EVO Japan 2020 viewer’s guide: How to watch, prize pool and line-up

While the Evolution Championship Series (EVO) 2020 later this year is perhaps the biggest tournament in the FGC calendar, EVO Japan is slowly gathering steam as a close competitor.  

Launched as a spin-off to the main US tournament in 2018, this year’s EVO Japan marks the third time the tournament has taken place – with a game roster headlined by Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.  

The fact it’s going up against the biggest Smash tournament in Genesis 7, however, might mean some of the top players won't be in attendance. There's plenty of action elsewhere too though, so here's what you need to know ahead of Evo Japan 2020.

When is EVO Japan 2020?

EVO Japan is taking place from Friday 24 January to Sunday 26 January at the Makuhari Messe Event Hall in Chiba, Japan.  

The first two days are open tournaments, while the finals on Sunday require admission tickets to enter.

What is the format?  

The tournament operates on a double elimination system. In the grand final of each title, the player who achieves a winning stream in the winners bracket will play against the player who comes out top in the losers bracket.  

To win the tournament in the finals, the winners bracket player has to win once while the losers bracket player has to win twice.

What games are on the line-up and what is the schedule?

There are a total of six main games at the event, with Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Street Fighter V and Tekken 7 guaranteed to earn the most attention considering they have the highest number of entrants. 

You can check out the schedule for each title below.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate 

Friday 24 

Round 1 – 9.30am JST (12.30am Friday GMT) 

Saturday 25 

Round 2 – 10am JST (1am Saturday GMT)  

Round 3 – 1pm JST (4am Saturday GMT) 

Sunday 26 

Final – 12.30pm JST (3.30am Sunday GMT)  

Street Fighter V: Arcade Edition 

Friday 24 

Round 1 – 12pm JST (3am Friday GMT) 

Saturday 25 

Round 2 

Round 2 – 1.30pm JST (4.30am Saturday GMT) 

Round 3 – 4pm JST (7am Saturday GMT)  

Sunday 26 

Final – 4.30pm JST (7.30am Sunday GMT)  

Tekken 7 

Friday 24 

Round 1 – 12pm JST (3am Friday GMT)  

Saturday 25 

Round 2 – 9am JST (12am Saturday GMT) 

Round 3 – 11am JST (2am Saturday GMT)  

Sunday 26 

Final – 9am JST (12am Sunday GMT)  

Samurai Shodown 

Friday 24 

Round 1 – 10am JST (1am Friday GMT)  

Round 2 – 2pm JST (5am Friday GMT)  

Round 3 – 4pm JST (7am Friday GMT)  

Saturday 25 

Final – 3.30pm JST (6.30am Saturday GMT)  

Blazblue Cross Tag Battle 

Friday 24 

Round 1 – 11am JST (2am Friday GMT)  

Round 2 – 7pm JST (10am Friday GMT)  

Round 3 – 8.30pm JST (11.30am Friday GMT) 

Saturday 25 

Final – 6.15pm JST (9.30am Saturday GMT)  

Soul Calibur VI 

Friday 24 

Round 1 – 10am JST (1am Friday GMT)  

Round 2 – 3pm JST (6am Friday GMT) 

Round 3 – 5pm JST (8am Friday GMT)  

Saturday 25 

Final – 11.45am JST (2.45am Saturday GMT)

We'll update these timings as they become available. 

What are the prize pools for Evo Japan 2020? 

Each of the six titles have separate prize pools depending on the game’s popularity, with Super Smash Bros. Ultimate expected to have the biggest cash pot.  

You can check out the list of confirmed prizes below.  

Smash Ultimate is the headline title at Evo Japan 2020 (Picture: Nintendo) 

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate  

According to the official EVO Japan website, the first place winner will recieve a "Nintendo Switch Pro Controller (with gold smash mark)". 

No prizes are listed below first place. GINX TV has reached out to EVO Japan for clarification. 

Street Fighter V: Arcade Edition 

First place: 1 million JPY (£6,980) 

Second place: 400,000 JPY (£2,792) 

Third place: 200,000 JPY (£1,396) 

Tekken 7 

First place: 1 million JPY (£6,980) 

Second place: 400,000 JPY (£2,792) 

Third place: 200,000 JPY (£1,396) 

Samurai Shodown 

First place: 500,000 JPY (£3,491) 

Second place: 200,000 JPY (£1,396) 

Third place: 100,000 JPY (£698) 

Blazblue Cross Tag Battle 

First place: 500,000 JPY (£3,491) 

Second place: 200,000 JPY (£1,396) 

Third place: 100,000 JPY (£698) 

Soul Calibur VI 

First place: 500,000 JPY (£3,491) 

Second place: 200,000 JPY (£1,396) 

Third place: 100,000 JPY (£698)

Who is attending EVO Japan 2020?  

You can check out the full list of attendees here.  

Top players at the event include Street Fighter V’s Punk, Tokido and Fujimura, while Anakin, Knee and Chikurin are among the highest-ranked players for Tekken 7.  

How can I watch EVO Japan 2020?

You’ll be able to watch coverage across the official EVO Twitch channel, with highlights also on their official YouTube channel.  

For a guide on the best place to stream the action, check out the schedule on the official site.