Source: SOOP

SOOP (co-CEOs Choi Young-woo and Lee Min-won) will begin the Round of 16 matches for the 'Google Play ASL Season 21' on Monday, the 13th.

The Round of 16 bracket was finalized during the group nomination ceremony held on the 6th, where the 12 players who advanced from the Round of 24 and the 4 seeded players personally selected their opponents.

Group A matches, starting at 7:00 PM on Monday the 13th, will feature Park Sang-hyun (Z), Yoon Soo-chul (P), Jo Ki-seok (T), and Choi Ho-sun (T). With Park Sang-hyun known for his aggressive playstyle facing off against Terran players, early-game build orders are expected to be a key variable. Group B follows on Tuesday the 14th with Jang Yoon-chul (P), Lim Jin-mook (T), Jo Il-jang (Z), and Jung Yoon-jong (P). A close contest is expected, centered on the strategic and operational battle between Jang Yoon-chul and Jung Yoon-jong, complemented by the unpredictable playstyles of Jo Il-jang and Lim Jin-mook.

Group C, taking place on Monday the 20th, is considered the highlight of this season. With Kim Taek-yong (P), Kim Tae-young (T), Lee Jae-dong (Z), and Lee Young-ho (T) all in the same group, it has been dubbed the 'Group of Death.' In particular, the inclusion of three members of the legendary 'Taek - Bang - Lee - Ssang'—Kim Taek-yong, Lee Jae-dong, and Lee Young-ho—in the same group has generated significant anticipation for intense competition.

In particular, the showdown between Lee Jae-dong and Lee Young-ho in the ASL is drawing significant attention as a symbolic matchup, marking their first encounter in quite some time. Group D, scheduled for the final day on Tuesday the 21st, is a '4-Terran' group consisting entirely of Terran players. With Hwang Byeong-young (T), Shin Sang-moon (T), Kim Ji-sung (T), and Lee Jae-ho (T) competing, the matches are expected to showcase a battle for the title of the strongest Terran through intense, strategy-focused Terran-vs-Terran gameplay.

The Round of 16 will feature a single-game opening match, followed by a best-of-three format for the winners' match, losers' match, and final match. The first and second matches will be played on the 'Polypoid' map, while subsequent matches will follow a process where both players ban one map each, and the remaining map is selected by lottery.

All matches will be held offline with a live audience at the 'Freec Up Studio' in Daechi-dong, Seoul, starting at 7:00 PM. Tickets for on-site viewing can be reserved every Thursday at 5:00 PM via Ticketlink. Further information, including live broadcasts, VODs, and match prediction events, can be found on the official SOOP ASL channel and the SOOP esports page.