Tournament:Panda Cup: Difference between revisions

m
No edit summary
(48 intermediate revisions by 13 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{ongoing}}
{{ArticleIcons|ssbm=y|ssbu=y|competitive=y|online=y}}
{{ArticleIcons|ssbm=y|ssbu=y|competitive=y|online=y}}
{{Infobox Tournament Series
{{Infobox Tournament Series
|name = Panda Cup
|name = Panda Cup
|image = [[File:PandaCup.svg|class=greybg|250px]]
|image = [[File:PandaCup.svg|250px|class=invert]]
|founded = 2022
|founded = 2022
|region = North America
|region = North America
Line 10: Line 9:
|ssbuwinner =   
|ssbuwinner =   
|player(s) with most wins =  
|player(s) with most wins =  
|director = {{Team|Panda}}
|organizer = {{Team|Panda}}
|website = [https://pandacup.com/ Panda Cup website]
|website = [https://pandacup.com/ Panda Cup website]
}}
}}
The '''Panda Cup''' is an ongoing ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]'' and ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]'' tournament circuit organized by {{Team|Panda}} and is the first North American ''Super Smash Bros.'' circuit officially licensed by [[Nintendo]]. The circuit began on June 24th, 2022 and will conclude on December 18th, 2022. The championships will be held on December 16th-18th, 2022, with a Last Chance Qualifier held on December 15th, 2022. There will be a pot prize starting at $100,000.
The '''Panda Cup''' was a ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]'' and ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]'' tournament circuit organized by {{Team|Panda}} and was the first North American ''Super Smash Bros.'' circuit officially licensed by [[Nintendo]]. The circuit began on June 24th, 2022 and was planned to conclude on December 18th, 2022. The championships was planned to be held on December 16th-18th, 2022, with a Last Chance Qualifier held on December 15th, 2022, but the date was postponed on December 5th, 2022,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/PandaGlobal/status/1599631343159480321|title=Panda Cup Finale is postponed}}</ref> and eventually confirmed to be cancelled on November 23rd, 2023.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2DpSz8mpuA Dr Alan Reveals EVERYTHING That Happened w/ Panda! | Lights Out Episode 36]</ref> There was going to be a pot prize starting at $100,000.


==Format==
==Format==
[[File:Panda Cup regions.png|thumb|250px|Regions of the Panda Cup]]
[[File:Panda Cup regions.png|thumb|250px|Regions of the Panda Cup]]


32 players in each game will qualify for the finale through four different ways:
32 players in each game qualified for the finale through four different ways:


'''1. Featured Community Stops:''' 11 offline tournaments featured as community stops will have totals of 16 players qualifying for ''Melee'' and 18 players qualifying for ''Ultimate''. The number of qualifying spots for each tournament will range from 1 to 3 players. 6 tournaments will be qualifiers for both games, {{Trn|Saving Mr. Lombardi 3}} will be a qualifier for ''Melee'' only, and {{Trn|Almost Pro}}, {{Trn|Let's Make Moves: Miami}}, and {{Trn|Port Priority 7}} will be qualifiers for ''Ultimate'' only.
'''1. Featured Community Stops:''' 11 offline tournaments featured as community stops had totals of 16 players qualifying for ''Melee'' and 18 players qualifying for ''Ultimate''. The number of qualifying spots for each tournament ranged from 1 to 3 players. 6 tournaments were qualifiers for both games, {{Trn|Saving Mr. Lombardi 3}} was a qualifier for ''Melee'' only, and {{Trn|Almost Pro}}, {{Trn|Let's Make Moves Miami}}, and {{Trn|Port Priority 7}} were qualifiers for ''Ultimate'' only.


'''2. Panda Cup Online Qualifiers:''' 8 players will qualify through online tournaments for ''Ultimate'' only. There are 8 regions, with 4 qualifiers and a regional final for each. Points will be distributed to the Top 96 of each qualifier, with the Top 32 of each region's leaderboard invited to the regional finals. Players will be removed from Top 32 eligibility based on DQs, meaning the Top 32 indicated by points may not be final.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://i.imgur.com/8fsWo5z.png|title=PGstats Discord Jaaahsh message}}</ref> In the event of a tie in points for the regional finals spots, all of the tied players will be invited into the regional finals, even if it means more than 32 players will make up the bracket. The regional finals will be a double-elimination bracket with all sets Best of 5. The winner of each regional finals qualifies for the finale. Players must be 18 years or older to participate in the online tournaments, and registration is region-locked to the players living within each tournament's region.
'''2. Panda Cup Online Qualifiers:''' 8 players qualified through online tournaments for ''Ultimate'' only. There were 8 regions, with 4 qualifiers and a regional final for each. Points were distributed to the Top 96 of each qualifier, with the Top 32 of each region's leaderboard invited to the regional finals. Players were removed from Top 32 eligibility based on DQs, meaning the Top 32 indicated by points may not have been final.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://i.imgur.com/8fsWo5z.png|title=PGstats Discord Jaaahsh message}}</ref> In the event of a tie in points for the regional finals spots, all of the tied players would be invited into the regional finals, even if it meant more than 32 players would make up the bracket. The regional finals were a double-elimination bracket with all sets Best of 5. The winner of each regional finals qualified for the finale. Players had to be 18 years or older to participate in the online tournaments, and registration was region-locked to the players living within each tournament's region.


'''3. Expert Community Panel:''' A community panel for each game will determine the final players to be invited before the Last Chance Qualifier, inviting 12 players for ''Melee'' and 2 players for ''Ultimate''. The panels will include trusted members of the community, many of whom helped to create the [[MPGR]] and [[PGRU]]. Each panelist will create a list, and the lists will be combined and averaged to determine the invited players.
'''3. Expert Community Panel:''' A community panel for each game determined the final players that were invited before the Last Chance Qualifier, inviting 12 players for ''Melee'' and 2 players for ''Ultimate''. The panels included trusted members of the community, many of whom helped to create the [[MPGR]] and [[PGRU]]. Each panelist created a list, and the lists will be combined and averaged to determine the invited players. Only placements, wins, and losses at Panda Cup events counted for the panel.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/PracticalTAS/status/1591812019061415937|title=PracticalTAS comment}}</ref>


The panel will judge players based on 4 criteria:
The panel judged players based on 4 criteria:
* Placement at Panda Cup events
* Placement at Panda Cup events
* Win rate against players who are qualified or with a higher seed at Panda Cup events
* Win rate against players who were qualified or with a higher seed at Panda Cup events
* Losses against qualified or higher seed players
* Losses against qualified or higher seed players
* Win/loss rate against other players who may be chosen by the panel
* Win/loss rate against other players who may have been chosen by the panel


'''4. Last Chance Qualifier:''' The {{Trn|Panda Cup Last Chance Qualifier}} will be an offline bracket held the day before the finale, with the top 4 players of each game qualifying.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/KidLiquid/status/1576761760455208960|title=Top 4 qualify confirmation}}</ref>
'''4. Last Chance Qualifier:''' The {{Trn|Panda Cup Last Chance Qualifier}} was going to be an offline bracket held the day before the finale, with the top 4 players of each game qualifying.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/KidLiquid/status/1576761760455208960|title=Top 4 qualify confirmation}}</ref>


In the {{Trn|Panda Cup Finale}}, the 32 qualified players of each game will face off. All finalists will earn complimentary travel and housing.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.panda.gg/news/panda-cup-announcement|title=Panda Cup Announcement}}</ref>
In the {{Trn|Panda Cup Finale}}, the 32 qualified players of each game would face off. All finalists would earn complimentary travel and housing.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.panda.gg/news/panda-cup-announcement|title=Panda Cup Announcement}}</ref>


===Online Qualifier scoring===
===Online Qualifier scoring===
Line 144: Line 143:


===Player qualification===
===Player qualification===
Players can only qualify once. If a player is already qualified, the next highest placing non-qualified player receives the spot.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/PandaCup/status/1542250018920202240|title=Qualification rules}}</ref> If a qualified player declines to participate, the qualifying spot will be transferred to the next highest ranked player in the event in which the declining player competed who is not otherwise qualified, following the tiebreaker rules listed below.
Players could only qualify once. If a player was already qualified, the next highest placing non-qualified player received the spot.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/PandaCup/status/1542250018920202240|title=Qualification rules}}</ref> If a qualified player declined to participate, the qualifying spot would be transferred to the next highest ranked player in the event in which the declining player competed who is not otherwise qualified, following the tiebreaker rules listed below.


In the event {{Trn|Panda Cup Finale}} qualifying spots require tiebreakers (for example, because one spot trickles down to 7th place, where there are two players), the following system is in place:
In the event {{Trn|Panda Cup Finale}} qualifying spots required tiebreakers (for example, because one spot trickled down to 7th place, where there are two players), the following system would be in place:


* If one spot has two claimants: both tied players face-off in a best-of-five set. The winner of this set claims the Panda Cup Finale spot.
* If one spot had two claimants: both tied players would face-off in a best-of-five set. The winner of this set would claim the Panda Cup Finale spot.
* If one spot has three or more claimants: a single-elimination bracket of best-of-five sets is played out, seeded based on initial event seeding. The winner of this bracket claims the Panda Cup Finale spot.
* If one spot had three or more claimants: a single-elimination bracket of best-of-five sets would be played out, seeded based on initial event seeding. The winner of this bracket would claim the Panda Cup Finale spot.
* If two spots have three or more claimants: a double-elimination bracket of best-of-five sets is set up. If the number of claimants is not a power of two (2, 4, 8, etc), the players with the lowest initial seedings begin in losers (leaving a power-of-two number of players in Winners). The players who make it to Grand Finals of this bracket claim the Panda Cup Finale spots.
* If two spots had three or more claimants: a double-elimination bracket of best-of-five sets would be set up. If the number of claimants was not a power of two (2, 4, 8, etc), the players with the lowest initial seedings would begin in losers (leaving a power-of-two number of players in Winners). The players who would make it to Grand Finals of this bracket would claim the Panda Cup Finale spots.
* If three spots have four or more claimants: a double-elimination bracket of best-of-five sets is set up. If the number of claimants is not a power of two (4, 8, etc), the players with the lowest initial seedings begin in losers (leaving a power-of-two number of players in Winners). The two players who make it to Winners Finals and the one player who makes it to Losers Finals of this bracket claim the Panda Cup Finale spots.
* If three spots had four or more claimants: a double-elimination bracket of best-of-five sets would be set up. If the number of claimants was not a power of two (4, 8, etc), the players with the lowest initial seedings would begin in losers (leaving a power-of-two number of players in Winners). The two players who would make it to Winners Finals and the one player who would make it to Losers Finals of this bracket would claim the Panda Cup Finale spots.
 
==Controversy==
{{main|Cancellation of Smash World Tour 2022}}
On November 29th, 2022, Smash World Tour released [https://medium.com/@smashworldtour/smash-world-tour-official-statement-f568a3d135c8 a document] detailing actions behind-the-scene that eventually led to its cancellation. The document had a specific section dedicated to the actions of Panda, specifically Panda's CEO Alan Bunney.
 
During the first few months of the year, Smash World Tour found that many tournament organizers were unwilling to participate in the Smash World Tour due to the actions of Bunney, who told the organizers that the circuit would either not happen in 2022, or would be quickly shut down if announced. Bunney also pressured tournaments to either not join the SWT or, if they were already in the circuit, to drop out, stating that tournaments in the SWT would not be part of the Panda Cup and also implying that they would not be safe from Nintendo. Notably, Bunney learned that {{Team|Beyond the Summit}} had the broadcasting rights to a few tournaments that Panda Cup wanted, so Bunney tried to force BTS to give up their streaming rights, threatening to get Nintendo involved if they didn't. The threat prove unsuccessful, and with many events declining the invitation, Panda eventually lifted their exclusivity rule. This led many tournaments that were in both the Panda Cup and the SWT to receive a license from Nintendo, surprising the SWT organizers, who were initially told by Nintendo that it was not possible.
 
The accusations in the document were supported by LD, the co-founder of BTS.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/LDeeep/status/1597728742343778304|title=LD on Panda}}</ref>
 
The document's release led to an outcry against Bunney and Panda, with many accusing them for causing the cancellation of the Smash World Tour 2022 and hurting the grassroots scene. Many prominent members of the community called for a boycott for the circuit and the [[Panda Cup Finale]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/nedPT_/status/1597737009132765184|title={{Sm|Ned}}'s boycott}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/aidencalvin/status/1597728832299360256|title={{Sm|Calvin}}'s boycott}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/Fizzi36/status/1597732567947804672|title={{Sm|Fizzi}}'s call for boycott}}</ref> and within a few hours, many players who had qualified for the finale (such as {{Sm|Lima}} and {{Sm|Axe}}) or had planned to attend the [[Tournament:Panda Cup Last Chance Qualifier|Last Chance Qualifier]] (such as {{Sm|Sparg0}} and {{Sm|Spark}}) announced that they were dropping out.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/smashbros/comments/z8be4p/comment/iyatga3/|title=List of players who dropped out}}, {{cite web|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/smashbros/comments/zaxd75/list_of_players_confirmed_to_have_dqed_from/|title=second post}}</ref> Some players were unable to drop out due to being contractually required to attend (such as Panda-sponsored player {{Sm|Plup}}), though this proved not to be an issue after the event itself was canceled.


==List of tournaments==
==List of tournaments==
Line 169: Line 178:
|{{Trn|The Big House 10}}||October 7th-9th||982||{{Sm|aMSa|Canada}}
|{{Trn|The Big House 10}}||October 7th-9th||982||{{Sm|aMSa|Canada}}
|-
|-
|{{Trn|Saving Mr. Lombardi 3}}||November 12th||TBD||TBD
|{{Trn|Saving Mr. Lombardi 3}}||November 12th||152||{{Sm|KoDoRiN|USA}}
|-
|-
|{{Trn|DreamHack Atlanta 2022}}||November 18th-20th||TBD||TBD
|{{Trn|DreamHack Atlanta 2022}}||November 18th-20th||196||{{Sm|SFOP|USA}}
|}
|}


Line 178: Line 187:
!Event!!Date!!Attendance!!Winner
!Event!!Date!!Attendance!!Winner
|-
|-
|{{Trn|Panda Cup Last Chance Qualifier}}||December 15th||TBD||TBD
|{{Trn|Panda Cup Last Chance Qualifier}}(cancelled)||&mdash;||&mdash;||&mdash;
|-
|-
|{{Trn|Panda Cup Finale}}||December 16th-18th||32||TBD
|{{Trn|Panda Cup Finale}}(cancelled)||&mdash;||32||&mdash;
|}
|}


Line 200: Line 209:
|{{Trn|The Big House 10}}||October 7th-9th||636||{{Sm|Riddles|Canada}}
|{{Trn|The Big House 10}}||October 7th-9th||636||{{Sm|Riddles|Canada}}
|-
|-
|{{Trn|Let's Make Moves: Miami}}||October 28th-30th||TBD||TBD
|{{Trn|Let's Make Moves Miami}}||October 28th-30th||467||{{Sm|acola|Japan}}
|-
|-
|{{Trn|Port Priority 7}}||November 12th-13th||TBD||TBD
|{{Trn|Port Priority 7}}||November 12th-13th||600||{{Sm|Tweek|USA}}
|-
|-
|{{Trn|DreamHack Atlanta 2022}}||November 18th-20th||TBD||TBD
|{{Trn|DreamHack Atlanta 2022}}||November 18th-20th||415||{{Sm|ApolloKage|USA}}
|}
|}


Line 282: Line 291:
|{{Trn|Panda Cup Online Qualifier: Heartland Regional Finals}}{{OnlineIcon}}||October 15th||37||{{Sm|Ravenking|USA}}
|{{Trn|Panda Cup Online Qualifier: Heartland Regional Finals}}{{OnlineIcon}}||October 15th||37||{{Sm|Ravenking|USA}}
|-
|-
|{{Trn|Panda Cup Online Qualifier: Mid-Atlantic USA Regional Finals}}{{OnlineIcon}}||October 16th||33||TBD
|{{Trn|Panda Cup Online Qualifier: Mid-Atlantic USA Regional Finals}}{{OnlineIcon}}||October 16th||33||{{Sm|MPg|USA}}
|-
|-
|{{Trn|Panda Cup Online Qualifier: Southeast USA Regional Finals}}{{OnlineIcon}}||October 22nd||TBD||TBD
|{{Trn|Panda Cup Online Qualifier: Southeast USA Regional Finals}}{{OnlineIcon}}||October 22nd||33||{{Sm|Jake|USA}}
|-
|-
|{{Trn|Panda Cup Online Qualifier: South-Central USA Regional Finals}}{{OnlineIcon}}||October 23rd||TBD||TBD
|{{Trn|Panda Cup Online Qualifier: South-Central USA Regional Finals}}{{OnlineIcon}}||October 23rd||31||{{Sm|Deathspade|USA}}
|-
|-
|{{Trn|Panda Cup Online Qualifier: Southwest USA Regional Finals}}{{OnlineIcon}}||October 29th||33||TBD
|{{Trn|Panda Cup Online Qualifier: Southwest USA Regional Finals}}{{OnlineIcon}}||October 29th||33||{{Sm|Scend|USA}}
|-
|-
|{{Trn|Panda Cup Online Qualifier: Mexico Regional Finals}}{{OnlineIcon}}||October 30th||TBD||TBD
|{{Trn|Panda Cup Online Qualifier: Mexico Regional Finals}}{{OnlineIcon}}||October 30th||32||{{Sm|Chag|Mexico}}
|-
|-
|{{Trn|Panda Cup Online Qualifier: Northeast NA Regional Finals}}{{OnlineIcon}}||November 5th||33||TBD
|{{Trn|Panda Cup Online Qualifier: Northeast NA Regional Finals}}{{OnlineIcon}}||November 5th||33||{{Sm|Anarchy|Canada}}
|-
|-
|{{Trn|Panda Cup Online Qualifier: Northwest NA Regional Finals}}{{OnlineIcon}}||November 6th||TBD||TBD
|{{Trn|Panda Cup Online Qualifier: Northwest NA Regional Finals}}{{OnlineIcon}}||November 6th||34|| {{Sm|Justice|USA|p=Washington}}
|}
|}


Line 301: Line 310:
!Event!!Date!!Attendance!!Winner
!Event!!Date!!Attendance!!Winner
|-
|-
|{{Trn|Panda Cup Last Chance Qualifier}}||December 15th||TBD||TBD
|{{Trn|Panda Cup Last Chance Qualifier}}(cancelled)||&mdash;||&mdash;||&mdash;
|-
|-
|{{Trn|Panda Cup Finale}}||December 16th-18th||32||TBD
|{{Trn|Panda Cup Finale}}(cancelled)||&mdash;||32||&mdash;
|}
|}


Line 333: Line 342:
*{{Sm|Soonsay|Canada}}
*{{Sm|Soonsay|Canada}}
{{Trn|Saving Mr. Lombardi 3}}
{{Trn|Saving Mr. Lombardi 3}}
*TBD
*{{Sm|KoDoRiN|USA}}
|
|
{{Trn|DreamHack Atlanta 2022}}
{{Trn|DreamHack Atlanta 2022}}
*TBD
*{{Sm|Colbol|USA}}
*TBD
*{{Sm|Mew2King|USA}}
{{Trn|Panda Cup Last Chance Qualifier}}
{{Trn|Panda Cup Last Chance Qualifier}}
*TBD
*n/a
*TBD
*n/a
*TBD
*n/a
*TBD
*n/a
|}
|}


The following players were invited by panelists for ''Melee'':
The following players were invited by panelists for ''Melee'':
{|
|
*{{Sm|Axe|USA}}
*{{Sm|Eddy Mexico|Mexico}}
*{{Sm|Fiction|USA}}
|
*{{Sm|Ginger|USA}}
*{{Sm|Joshman|Australia}}
*{{Sm|Leffen|Sweden}}
|
*{{Sm|moky|Canada}}
*{{Sm|n0ne|Canada}}
*{{Sm|Panda|USA|p=Florida}}
|
*{{Sm|Pipsqueak|Sweden}}
*{{Sm|S2J|USA}}
*{{Sm|SFAT|USA}}
|}


===''Ultimate''===
===''Ultimate''===
Line 374: Line 401:
*{{Sm|Tweek|USA}}
*{{Sm|Tweek|USA}}
*{{Sm|MuteAce|USA}}
*{{Sm|MuteAce|USA}}
{{Trn|Let’s Make Moves: Miami}}
{{Trn|Let's Make Moves Miami}}
*TBD
*{{Sm|acola|Japan}}
{{Trn|Port Priority 7}}
{{Trn|Port Priority 7}}
*TBD
*{{Sm|Kurama|USA}}
|
|
{{Trn|DreamHack Atlanta 2022}}
{{Trn|DreamHack Atlanta 2022}}
*TBD
*{{Sm|ApolloKage|USA}}
*TBD
*{{Sm|Anathema|USA}}
{{Trn|Panda Cup Last Chance Qualifier}}
{{Trn|Panda Cup Last Chance Qualifier}}
*TBD
*n/a
*TBD
*n/a
*TBD
*n/a
*TBD
*n/a
|}
|}


The following players qualified through online finals in the circuit for ''Ultimate'':
The following players qualified through online finals in the circuit for ''Ultimate'':
*[[Tournament:Panda Cup Online Qualifier: Heartland Regional Finals|Heartland]]: {{Sm|Ravenking|USA}}
*[[Tournament:Panda Cup Online Qualifier: Heartland Regional Finals|Heartland]]: {{Sm|Ravenking|USA}}
*[[Tournament:Panda Cup Online Qualifier: Mid-Atlantic USA Regional Finals|Mid-Atlantic USA]]: TBD
*[[Tournament:Panda Cup Online Qualifier: Mid-Atlantic USA Regional Finals|Mid-Atlantic USA]]: {{Sm|MPg|USA}}
*[[Tournament:Panda Cup Online Qualifier: Southeast USA Regional Finals|Southeast USA]]: TBD
*[[Tournament:Panda Cup Online Qualifier: Southeast USA Regional Finals|Southeast USA]]: {{Sm|Jake|USA}}
*[[Tournament:Panda Cup Online Qualifier: South-Central USA Regional Finals|South-Central USA]]: TBD
*[[Tournament:Panda Cup Online Qualifier: South-Central USA Regional Finals|South-Central USA]]: {{Sm|Deathspade|USA}}
*[[Tournament:Panda Cup Online Qualifier: Southwest USA Regional Finals|Southwest USA]]: TBD
*[[Tournament:Panda Cup Online Qualifier: Southwest USA Regional Finals|Southwest USA]]: {{Sm|Scend|USA}}
*[[Tournament:Panda Cup Online Qualifier: Mexico Regional Finals|Mexico]]: TBD
*[[Tournament:Panda Cup Online Qualifier: Mexico Regional Finals|Mexico]]: {{Sm|Chag|Mexico}}
*[[Tournament:Panda Cup Online Qualifier: Northeast NA Regional Finals|Northeast NA]]: TBD
*[[Tournament:Panda Cup Online Qualifier: Northeast NA Regional Finals|Northeast NA]]: {{Sm|Anarchy|Canada}}
*[[Tournament:Panda Cup Online Qualifier: Northwest NA Regional Finals|Northwest NA]]: TBD
*[[Tournament:Panda Cup Online Qualifier: Northwest NA Regional Finals|Northwest NA]]: {{Sm|Justice|USA|p=Washington}}


The following players were invited by panelists for ''Ultimate'':
The following players were invited by panelists for ''Ultimate'':
*{{Sm|Kola|USA}}
*{{Sm|Zomba|USA}}


==Regional qualifier players==
==Regional qualifier players==
<!--Do not add players until they are confirmed for the regional finals. Players will be removed from Top 32 eligibility based on DQs, meaning the Top 32 indicated by points may not be final.-->
{{cleanup|Since this template will never be filled, we need to either get rid of it or repurpose it to explain that the event was canceled.}}
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! Region
! Region
5,554

edits