Halo Infinite: How To Watch January 2 HCS Open Series
| Tags: Halo Infinite, HCS
| Author Matt Pryor
Learn everything you need to know about the HCS Online Open on January 2.
Competitive Halo players are mere hours away from the first online tournament of 2022. The series' latest title — Halo Infinite — is in the midst of an insanely successful launch. Participation and viewership figures are through the roof, and there are no signs of that changing.
On the heels of Cloud9 winning the first offline Major tournament of the year, it’s time to look ahead. Tomorrow, 256 teams will embark on a quest to earn more HCS Series Points in preparation for the next offline event in February.
Join us as we break down everything you need to know about the upcoming HCS Online Open competition, including point distribution, format and schedule.
HCS Online Open Format
Start 2022 off in the best possible way: with Halo Infinite! Sign ups are open for #HCSProSeries Week 1!
The top teams from each of Sunday's qualifiers will advance to their region's finals next week to compete in a double elimination bracket against the top invited teams! pic.twitter.com/lvAUQkML0n
— FACEIT Halo (@FACEITHalo) December 31, 2021
Like previous FACEIT tournaments, tomorrow’s HCS Online Open utilizes a best-of-three games, double-elimination bracket format. That means teams will exit the competition following two losses. We can expect to see all the significant names participate, such as Cloud9, OpTic Gaming, Sentinels, eUnited and more.
Additionally, hundreds of amateur squads hope to succeed in this stacked field. All 256 teams will be divided into the upper bracket based on HCS Points. Those points will have major implications on future tournaments. The top eight teams from NA and EU will also receive an invitation to compete in the 16-team double-elimination finals.
Here is a quick breakdown of what you can expect tomorrow:
- The tournament begins on January 2 at 12 PM EST
- Open to Xbox and PC players
- 4v4 format
- Double-elimination
- Best-of-three games per round
- Eight rounds in the upper bracket
- Fourteen rounds in the lower bracket
- The teams in NA, EU, ANZ and MEX secure a spot in their region’s week one finals
Point Distribution
- 1st: 2,000 points
- 2nd: 1,500 points
- 3rd: 1,250 points
- 4th: 1,000 points
- 5th-6th: 750 points
- 7th-8th: 500 points
- 9th-12th: 350 points
- 13th-16th: 250 points
- 17th-24th: 200 points
- 25th-40th: 150 points
- 41st-72nd: 100 points
Map/Game Mode Rotation
- Slayer on Aquarius
- Slayer on Bazaar
- Slayer on Live Fire
- Slayer on Recharge
- Slayer on Streets
- Strongholds on Live Fire
- Strongholds on Recharge
- Strongholds on Streets
- Capture the Flag on Aquarius
- Capture the Flag on Bazaar
- Oddball on Live Fire
- Oddball on Recharge
- Oddball on Streets
How to Watch
For NA and EU, the top eight teams from the qualifier will advance to join eight invited teams for a 16-team double elimination finals.
For MX and ANZ, the top four teams from the qualifier will advance to join four invited teams for an 8-team double elimination finals.
— FACEIT Halo (@FACEITHalo) December 31, 2021
Halo’s official channels will host a broadcast for the action on January 2. Head over to the Halo Twitch to watch the best teams battle for crucial points tomorrow evening! Those looking to watch the action from Mexico should head over to the Twitch channel Halo_ES.
Individual players on the top squads usually broadcast their perspectives, too. Be sure to check out the Halo Infinite category tomorrow to find your favorite competitors.
Feature Image: HCS