TEKKEN World Tour
Pools: Friday, 7pm ET / 4pm PT on twitch.tv/teamsp00ky
Top 16 to Top 8: Saturday, 5pm ET / 2pm PT on twitch.tv/teamsp00ky
Top 8: Sunday, 5pm ET / 2pm PT on twitch.tv/teamsp00ky
Brackets can be found here.
NORCAL REGIONALS (Sacramento, California)
After a trip to Thailand, the TEKKEN World Tour returns to the United States for NorCal Regionals. NCR is one of the most storied fighting game events in the United States, and last year’s TEKKEN tournament added to the legend with one player’s unforgettable performance.
This year’s edition figures to be another classic. The field includes several of the best players in the United States, the reigning Evo champion and three of last year’s TEKKEN World Tour finalists, including the reigning champion. And with at-the-door registration available for this event, that list could grow.
Here are just three of the many things to watch for this weekend at NorCal Regionals:
Can Bronson Tran defend his title?
Several players have the ability to both compete and commentate at the same event, but few have the ability to do both tasks at the same time. Defending NorCal Regionals champion Bronson Tran is one of those few.
After qualifying for the finals of last year’s event, Tran was given a live microphone for his matches. He was able to simultaneously play well and let those watching know exactly how well he was playing. The only thing he wasn’t able to do at last year’s event was keep his commentary safe for work. After the show he put on last year, what could he possibly have in store for an encore this time around?
NSFW language:
Will one of Korea’s stars get revenge?
Aside from Tran’s grand finals win over Korea’s Poongko at NorCal Regionals 2017, American players have had difficulty defending their home soil at major TEKKEN events. Three of the 2017 TEKKEN World Tour events held in the U.S. included at least one Korean player in the field, and all three ended with a Korean player atop the winners’ podium. A trio of players will hope to avenge Poongko’s loss and extend the host nation’s misery on the Tour.
Team Korea will consist of three of the nation’s strongest players. JDCR won two of the four American events he entered on last year’s Tour, and placed no worse than third in the other two. JeonDDing, the only player to compete in each of this year’s first two Tour events, will be on the hunt for another strong performance. Qudans will also be making just his second visit to American soil since 2007; his last trip to the States ended with him being crowned the 2017 TEKKEN World Tour champion.
Can an outsider spoil the California dream?
The regional rivalry between NorCal and SoCal is one of the fiercest in all of fighting games. You can expect fireworks if NorCal stars like Bronson Tran and P.Ling run into SoCal invaders like Rip, Suiken, and Rickstah. Don’t forget about those from outside of California though, as they could make some serious noise this weekend.
New York native and 2017 TEKKEN World Tour finalist Joey Fury will be looking to improve upon his top-16 finish at Final Round. Vancouver’s Binchang made the top eight at last year’s SoCal Regionals, and only travel issues kept him from advancing further. Tennessee’s Trungy also has a chance for revenge as JeonDDing is opposite him in Pool 1. The Korean star ended Trungy’s run at Final Round 2 weeks ago.
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