KBO confirms playoff schedule with Korean Series at Gocheok

Gocheok Sky Dome in western Seoul. [YONHAP]

The 2021 KBO postseason will kick off on Monday with the opening game of the Wildcard series, the KBO confirmed Thursday, with the entire competition expected to end with a Korean Series champion crowned by Nov. 22 at the latest.

The Wildcard series, which pits the fifth-place team against the fourth-place team, will kick off Monday at the home stadium of the fourth-place team, currently likely to be the Doosan Bears at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in southern Seoul.

The Wildcard is an all-or-nothing moment for the fifth-place team, meaning that if they do not win the first game they are out. If they do win there will be a second game that they also have to win. No fifth-place team has ever progressed beyond the Wildcard.

Following the Wildcard, the first round of the playoffs will begin as a shortened three-game series at the home of the third-place team on Nov. 4. The second game will be played at the home of the Wildcard winner on Nov. 5, and, if needed, a third game will be played on Nov, 7, back at the home of the third-place team.

The winner of that series will progress to the second round of the playoffs — also shortened to three games this year — which begins on Nov. 9 at the home of the second-place team. The series will then move to the home of the first round winner on Nov. 10 and, if needed, back to the second-place team on Nov. 12.

The Korean Series remains a seven-game series to begin on Nov. 14 with all games played at Gocheok Sky Dome in western Seoul, the KBO's only covered dome. The series could end as early as Nov. 18 with a sweep, or could continue through to Nov. 22 at the latest.

The Samsung Lions, KT Wiz and LG Twins will be the top three teams when the regular season ends on Saturday, but the pennant winner is unlikely to be determined until the last day of the season.

BY JIM BULLEY [jim.bulley@joongang.co.kr]