North American Export Organization panda global has released several details surrounding their NA Super Smash Bros. circuit, with the competition starting in June 2022.
was dubbed panda cup, highlights the announcement that the qualifiers will be a live event and online. The finale will have a prize pool of $100,000 (~£79,400) and is scheduled to take place in Los Angeles in December.
Image credit: Panda Global
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In total, there will be seven ‘Community Stops’ where players can qualify for its Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Super Smash Bros. Melee finale.
The first of these will be at the stop CEO Fighting Game Championship, starting June 24th. The event will have three qualifying venues for both Ultimate and Melee. Other notable offline qualifier events include Lost Tech City in Texas (September) and The Big House 10 in Michigan (October).
There will also be an online Panda Cup tournament for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate contestants, with eight players qualifying for the finale. These online events are scheduled to take place in July. Finally, both Fair and Ultimate will have a last chance qualifier and an ‘expert community panel’ will invite select players who have not qualified for the finals.
It is the first time since November 2021 that details have been shared about the North American circuit, which was modeled after a collaboration between Nintendo and Panda Global. According to the Twitter account of Panda Cup, the series will be conducted by Panda Global.
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Earlier this year, it was also announced that Super Smash Bros. would not be featured at EVO 2022, one of the fighting game community’s major esports events.
Esports Insider says: It’s good to see more details become available for Panda Global’s Super Smash Bros. series. There’s a lot of hype and anticipation in this collaboration, especially considering that Smash won’t be making an appearance at EVO. This is the first licensed circuit for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Melee in North America, so it will be interesting to see how it pans out and what commercial partners are in the competition.
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