Bandai Namco Entertainment America has announced that the Soul Calibur VI World Invitational 2019, which will take place in November, will feature seven top players and last-chance qualifying player competing for their share of a $25,000 prize pool and a Championship title. Soul Calibur VI made a successful showing at this year’s EVO, the Evolution Championship Series, helping prove that the players who love this game want to help make it more than Tekken‘s weird little brother. The ongoing support from fans led Bandai Namco to support Soul Calibur VI with the Invitational tournament event, as well as Season 2 update that will feature Haohmaru, a guest character from SNK’s fellow weapons-based fighter Samurai Showdown.
So far, Team Oplon’s Jeremy “Skyll” Bernard and Gerardo “Lolomx” Vega have confirmed their attendance at the Soul Calibur VI Invitational, and other notable players who are expected to be there to participate are Team Orange’s Marie-Laure “Kayane” Norindr and EVO 2019 Soul Calibur VI Campion BNE’s Sudo “Yuttoto” Yuta.
The Soul Calibur VI World Invitational will also feature a full day of “intense competition” that will determine who the final spot in the event’s top 8 will go to. 128 competitors from around the world will be able to contend for the final last chance spot and a chance at the World Champion title. The invited players will be selected by winning a Soul Calibur VI event previously in 2019.
Season 2 of Soul Calibur VI hasn’t been given an official release date, so it’s unknown whether Haohmaru or any of the other three DLC characters will be playable and tournament legal by then, or how balance and mechanics changes will affect the way that players approach their main characters and their matchups. Either way, developer support for Soul Calibur VI through a second season and a World Invitational is sure to make fans of the series happy, especially those who want to see its eSports presence grow.
The Soul Calibur VI World Invitational will take place at the HyperX Esports Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on November 7th, 2019. Registration for hopeful qualifies is open now, and tickets for attendees are available for purchase here.