RAGE, a collaboration between CyberZ, Avex Entertainment, and TV Asahi, is Japan's largest e-sports entertainment event that combines next-generation sports "e-sports" with a variety of entertainment elements. RAGE " is Japan's largest e-sports entertainment, combining various entertainment aspects of "e-sports," a next-generation sports competition operated in collaboration with three companies: TV Asahi Corporation, TV Asahi Inc, The qualifying tournament was held on October 21 (Sat) and 22 (Sun), 2023, at Hall 3 of Makuhari Messe! RAGE Shadowverse 2023 Winter was the first time in three years that players from outside of Japan were able to enter, and the two-day event was a great success.
RAGE Shadowverse 2023 Winter Preliminary Tournament
Unlike the previous "RAGE Shadowverse 2023 Autumn" tournament, this year's event was held offline, and many players gathered at the venue! The qualifying tournament for "RAGE Shadowverse 2023 Winter" was held at Bellesalle Akihabara on October 21 (Sat) and 22 (Sun), 2023 to determine the 8 players who will win the right to participate in the GRAND FINALS to be held on December 17 (Sun), 2023. The qualifying tournament was held over two days on October 21 (Sat) and 22 (Sun), 2023. Many games were played in parallel on both Day 1 and Day 2, but the most notable game was the feature match, which was played by Kazutaka Tomoda (@PolngaxNagi ), Kosuke Hiraiwa (@kouhiraiwa777 ), Yasuo Suda (@kaicho_beda ), and Hiroko Fuse, who provided the play-by-play commentary, Yu Ebihara (@CASTER_ebibkw ) and Maru (@mal_shadow ) appeared as commentators. The tournament can be viewed on the YouTube archive, so please check it out!
Day1
Day2
Many people, including players not participating in the tournament, enjoyed playing "RAGE Shadowverse" offline during the two days of the event. There were many side events such as 4-player flight tournaments, 2-pick tournaments, 3-player team tournaments, star-taking battles, and yuikko match-ups.
For the first time in three years, international players were allowed to enter this year's tournament, and many passionate players from around the world took part! Among them was MingiGod, who has participated in the "Shadowverse World Grand Prix" in the past, and his play really excited the audience.
Comment from MingiGod
PR TIMES(It's been almost 4 years since I participated in an offline tournament. I think the best thing about Shadowverse is that anyone can participate and anyone can win! I am very happy to be able to participate in RAGE Shadowverse.
Looking back on Day 2!
About 300 players participated in Day 2, including those who made it through Day 1 and those who were seeded, such as finalists from past tournaments! First, six rounds were played using the Swiss draw system (in which participants play the same number of games regardless of whether they win or lose), and players with five or more wins advance to the playoffs. Players who advance to the playoffs are then divided into eight groups for a single-elimination tournament, and the winner of each tournament becomes a finalist.
Swiss Draw 1st Round] Shoya vs.
YouTubeThe first featured match was a high-profile match involving Shoya, the champion of the previous tournament. Perhaps due to the tense atmosphere of Day 2, Shoya lost the first battle, but he went on to win the next two rounds without any problems! He said humbly, "I am relieved to have won," and "I will try to stay calm and do my best from the second round onward.
Second round of the Swiss Draw] Yamimo vs Terarina
YouTubeThe second round of the Swiss Draw was a battle of two strong players, Yamimo, who has been active in the competitive scene for a long time and has shown outstanding strength, and Terarina, who belongs to the professional team "AXIZ. The game continued to be difficult, but Terarina, a professional player, showed her determination! Terarina, who won the match 1-2, confessed that he was nervous (because his opponent was a yam), but said, "I'm going to try to make the playoffs this time in RAGE.
Swiss Draw 3rd Round] Spicies vs MingiGod
YouTubeSpicies, a member of the professional team "DetonatioN FocusMe," and MingiGod, who was participating in RAGE from Korea for the first time in four years, had both won one game and lost one game before the second round, so they could not lose any more. The matchup was a tough one. In the final battle, MingiGod won the match 1-1 by consolidating his opponent's board and blocking his opponent's moves, and by playing to the best of his deck's features! After the match, MingiGod joked that he was unlucky to be playing at the distribution table for the second time (after Day 1) and that his opponent was strong, and vowed to win three straight games to qualify for the playoffs.
Swiss Draw 4th Round] SGA｜Merce vs Thx｜Yuna
YouTubeThe fourth round of the Swiss Draw was a battle between players from amateur teams, many of whom are active on the competitive scene. The matchup between Thx｜Yuna and SGA｜Merce, the runner-up in the "RAGE Shadowverse 2023 Autumn" tournament, started out tough for SGA｜Merce, who was burned by Thx｜Yuna's lack of key cards in his hand. However, after a painful moment when Thx｜Yuna's key card failed to enter his hand and he was burned, SGA｜Merce was able to regain his momentum and won in straight games, 2-0! In the post-match interview, he said, "I came here to make up for the disappointment I had in the previous tournament. In the interview after the match, she said emphatically, "I came here to make up for my disappointment in the last tournament, and I definitely want to go to the playoffs and become a finalist.
Swiss Draw 5th round】Neguseman vs 75
YouTubeThe fifth round match was between Neguseman, a finalist in the previous tournament, and 75, a player whose emotes and loud reactions during the game brought a lot of excitement to the commentary. Neguseman was aiming for a steady lethal, but despite his reactions, 75 played carefully and won in straight games! He showed a big gut-punch and said in an interview that he has a "restless personality" and that "90% of the time I just go with the flow," and that he "wants to enjoy the playoffs as much as possible.
Swiss Draw 6th round】Da-Yone vs Sawa-chan
YouTubeThe feature match in the 6th round was between Dane, a member of the professional team "Yoshimoto Gaming," and Sawa-chan, who has won the RAGE tournament. With a 4-1 record and a series of difficult situations, Dan-Yone won the match 2-0. But after that, I started winning steadily, and at the end, I was able to show some good play at the distribution table, so I'm happy," he said with a smile.
Playoff 1st round] AXIZ/Gemo vs macaw
YouTubeIn the first round of the playoffs, Gemo, a member of the professional team "AXIZ," and macaw played against each other. Although macaw took the first battle, AXIZ/Gemo showed his determination and won again! He reported that the four members from AXIZ had advanced to Day 2, and said, "This is the fourth time I've participated in the playoffs. This is my fourth time in the playoffs and I want to be a finalist soon.
Playoff 2nd round】Thx｜Salt of Tsushima vs Kara
YouTubeIn the second round of the playoffs of Tournament 6, Shio Tsushima, the winner of the "RAGE Shadowverse 2023 Summer" tournament, faced off against Kara! During the match, Salt of Tsushima struck a pose of gratitude by clasping his hands together, which was popular at the "RAGE" event where he won the tournament, but he was not so lucky with the cards... Nevertheless, he showed his ability and advanced to the playoff finals with back-to-back victories! In the winner's interview, he commented, "I wasn't good at dealing with Tier 1 decks, so I believed in myself and brought my best decks." "We have the best team to be on top of each other," he said. "I'm going to be the second RAGE champion, which I haven't been yet! " he declared emphatically.
Playoff Final] LVS/Tatsuno vs W's/noa
YouTubeThe last match of the day was a feature match between Tatsuno and W's｜noa from the professional team "Levanga SAPPORO (LVS)". LVS/Tatsuno won again and became a finalist for the third time in his career! In the interview, he commented, "I thought 'what happens twice happens three times,' but the third time didn't come for about five years," and "I say 'third time's the charm,' but this time I want to win and make my name in history.
GRAND FINALS Contestant Comments
Winter
(Today) I am tired from the hard fighting. (About his number 3 in the tournament) I drew the number, so it's fine.
LVS/Tatsuno
I don't feel like a finalist yet. It's been 4 or 5 years since I was a finalist before, so from an uncle's point of view, I want to go home and go to bed soon (laughs).
sima player
I am tired today. (In the GRAND FINALS) No matter who comes, I will just concentrate on the one match in front of me.
Mats
My last opponent in the playoffs was rikka (from LVS), who became a pro when I quit the pro ranks. This is the stage I had always dreamed of playing on. I am happy to be the first finalist.
Sakeman (Thx｜Sakeman)
I want to ride the wave and show the power of Thx (my amateur team). I want to give it my all and fight.
Catenary
Talking with Kazutaka Tomoda (who I always see on the screen) made me feel that I had become a finalist. Regardless of the opponent, I will not look up or down, but only one battle at a time in front of me.
SGA｜Future Players
I am happy to have won this time because I have missed many chances since my last finalist. (In the first round, I had to play LVS/Tatsuno.) I didn't want to play him the most, but I will do my best.
KIRAKA player
(On winning the "RAGE" championship for the second time in his career) I think it's possible! Last time I won the championship, I won from the first round and got on a roll, so I'm going to keep it up this time.
GRAND FINALS will be held on December 17 (Sun.)!
The "RAGE Shadowverse 2023 Winter" GRAND FINALS will be held on December 17, 2023at Bellesalle Akihabara. Follow the official ShadowverseX account (@shadowverse_jp) and RAGE official X (@esports_RAGE ) for more information!
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