Everything to know about Battle GateWay 35

The next stop on the 2022 Smash World Tour is coming to Tokyo, Japan this weekend. Despite lacking international talent, this Super Smash Bros. Melee tournament will be a platinum event for the biggest Smash circuit.

With only 31 registered players, every single person who signed up will get at least 45 Smash World Tour points; even if they don’t actually show up. Here’s everything viewers should keep in mind heading into Battle GateWay 35 this weekend.

今回Battlegateway は@SmashWorldTour のプラチナポイント大会に認定されました。

次回のBGW33は会場や準備か完了次第開催日などの詳細を共有致します。

世界と日本がDXで繋がる楽しいイベントに出来れば幸いです。 pic.twitter.com/ZjGXIhSqdb

— BGW/関東スマブラDXオフ大会 (@battlegateway) March 10, 2022

Players to watch at Battle GateWay 35

As the best player in Japan by a wide margin and the number six player in the world, Masaya “aMSa” Chikamoto is the clear favorite to win Battle GateWay 35. He previously won Battle GateWay 34 in July without dropping a single game. In addition, aMSa currently sits in second place on the Smash Word Tour Melee standings. A win at this event would propel him into first place ahead of Zain “Zain” Naghmi.

While first place is all but out of reach for anyone other than aMSa, Battle GateWay 34 runner-up Inngenn will look to repeat that performance at this event. Though he only began competing in 2021, the young Marth main has already become one of Japan’s strongest players.

So far, Inngenn’s only international tournament appearance was at the 2021 Smash World Tour Championships. While he didn’t win a set, he did push Sasha “Magi” Sullivan to Game 5. A high placement at this event could increase Inngenn’s odds of coming back to the States in December and showing the world how much he’s improved over the past year.

How to watch Battle GateWay 35

Melee fans can watch Battle GateWay 35 on the VGBootCamp Twitch channel. The entire event will take place on Sunday, starting with pools at 12:30 a.m. ET. Top cut will then start at 2:30 a.m., with grand finals taking place around 5 a.m.

There will also be a small Rivals of Aether side bracket at this tournament. This side event will kick off at 2:30 a.m. Like Melee, Rivals of Aether grand finals are scheduled to happen at 5 a.m.