Ludwig Smash Tournament

The popular streamer will be organizing an online competition for Super Smash Bros, according to an announcement on his social media accounts.

Ludwig’s update was a response to Genesis 8 — one of the biggest Super Smash Bros. tournaments of all time — being postponed to mid-April from its previously planned date of January 28th.  The event will begin on January 29th. There will be a prize pool of $30,001 and a $1 entry fee for the event.

Because of COVID-19 and operational concerns, the organizers of Genesis 8 chose to postpone the event. The TOs noted in a statement on Genesis Gaming’s website: “The safety of our attendees is priority number one for us. When someone buys a ticket for Genesis, we have an obligation as organizers to ensure a safe environment for everyone attending our event […] In spite of all the extra safety precautions we have planned, we still don’t think we can provide a reasonably safe event in these circumstances.” 

Instead, Smash players who want to compete in a real tournament can take part in Ludwig’s online competition, which is free to enter. Ludwig will not be holding a Smash Bros. tournament for the first time this year. The Ludwig Ahgren Championship Series, a series of online tournaments with some of the richest prize pools in the game’s history, has been held by him three times. 

In the past, only those who qualified or were invited were allowed to participate in Ludwig’s competitions. There is no official word on whether or not this tournament will be the same as the one that has been publicized. The $30,001 prize pool puts it in the top ten largest prize pools in Melee’s history, as well as every previous event Ludwig has sponsored. 

In Super Smash Bros., Genesis has long been one of the most popular tournament series. For participants in Melee, Ultimate, and other games, the event has been a significant one. If Ludwig’s ambitions are simply for Melee — the only game in the franchise with which he has been actively involved in the past — no information has been disclosed.