BATTLE BY THE BAY

One of the first of many fighting game gatherings happened in Northern California during the Summer of 1996. BATTLE BY THE BAY, or B3 for short, was one of the first community regional tournaments. Pond3r and inkblot (Tony Cannon and Tom Cannon) would work with various online Street Fighter communities to assemble at Sunnyvale Golfland, with tournaments for both Super Street Fighter II TURBO and Street Fighter Alpha 2. Alpha 2 being the main event, had two powerhouse players from both Northern California and Southern California battling it out for regional pride. In the grand finals, Southern California’s Alex “CaliPower” Valle took it over John “ChoiBoy” Choi in a nailbiter.

FEATURED TITLES:

• Super Street Fighter II TURBO
• Street Fighter Alpha 2

SECOND IMPACT

Four years later the best fighting gamers gathered again to compete at the Folsom Game Room in Folsom, California for B4.This time there were 5 featured tournaments showcasing the best players from throughout the United States. Super Street Fighter II TURBO and Street Fighter Alpha 2 were featured once again, along with newer titles such as Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike, Street Fighter Alpha 3 and Marvel vs. Capcom 2. It wouldn’t be long until the next B series of tournaments took place…

FEATURED TITLES:

• Super Street Fighter II TURBO
• Street Fighter Alpha 2
• Street Fighter Alpha 3
• Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike
• Marvel vs. Capcom 2

GLOBAL BATTLE

B5 marked a return to Folsom Game Room for another Summer battle of fighting game fans. This time the event featured competitors from around the world, being one of the first major events with competitors from Japan. The event featured Super Street Fighter II TURBO, Street Fighter Alpha 3, Marvel vs. Capcom 2 and Capcom vs. SNK. BAS, one of Japan’s champion players, ended up taking Street Fighter Alpha 3 over fellow Japanese player Chikyuu Sodom, who also won the Capcom vs. SNK tournament. Another notable tournament victory came from a young Justin Wong in Marvel vs. Capcom 2 with his win over California’s then dominating champion Duc “Ducvader” Do. This would be the final event in the B series of tournaments, which set the stage for the future…

FEATURED TITLES:

• Super Street Fighter II TURBO
• Street Fighter Alpha 3
• Marvel vs. Capcom 2
• Capcom vs. SNK

EVOLUTION

Evo 2002, held at UCLA, marked the first-ever event under the "Evolution" name, setting the stage for what we would grow into today. Featuring titles Capcom vs. SNK 2, Marvel vs. Capcom 2, and Super Street Fighter II TURBO, the event's success helped solidify Evo's place as the premier tournament for competitive fighting games. It also marks the first victory for Tokido on American soil.

FEATURED TITLES:

• Super Street Fighter II TURBO
• Capcom vs. SNK 2
• Marvel vs. Capcom 2

Evo 2003 saw significant growth, with the event moving to Cal Poly Pomona and expanding to include 9 games, marking a milestone for the tournament. For the first time, 3D fighters like TEKKEN 4 and Virtua Fighter 4: Evolution were part of the lineup, adding a new dimension to the competition. Alongside these, the event still showcased popular 2D classics such as Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike and Marvel vs. Capcom 2, solidifying Evo's reputation as a diverse and inclusive fighting game tournament for the entire genre.

FEATURED TITLES:

• Guilty Gear XX
• Soulcalibur II
• Virtua Fighter 4: Evolution
• TEKKEN TAG Tournament
• TEKKEN 4
• Super Street Fighter II TURBO
• Capcom vs. SNK 2
• Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike
• Marvel vs. Capcom 2

Returning to Cal Poly Pomona, Evo 2004 once again featured nine games and continued to showcase the best the FGC had to offer.. Evo 2004 is particularly memorable for being the year of the legendary "Moment 37," a defining and iconic moment in fighting game and video game history and brought a lot of more casual eyes to the FGC.

FEATURED TITLES:

• Guilty Gear XX
• Soulcalibur II
• Virtua Fighter 4: Evolution
• TEKKEN TAG Tournament
• TEKKEN 4
• Super Street Fighter II TURBO
• Capcom vs. SNK 2
• Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike
• Marvel vs. Capcom 2

Evo 2005 was a pivotal moment in the tournament’s history, as it marked the first time the event moved to Las Vegas, taking place at the Green Valley Ranch. The competition was fierce, with standout performances in games like Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike, Marvel vs. Capcom 2, and Guilty Gear XX# Reload. With the new location, Evo 2005 drew in even more talent and set the stage for future events in the new city.

FEATURED TITLES:

• Super Street Fighter II TURBO
• TEKKEN TAG Tournament
• TEKKEN 5
• Guilty Gear X2 #Reload
• Capcom vs. SNK 2
• Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike
• Marvel vs. Capcom 2

Evo 2005 marked several significant firsts. It was the first time Capcom officially supported the event, signaling a closer relationship between the company and the FGC. Additionally, Evo introduced regional tournaments with the debut of Evo West and Evo East earlier in the year, Evo’s first swings at expanding beyond just a once a year showcase. One of the most unique moments of Evo 2005 was the inclusion of Mario Kart DS, the first and only non-fighting game in the tournament's history.

FEATURED TITLES:

• Dead or Alive 4
• Hyper Street Fighter II
• TEKKEN 5
• Guilty Gear XX Slash
• Capcom vs. SNK 2
• Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike
• Marvel vs. Capcom 2

Evo 2007, officially called Evo World, the final year for the Evo East and Evo West regional events. The main event was the first time the inclusion of the Super Smash Bros. series in the main lineup for the first time.

FEATURED TITLES:

• Virtua Fighter 5
• Super Street Fighter II TURBO
• TEKKEN 5: Dark Resurrection
• Guilty Gear XX Accent Core
• Capcom vs. SNK 2
• Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike
• Marvel vs. Capcom 2

Evo 2008 was a historic event, as it marked the first time the tournament was held on the iconic Las Vegas Strip, at the Tropicana hotel. This shift to a more central and high-profile location set the tone for the future and set its home for the next 2 decades.

FEATURED TITLES:

• Super Street Fighter II TURBO
• TEKKEN 5: Dark Resurrection
• Capcom vs. SNK 2
• Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike
• Marvel vs. Capcom 2

Held at the Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Evo 2009 set attendance records, largely due to the introduction of Street Fighter IV, which brought in an entirely new era and generation of fighting game players. It was the first time the game appeared in the Evo lineup, and its presence helped reignite interest in the Street Fighter series. The tournament also made history by featuring the first-ever 1,000+ person bracket, highlighting the growing scale and popularity of Evo.

Evo 2009 was the first event that awarded community members the Evo Cannon Award. The inaugural award recipients were Tom and Tony Cannon.

FEATURED TITLES:

• Super Street Fighter II TURBO HD Remix
• Soulcalibur IV
• Guilty Gear XX Accent Core Plus
• Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike
• Marvel vs. Capcom 2
• Street Fighter IV

Moving to the Paris Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Evo 2010 was a pivotal year, marking the end of an era with Marvel vs. Capcom 2 being featured for the last time in the tournament. The game’s departure made way for newer titles, but Street Fighter IV continued to dominate the scene, growing in popularity and participation. In fact, Street Fighter IV hit a record 1,800+ players, and its success helped secure a guaranteed $20,000 prize pool for the game.

The 2010 Evo Cannon Award recipients were Maj, Seth Killian and MrWizard.

During Sunday finals an Evo Japan event was teased but due to the 2011 Tohoku earthquake was eventually cancelled.

FEATURED TITLES:

• Super Street Fighter II TURBO HD Remix
• Melty Blood: Actress Again
• Marvel vs. Capcom 2
• Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars
• TEKKEN 6
• Super Street Fighter IV: Women’s Invitational Tournament
• Super Street Fighter IV

Evo 2011 introduced the "Road to Evo" tournament series, a collaboration with Capcom. This series of qualifiers across the globe built up to the main event, making Evo more accessible and inclusive than ever before. Additionally, Evo 2011 broke new ground with over 2 million viewers tuning in via UStream, marking a major milestone in the growth of esports viewership and the global reach of the tournament.

The 2011 Evo Cannon Award recipient was MarkMan.

FEATURED TITLES:

• BlazBlue Continuum Shift II
• TEKKEN 6
• Mortal Kombat (2011)
• Marvel vs. Capcom 3
• Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition

Evo 2012 saw the return of the “Road to Evo” tournament series and a move to Caesar’s Place in Las Vegas. It marked the first time the event was streamed on Twitch, cementing it’s place as a yearly staple in the esports streaming landscape. This also was the first year of THE KING OF FIGHTERS XIII, the first appearance of the KOF franchise in the Evo main lineup.

The 2012 Evo Cannon Award recipients were Shinblanka and MikeZ.

FEATURED TITLES:

• THE KING OF FIGHTERS XIII
• Soulcalibur V
• Street Fighter x TEKKEN
• Mortal Kombat (2011)
• Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3
• Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition

Evo 2013 showcased incredible matches and moments but it more importantly demonstrated the power of the FGC to make a positive impact. The final spot for the 2013 main lineup was left to a breast cancer research fundraiser, with Super Smash Bros. Melee raising over $94k to make it’s way back into the show. This was also the first Evo to stream officially on Japanese streaming service, NicoNico.

The 2013 Evo Cannon Award recipients were Alex Valle and Sp00ky.

FEATURED TITLES:

• THE KING OF FIGHTERS XIII
• TEKKEN TAG TOURNAMENT 2
• Persona 4 Arena
• Injustice: Gods Among Us
• Street Fighter x TEKKEN
• Mortal Kombat (2011)
• Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3
• Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition

Evo 2014 broke multiple records and marked several significant milestones. Ultra Street Fighter IV set a new record with over 2,000 players in its bracket, while Super Smash Bros. Melee reached its franchise’s largest bracket ever with over 970 participants. This year also marked the first time Evo was a part of the newly announced Capcom Pro Tour, and was the first ever Evo to be sponsored by Nintendo.

The 2014 Evo Cannon Award recipients were prog and BigE.

FEATURED TITLES:

• THE KING OF FIGHTERS XIII
• TEKKEN TAG TOURNAMENT 2
• Injustice: Gods Among Us
• BlazBlue: Chrono Phantasma
• Killer Instinct
• Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3
• Ultra Street Fighter IV

Evo 2015 marked the debut of Super Smash Bros. for Wii U in the main lineup, and the game set a new franchise entrant record with an impressive 1,926 players. The tournament also made history by using 8 different Twitch channels to stream the event throughout the weekend, significantly enhancing the viewing experience for fans around the world. This was also the final year of Street Fighter IV, a title that introduced a whole new generation of players to the FGC.

The 2015 Evo Cannon Award recipient was Maximilian Dood.

FEATURED TITLES:

• Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN-
• TEKKEN 7
• Mortal Kombat X
• Persona 4 Arena Ultimax
• Killer Instinct
• Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3
• Ultra Street Fighter IV

Evo 2016 was a landmark year. With the debut of Street Fighter V setting an all-time record with over 5,000 entrants, the tournament grew beyond the traditional ballroom setting, marking the first time the event was held in a convention center. The Sunday finals were also held for the first time in the Mandalay Bay Events Center, marking the introduction of the "Arena Experience" and taking the hype and immersion to a whole new level. This also marked the first time the event was broadcasted on ESPN 2 for the Street Fighter V Top 8.

During the Sunday Finals, Evo announced that an Evo Japan event was in the works.

FEATURED TITLES:

• Guilty Gear Xrd -REVELATOR-
• TEKKEN 7
• Mortal Kombat X
• Pokken Tournament
• Killer Instinct
• Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3
• Street Fighter V

Evo 2017 continued the format introduced the previous year, but this time with all three days held at the Mandalay Bay Resort. The event featured nine games, with the ninth spot being reserved for the Player’s Choice title, bringing back the donation drive style challenge for communities to get their favorite title into the main lineup. Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 earned this spot after its community raised the most money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

During the Sunday finals, Evo Japan announced their upcoming 2018 game lineup and encouraged competitors to attend the inaugural event early the following year.

FEATURED TITLES:

• Guilty Gear Xrd REV 2
• TEKKEN 7
• Injustice 2
• BlazBlue: Central Fiction
• THE KING OF FIGHTERS XIV
• Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3
• Street Fighter V

2018 started early with the inaugural Evo Japan event held in Ikebukuro’s Sunshine City Plaza and the finals taking place in Akihabara’s UDX. Over 5,000 competitors participated during the event at the end of January.

EVO JAPAN FEATURED TITLES:

• ARMS
• THE KING OF FIGHTERS XIV
• BlazBlue: Central Fiction
• Super Smash Bros. for Wii-U
• Guilty Gear Xrd REV 2
• TEKKEN 7
• Street Fighter V: Arcade Edition

Evo 2018 marked a significant milestone, as it was the first time the event had been held at the same venue, the Mandalay Bay Resort, for three years in a row, solidifying the location as the tournament’s home base.

FEATURED TITLES:

• Guilty Gear Xrd REV 2
• TEKKEN 7
• Injustice 2
• BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle
• DRAGON BALL FighterZ
• Street Fighter V

EVO JAPAN FEATURED TITLES:

• THE KING OF FIGHTERS XIV
• BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle
• SOULCALIBUR VI
• Guilty Gear Xrd REV 2
• TEKKEN 7
• Street Fighter V: Arcade Edition

Over 9,000 participants joined the fight for nine different fighting games. We also set a record for the largest in-person Super Smash Bros. tournament of all time with over 3,500 players entering for the first year of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

FEATURED TITLES:

• Under Night In-Birth Exe:Late[st]
• TEKKEN 7
• SOULCALIBUR VI
• Mortal Kombat 11
• Samurai Shodown (2019)
• BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle
• DRAGON BALL FighterZ
• Street Fighter V: Arcade Edition

Evo Japan 2020 was held in late January, and despite some challenges, including the looming threat of the global pandemic, the event successfully delivered the hype and excitement expected of the FGC.

EVO JAPAN FEATURED TITLES:

• Samurai Shodown
• BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle
• Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
• SOULCALIBUR VI
• TEKKEN 7
• Street Fighter V: Arcade Edition

Evo Japan 2020 was held in late January, and despite some challenges, including the looming threat of the global pandemic, the event successfully delivered the hype and excitement expected of the FGC.

EVO JAPAN FEATURED TITLES:

• Samurai Shodown
• BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle
• Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
• SOULCALIBUR VI
• TEKKEN 7
• Street Fighter V: Arcade Edition

2023 marked the release of Street Fighter 6, which set a new all-time record for competitors with 7,083. This also set the record for the number of unique entrants with 9,182. 2023 also was the introduction of the Throwback Tournament with the first game being Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3.

The 2023 event brought back the Evo Cannon Award and awarded them to TheHadou, Jebailey and Tong.

FEATURED TITLES:

• Melty Blood: Type Lumina
• TEKKEN 7
• Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3
• Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate
• THE KING OF FIGHTERS XV
• Guilty Gear -STRIVE-
• DRAGON BALL FighterZ
• Street Fighter 6

Evo 2024 moved to the Las Vegas convention center, making its first venue change since 2016. Continuing from the previous year, 2024 broke the competitor record again with 16,252 bracket entries between 10,240 individual players. Street Fighter 6 followed up its record year with another 5,000+ person bracket, while TEKKEN 8’s debut set its own franchise record with 4,646 competitors. For its 25th anniversary and the 20th anniversary of Moment 37, Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike took the Throwback slot.

The 2024 Evo Cannon Award honored community members at both Evo Japan and Evo in Las Vegas. The Evo Japan recipients were Matsuda-san and Inaba-san. The Evo Las Vegas recipients were Sherryjenix, chrisceg and Abou.

FEATURED TITLES:

• Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising
• TEKKEN 8
• Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike
• Mortal Kombat 1
• THE KING OF FIGHTERS XV
• Guilty Gear -STRIVE-
• Under Night In-Birth II Sys:Celes
• Street Fighter 6

FEATURED TITLES:

• Marvel vs. Capcom 2
• Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising
• Under Night In-Birth II Sys:Celes
• Mortal Kombat 1
• Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves
• Guilty Gear -STRIVE-
• TEKKEN 8
• Street Fighter 6