Have you always wanted to participate in a video game tournament? Nintendo has two upcoming tournaments for you! Starting in February, Nintendo is hosting a series of online qualifying events for the Splatoon 2 North America Inkling Open 2019 and the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate North America Open 2019 – two tournaments for two competitive Nintendo Switch games. These open qualifiers lead up to a final event at the PAX East video game conference in Boston on March 30. There are multiple ways to play and participate … and players of all experience levels are welcome. You can check out the announcement video here for more details about these exciting events.
“This inclusive pair of tournaments is a great way for anyone to show off their skills while playing two of their favorite Nintendo Switch games,” said Doug Bowser, Nintendo of America’s Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “Nintendo games are for everyone, and offer a unique combination of social competitive fun. That’s why we’re opening the qualifying rounds to fans of all skill levels.”
The schedule for the online qualifying events for both the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate North America Open 2019 and Splatoon 2 North America Inkling Open 2019 tournaments are below. For the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate North America Open 2019, players will have the chance to qualify in one of four regions across North America. Three individual rounds of qualifying online events will give players three separate chances to represent their region at PAX East.
| Nintendo Switch Game | Region* | Online Event | DateAll times are approximate | |
| Super Smash Bros. Ultimate | Northeast Region | Online Event 1 | Qualifiers | Feb. 2, 9 a.m. PT |
| Finals | Feb. 9, 9 a.m. PT | |||
| Online Event 2 | Qualifiers | Feb. 16, 9 a.m. PT | ||
| Finals | March 2, 11 a.m. PT | |||
| Online Event 3 | Qualifiers | March 9, 9 a.m. PT | ||
| Finals | March 16, 9 a.m. PT | |||
| Southeast Region | Online Event 1 | Qualifiers | Feb. 2, 10 a.m. PT | |
| Finals | Feb. 9, 9 a.m. PT | |||
| Online Event 2 | Qualifiers | Feb. 16, 10 a.m. PT | ||
| Finals | March 2, 11 a.m. PT | |||
| Online Event 3 | Qualifiers | March 9, 10 a.m. PT | ||
| Finals | March 16, 9 a.m. PT | |||
| Southwest Region | Online Event 1 | Qualifiers | Feb. 2, 11 a.m. PT | |
| Finals | Feb. 9, 9 a.m. PT | |||
| Online Event 2 | Qualifiers | Feb. 16, 11 a.m. PT | ||
| Finals | March 2, 11 a.m. PT | |||
| Online Event 3 | Qualifiers | March 9, 11 a.m. PT | ||
| Finals | March 16, 9 a.m. PT | |||
| Northwest Region | Online Event 1 | Qualifiers | Feb. 2, 12 p.m. PT | |
| Finals | Feb. 9, 9 a.m. PT | |||
| Online Event 2 | Qualifiers | Feb. 16, 12 p.m. PT | ||
| Finals | March 2, 11 a.m. PT | |||
| Online Event 3 | Qualifiers | March 9, 12 p.m. PT | ||
| Finals | March 16, 9 a.m. PT | |||
| Nintendo Switch Game | Online Event | DateAll times are approximate | ||
| Splatoon 2 | Ink Pools | Feb. 10, 9 a.m. PT | ||
| Online Qualifier Finals | March 2, 9 a.m. PT |
*Each region has a cap of 2,048 check-in players for each qualifier, for a total of 8,192 players per qualifier series across the four regions of play.
More details about how to enter the online qualifier events can be found at https://www.nintendo.com/switch/events/.
If you just want to watch, the finals for each online event will be livestreamed, so you can follow your favorites as they compete for a chance to attend the final event, or cheer on newcomers when they shock more experienced players with stunning upsets.
TheSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate and Splatoon 2 games are both currently available for the Nintendo Switch system. If you’re interested in taking part in the tournaments, head online to start practicing. Online play can be accessed in both of these games with a Nintendo Switch Online membership. If you aren’t a member yet, you can easily sign up for a free seven-day trial directly through your Nintendo Switch system.
Remember that Nintendo Switch features parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about other features, visit https://www.nintendo.com/switch/.
Splatoon 2 North America Inkling Open 2019: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Open to legal residents of the US, Canada, and Mexico who are age 13+ (18+ for Mexico) and have access to a Nintendo Switch system, Splatoon 2 game, reliable high-speed internet connection and Nintendo Switch Online membership. Registration Period from 1/22/19 to 2/10/19 at 9:00AM PT. Qualifier/Ink Pools Period begins 2/10/19 at 11:00AM PT. To participate, register at battlefy.com/splatoon. Qualifier Finals begins 3/2/19 at 9:00AM PT. Each member of the top 4 Teams in Qualifier Finals will win a prize consisting of a slot to compete in the Final Event, scheduled to take place on 3/30/19 at 11:00AM PT at the PAX Arena in Boston, MA, daily PAX badges, 3 nights lodging, and round-trip airfare (ARV $2,311 each). For a Team to get the prize, at least 4 players on the Team must agree to participate in the Final Event. Each member of the first place winning Team of the Final Event will get a collectible item (ARV $500 each). Skill of participating players determines the winner(s). See Official Rules for details and restrictions. https://www.nintendo.com/switch/events/splatoon2-naio-2019-official-rules/. Sponsor: Nintendo of America Inc., 4600 150th Ave NE, Redmond, WA 98052.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate North America Open 2019 : NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Open to legal residents of the US, Canada, and Mexico who are age 13+ (18+ for Mexico) and have access to a Nintendo Switch system, Super Smash Brothers Ultimate game, reliable high-speed internet connection, and a Nintendo Switch Online membership. Registration Period begins 1/22/19 and ends 3/9/19 at 9:00AM PT. Online Events held at 9:00AM PT on 2/2/19, 2/16/19, and 3/9/19. To participate, register at battlefy.com/supersmashbros2019. Each of the 12 winners will receive a prize consisting of a slot to compete in the Final Event to be held 3/30/19 at the PAX Arena in Boston, MA, daily PAX badges, 3 nights lodging, and round-trip airfare (ARV $2,311 each). To receive the prize, winner must agree to participate in the Final Event. Final Event will be a team competition; each member of the first place team of the Final Event will get a collectible item (ARV $500 each). Skill of participating players determines the winner(s). See Official Rules for details and restrictions. https://www.nintendo.com/switch/events/ssbu-nao-2019-official-rules/ Sponsor: Nintendo of America Inc., 4600 150th Ave NE, Redmond, WA 98052.
Source: PR
I gues this isn’t worldwide. Well, good luck to those interested in particpating these tournaments. I wonder what the winners will get.
The ruleset has items on low and smash ball on. Already a garbage ruleset
How the heck is that a garbage ruleset? That’s how everyone I know plays Smash.
Looks like everyone you know plays by a garbage ruleset.
If Nintendo chose it, I’m just going to trust they made the right choice (and not worry about it anyway because it’s not like I’m going).
Competitively it’s a garbo ruleset. Some final smashes are not dodgeable like Zelda’s and some are dodgeable on activation like fox, falco and wolf’s. I think alpharad has a video on it.
I’ll never understand the ruleset of limiting (or outright removing) items. It’s an integral part of the gameplay so why wouldn’t you let them use items? Besides, if you can go a match without using items while everyone else is using them & still manage to kick everyone’s ass & win the match, that’s what I’d call high level pro right there.
I think you don’t understand that items are not an integral part of the gameplay at high level. Back in the melee days there was a huge debate between east and west coasts about having items or not. And it was obvious that items were dumb and could swing the game in the favor of a player that is clearly inferior to the other. But now that we’re in Smash ultimate, it’s way worse. Some items are actually bonkers. Any pro would destroy you even if you had items and not him. But between pros it’s just dumb. None of them would want this ruleset in place because no pros player with this ruleset. And no, we will not see any item using players be good. If someone uses items you instantly know they are casual and have no idea how to play the game correctly.
I wouldn’t say correctly since using items IS part of the game. Playing the game better than others is more accurate.
I thought ARMS was also an eSports game for Nintendo