The ISL has informed teams and athletes of the groupings for the league’s two semifinals, sources tell SwimSwam. We’ll get the top two European clubs and the top two North American clubs in separate semifinals.
The league hasn’t responded to our requests this season for more information on how the groupings would be created. It’s unclear exactly how the league came to these two groupings of four teams, but sources say geography played a role (the earlier semifinal fits with European/Tokyo broadcast markets better, and ended up with three European/Tokyo teams), while there was also some element of random draw between teams that finished back to back in season standings.
Here are the semifinal groupings, with the teams listed by their official 2020 regular season standing, not our Power Ranks (which will drop tomorrow):
Semifinal #1
Saturday, November 14: 12 PM – 2 PM Budapest time (5-7 AM US Central)
Sunday, November 15: 12 PM – 2 PM Budapest time (5-7 AM US Central)
- #2 Energy Standard
- #3 London Roar
- #6 Tokyo Frog Kings
- #8 New York Breakers
Semifinal #2
Sunday, November 15: 6 PM – 8 PM Budapest time (11 AM-1PM US Central)
Monday, November 16: 6 PM – 8 PM Budapest time (11 AM-1PM US Central)
- #1 Cali Condors
- #4 LA Current
- #5 Iron
- #7 Toronto Titans
The top four teams in regular-season finish order should be the likely four to move on to the final. The top two from each semifinal will move on. The second semifinal appears to be the more difficult field, though there could be solid battles for the second spot in both semis. London beat Tokyo head-to-head in weeks 3 and 4, first by a margin of 52.5, then by 72.5.
Meanwhile LA has not faced Iron head-to-head yet this year.
I am gonna be so excited for tapered Sakci
Double wr coming
Math guy in me says this should have been simple – one “odds” semi and one “evens” semi.
Structuring it that way gives the 2nd-best team the easier semi-final.
If ‘winning a semi’ matters it should be snaked. 1-4-5-8 and 2-3-6-7.
But since ‘winning’ doesn’t matter, only top 2 does, it should be 1-4-6-8 and 2-3-5-7. To me that’s the fairest way to do it.
To get the best final, it should’ve been 1-2-7-8 and 3-4-5-6. We know that the 7-8 teams are unlikely to qualify for the final, and we know the 1-2 teams (Cali and ES) are going to make it, so let 3-4-5-6 duke it out for the last 2 spots.
This is an extremely accurate assessment. I would have loved to see 3-4-5-6 (Lon, LA, Iron, Tokyo) battle it out. It would make for a great meet that’s for sure!
Or 1 day ‘matches’ and do it NHL style for the top 4
1 vs 8 thursday
2 vs 7 friday
3 vs 6 saturday
4 vs 5 sunday
Then the 4 winners for the final
3,4,5,6 might have surprises
As an Aussie, Ive really fallen in love with the Frog Kings. Must be the love for an underdog! Hopefully the rest for Morozov can get him ready to steal some points from London!
my favorite team as well, so consistent on each race! (except woman sprint maybe…)
As a London Roar fan, we loved having the Aussie contingent last year, really friendly too (all of them gave my two children time for photos and chats when we saw them ‘out and about’ ) and as a family, we’re gutted they’re not there this year. I hope they return next year for us and not another team, but I do think a few will jump to Tokyo for logistical purposes!
They’ll likely return because London Roar is managed by an Australian (past Olympian). He’s actually Emma McKeon’s uncle. I also don’t think joining Tokyo would improve things much logistically because it’s not like the meets would be in Tokyo that often.
Are you from the UK?
I also supported London last year, due to the large amount of Aussies on show. The lack of Aussies this year has seen me searching for a team. I think the Frog Kings are definitely a chance of signing some Aussies next season, especially if they target some of our Women Sprinters. I know the likes of Cam Mcevoy and the Campbell sisters love Japan and Tokyo. If COVID allows for travel next year, Tokyo is half the travel time than Europe so who knows
It seems They want to make sure the top 4 will compete at finals; it’s obvious who the top 4 are… not a good fair schedule
Ig I’m waking up at 5 this weekend…
Actually pretty sad that it has no normal pattern for the draw or fulll random.. This you swim there you there thing makes it a little less interesting.. Guess they didn’t want to put energy vs cali in semis already.
Being 1-2 they wouldn’t be in the same semi in any sane semi-final allocation anyway.
True… but Toronto shouldnt be with Breakers in that mindset…
That is the best outcome for Toronto.
I guess they didn’t want to have all three US teams in the same match? Because from the pattern followed it had to be 1-4-5-8 not 1-4-5-7 and the other teams in the second match.
There was some element of random draw and some element of time zones and geography.
The league still refuses to tell anyone exactly how they did it.
Doesnt that affect their credibility in some way? I mean this is supposed to be a professional league. Shake my head ISL