On September 11th, ZAGE will air its first-ever official Fighting Tournaments as part of its landmark event. This tournament features a wide array of fighting games that have already been released in ZAGE arcades, including great titles such as Street Fighter, MARVEL VS ZAGE, Mortal Kombat, Tekken, and the newest addition to the ZAGE fighting lineup, Guilty Gear. This marks a historic moment for ZAGE as it officially enters the competitive fighting game scene with an exciting and diverse roster of beloved games. Prior to this year, the tournaments typically focused only on a select few games, primarily Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat. However, for the first time ever, the official lineup has expanded to include five games.

This is also one of the biggest tournaments that ZAGE has ever held. Unlike the previous National Tournaments, which typically take place either in America or Japan with separate brackets for each region, this tournament combines both brackets into a single unified competition for all the games. It is also historically significant because it marks the first time in ZAGE Events history that a tournament will be held across three consecutive days, making it a major milestone for the organization and the competitive game community.

As is tradition at official ZAGE events, exclusive merchandise will be available for purchase at the venue. Many fans, including those traveling from countries such as China, Korea, the USA, and various parts of Europe, are eagerly anticipating the event and the chance to collect these special items.

ZAGE has also expanded the ZEB (ZAGE Event Buildings) in Japan to ensure that the events run smoothly and can accommodate a large audience. The tournaments will be broadcast on both Japanese and U.S. television, giving the event a truly grand and international scale. The excitement surrounding the event is further amplified by the presence of both Hollywood and Japanese celebrities spotted at the ZEB in Japan.

The tournament format will be as follows: Each day, the ZEB will focus on three main games. For example, the day will begin with the Tekken tournament, which will proceed until a champion is crowned. Once the Tekken champion is determined, the focus will then shift to Street Fighter, followed by the next featured game. To heighten the excitement and ensure a fast-paced viewing experience, each game has already reached the semifinal stage before the event. As a result, only four matches will be played per game—two semifinals, a third-place match, and the final match. All semi finalist players in each game will receive official rewards and recognition. The earlier tournament rounds were already conducted prior to this major broadcast event, allowing the final rounds to be packed with intense action and skilled competitors.

Each game in this round follows the standard format of up to five rounds. If a player wins the first three rounds consecutively, the match concludes with a 3-0 victory. However, if the losing player manages to win one or two rounds, the match continues, potentially reaching a full five-round showdown and ending with a final score of 3-2. This structure allows for intense comebacks and dramatic finishes, keeping both players and audiences fully engaged until the very end.

The tournament officially kicked off today with the featured games being Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat, and Guilty Gear. As usual at the ZEB venue, the Master of Ceremonies is none other than Yumi Ichijou, the secretary of Zaboru. Despite her reluctance, she agreed to take on the role—dressed as Chun-Li, no less. Although she clearly did this with hesitation, Zaboru made it worth her while by offering a very generous payment. In the end, it turned out to be a great opportunity for her, even if she didn't initially want the spotlight.

The atmosphere was electric as the Street Fighter match kicked off, and the finalists took their places on stage. Representing Japan was Yoko, known in the esports scene by her gamertag MuSho. She selected Cammy as her character, facing off against an American player named Wesley, whose nickname is Click. Wesley chose Guile for the intense showdown.

In an exciting and closely contested battle, MuSho ultimately emerged victorious. As the final round ended, the crowd erupted into cheers, and the young champion Yoko, a middle school student with a growing reputation in the gaming world, burst into tears on stage. The audience gave her a standing ovation, moved by her passion and resilience. Despite her young age, Yoko is already recognized as a formidable force in the competitive gaming community. Her story resonates with fans not just because of her skill, but because she plays for the love of the game—proving herself in a world where few expect a rich girl to dominate the fighting game scene. Her victory solidified her status as both a rising star and a true gamer at heart.

The next game was Mortal Kombat, where the returning champion Seth Vincent—known by his gamertag Sevin_W—once again reached the finals. Hailing from Washington, USA, Sevin_W was prepared for another shot at glory. However, he was shocked to discover that his final opponent was none other than his longtime best friend, Edward Lorenza, who had recently entered the competitive scene under the nickname ED_Shadow.

The crowd erupted with excitement as Yumi introduced the two finalists, emphasizing their close friendship and the thrilling dynamic of their rivalry. The tension intensified when it was revealed that ED_Shadow had chosen Scorpion, while Sevin_W had picked Sub-Zero—two of the most iconic and rival characters in Mortal Kombat.

The match was intense and emotional, filled with dramatic moments and expert gameplay. Many expected Sevin_W to defend his title, but in a stunning twist, ED_Shadow managed to clinch a narrow victory in the final round. With that, ED_Shadow was crowned the new Mortal Kombat champion of 1995.

Although Seth was initially disappointed, he couldn't help but feel proud and thrilled for his friend. Edward, who once had little interest in going pro despite his skills, had now stepped fully into the spotlight. Seth, energized by the friendly rivalry, vowed to come back stronger and beat his ass next year. Their bond remained strong, but the competition between them had officially begun.

The final event of the day was the highly anticipated Guilty Gear match. Although the game is still relatively new and hasn't yet reached the advanced stages of professional play, the excitement surrounding it was undeniable. One of the finalists was Takayuki Kageyama, known in the scene simply as "Takayuki." He has become a familiar name in the competitive gaming industry, especially within the ZAGE community, as he participates in nearly every tournament—though he has never clinched a title. Takayuki chose to fight using Sol Badguy.

Facing him was Ronnie Smith from the United States, better known by his handle "BIG_R." He selected Potemkin as his character, bringing a heavy-hitting style to the grand finals. The match was intense, drawing cheers from the crowd with every explosive combo and counterattack. In the end, however, Takayuki fell short once again, and BIG_R emerged as the first-ever Guilty Gear champion in ZAGE history.

Takayuki let out a quiet sigh—another year, another loss in the finals. Despite his consistency in reaching the top, his lack of confidence always seemed to haunt him in the final moments.

As for the rewards, the 4th place finisher will receive a total of 125,000 yen, which is equivalent to approximately 1,250 dollars, given the current exchange rate of 100 yen to 1 dollar. This marks a significant change compared to last year when the rate was 200 yen to 1 dollar. The 3rd place winner will be awarded 250,000 yen along with exclusive ZAGE merchandise. The runner-up, or 2nd place, will earn 500,000 yen and receive a rare, limited-edition action figure.

The grand prize for the 1st place winner is an impressive 1 million yen, a special Champion Edition action figure, and the legendary Champion's Card—an ultra-rare collectible crafted personally by Zaboru Renkonan. This card is more than just a trophy: it grants the champion lifetime access to all ZAGE games, as long as they are single-copy titles, completely free of charge when purchased at any official ZAGE store. This reward is considered one of the most prestigious and valuable perks in the ZAGE competitive scene. This is a trophy worth bragging about for years to come, and to this day, only a select few have ever earned it.

That concludes the first day of the ZAGE Fighting Events 1995, setting the stage for even more thrilling battles as the tournament continues into its second day tomorrow.

To be continue

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