterAsia about ghosting accusations, and give out avatar and mousepad giveaways!

Every sporting event is a story, with antagonists and protagonists, story boards and plot twists, dreams fulfilled and hearts broken. The Collegiate StarLeague is no exception; the climax of the story is fast approaching as we near the playoffs. Teams are fighting hard to make it into the top four for a shot at the post season, hoping their story can be like Cinderella and that the ashes can be wiped from their cheeks and they can bask in the glory of a championship.

Welcome to Thunderdome CSL Finals. It's been a long journey this season, but at last we have the best of the West and the beast of the East facing off this Sunday! Read what each team's coordinators have to say after the jump.

Identities revealed! Secrets exposed! Before the games, read what the players have to say, in our penultimate issue of this season's Interview Series!

Now with 100% LESS banners! (Let's all thank Steven Chen of UMichigan for kindly donating his artistic talents to create interview banners this season; he deserves it.)

Congratulations on reaching the EAST and WEST conference finals!

UCSD versus Michigan (Sunday, 8pm PST): www.livestream.com/xeris

The numbers are dwindling down, the competition is getting fiercer, and final exams are rearing their ugly heads over the corner. Here are this week's map pool and matches.
Streams
East (Saturday, 8pm EST)
Ottawa versus Waterloo (www.livestream.com/xeris)

West (Sunday, 8pm PST)
UMich versus Washington (www.livestream.com/darththienan)
UCSD versus UCI (www.livestream.com/xeris)
Duke versus Georgia Tech (replay cast)

More interviews, more coverage - welcome to playoffs. Read this week what UMich has to say!

Want to see which 24 teams have advanced to the playoffs in CSL Season 3?! CLICK TO READ MORE :)