2023 is here and it’s a brand new year for Super Smash Bros. Melee and Ultimate pros to prove themselves at a variety of Smash tournaments.
2022 was a bumpy year for competitive Super Smash Bros. The Smash World Tour has been canceled and the Panda Cup has been indefinitely postponed, leaving no organized circuits left for competitors and fans alike. But there are still some major Smash tournaments to look forward to in 2023!
Genesis 9
Date: January 20 - 22
Location: San Jose, California
Genesis is one of the oldest grassroots tournaments in Smash, founded in 2009. The iconic tournament will see the top Melee and Ultimate players competing for $18,555 and $17,880 prize pools respectively. Genesis 8 was extremely hype but it was also the origin of a popular Smash meme known as the French Dimension, a skit starring Wario main William "Glutonny" Belaïd. Expect even more shenanigans come January 20.
Smash Ultimate Summit 6
Date: March
Location: Los Angeles, California
Summit has become one of the most meaningful tournaments every year, with top Ultimate players campaigning for a spot in this coveted, underground-style tournament. Summit is a time for players to not only compete against the best of the best, but socialize with each other in a casual setting, make unforgettable content and streams, and — for some players — a chance to make a name for themselves. Expect players like Leonardo "MkLeo" Perez, Paris "Light" Garcia, and Edgar "Sparg0" Valdez to duke it out at the top.
Collision 2023
Date: March 10 - 12
Location: Parsippany, New Jersey
This east coast tourney will have all of the top Melee and Ultimate players clashing in an attempt to prove themselves. On the Melee side, Juan "Hungrybox" DeBiedma, Zain Naghmi, Jake "Jmook" DiRado, and Codey "iBDW" Schwab will be some of the streams to keep an eye out for. Ultimate is also full of top players, like MkLeo, Light, Samuel "Dabuz" Buzby, Michael "Riddles" Kim, and Enrique "Maister" Solis.
Low Tide City 2023
Date: May 13 - 14
Location: Round Rock, Texas
Low Tide City has continued to be a staple of the Smash competitive community, known for fighting to keep the game alive, including mods like Project+. Low Tide City will also have a hype Splatoon 3 tournament. Low Tide City is held at the Kalahari Resort, home to the largest indoor water park in North America. This makes for a great backdrop for this unique event and provides some great content for Smash players that plan on competing.
Smash Summit 15
Date: June
Location: Los Angeles, California
Possibly the most prestigious Melee event of the year, Smash Summit 15 is where the best Melee players in the world squash rivalries, redeem themselves, and create new storylines. Smash Summit also has one of the largest prize pools for Melee pros, almost entirely crowdfunded by passionate fans and campaigning Melee icons. This storied and colorful tournament series is forever beloved by the Smash community and is sure to birth some incredible moments and new salty drama.
Get On My Level 2023
Date: July 21 - 23
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Get On My Level is one of the most popular North American competitions, with even international players making their way over to the Great White North. Expect Japanese player and current Canadian resident Masaya "aMSa" Chikamot to bring chaotic red Yoshi energy on the Melee side of things. The major has a cap of over 1,000 entrants in both Melee and Ultimate, so it's sure to be a wild time. Other fighting games, like Guilty Gear Strive, will also be streamed. There is also a boat cruise afterparty for the FGC community, meaning killer content is on the way.
Riptide 2023
Date: September 8 - 10
Location: Sandusky, Ohio
It's still a bit early to know which Melee and Ultimate players will be at Riptide 2023 but expect your favorite players to be there. With its retro theme and its indoor water park location, Riptide 2023 is another wild event that's sure to be hype.
Stay tuned to Esports.gg to stay up to date on this year's biggest Smash tournaments as more information is released!