Eight Series

The Eight Series (previously known as Round 1 or the Life Round) is the first round of the GBL playoffs. It consists of four best-of-three series between eight teams.

Etymology
The name "Eight Series" was first used in the 2018 season to identify the first round of the playoffs, as before 2018, it had no official name. The name was chosen because eight teams play in the Eight Series (as with the Four Series, because four teams play in that series).

Structure
Before the addition of Leagues in the 2019 season, the Eight Series seeds were as follows: The seeding was changed in the 2019 season both accommodate Leagues, and to avoid having the best two teams playing each other in the first round. The current format of the Eight Series is as follows:
 * 1) First bracket: 1st seed vs 2nd seed
 * 2) Second bracket: 3rd seed vs 4th seed
 * 3) Third bracket: 5th seed vs 6th seed
 * 4) Fourth bracket: 7th seed vs 8th seed
 * 1) First bracket: 1st seed vs 4th seed (Northern League)
 * 2) Second bracket: 2nd seed vs 3rd seed (Northern League)
 * 3) Third bracket: 1st seed vs 4th seed (Southern League)
 * 4) Fourth bracket: 2nd seed vs 3rd seed (Southern League)

Result
Each of the four brackets in the Eight Series consists of a best-of-three series between teams. The winners of the series advance to the Four Series, and the losers, well, they go home. Prior to the 2019 season, Leagues did not exist, so any team could face each other in this series. Now only teams of the same League can face each other in this series.