Riot Games is set to host its second TFT Open event in Macau from December 13-15, following the success of the inaugural event in Las Vegas. The TFT Macau Open aims to bring the Teamfight Tactics community together and offers a unique convention-style experience. With a 512-player open bracket tournament at its core, professional players and top-ranked amateurs will compete for a share of the $300,000 prize pool, the Tactician’s Belt, and the Macau Open title.
Creating a New Kind of Esports Event
Unlike other tournaments in the Teamfight Tactics esports calendar, the TFT Open prioritizes storytelling and accessibility over pure competitive rigor. This event serves as the kickoff for Riot’s esports events for the next season, allowing players to experiment with new units, items, and mechanics. This creates more opportunities for underdog upsets and adds excitement to the competition.
The Success of TFT Vegas Open
The TFT Vegas Open, held in December 2023, was Riot’s first open bracket tournament in over a decade. It was a major success, with the 512 Competitor’s Bundles selling out in just seven seconds and over 1,000 spectators attending the event. The positive reception from the community proved that esports events don’t always have to be hyper-competitive to be enjoyable. Michael Sherman, global head of esports for TFT and 2XKO, believes that these convention-style events are finding new fruit in the esports industry by focusing on what players love about the game as a whole.
Learning from Vegas and Looking to Macau
Riot learned valuable lessons from the TFT Vegas Open, including how to overcome logistical challenges and technical issues associated with running such a large-scale event. For the TFT Macau Open, Riot plans to enhance the at-home experience by creating more content to help in-person experiences transcend online. They also aim to tie the event to the launch of Set 13, which will encourage players to return to TFT. Additionally, Riot is using the experience gained from experimenting with TFT to inform its 2XKO esports strategy, focusing on participation and community-focused events.
The Esports World Cup and Future Formats
Following the TFT Macau Open, the next major tournament for Teamfight Tactics will be at the Esports World Cup. In a first for the game’s competitive history, players will compete as teams of four, offering a novel and distinct experience. Riot aims to provide a mix of novelty throughout the year to satisfy players’ love for new content.
TFT Macau Open Event Information
Tickets for the TFT Macau Open will go on sale on September 3, 2024. The Competitor’s Bundle price will be determined by each player’s competitive performance in Season 12. The event will feature various side events for both competitors and spectators, including meet and greets, panels, and cosplay. The tournament will follow a seeding and schedule format, with additional rounds added based on fan feedback. The top 8 players will compete in a checkmate format for the finals, with the first player to earn 20 points and win a round being crowned the TFT Macau Open Champion.
A Generous Prize Pool
Riot Games will award a total prize pool of $300,000 at the TFT Macau Open, with the champion taking home $100,000. The top 128 players will receive a portion of the prize money, adding an extra level of excitement and competition to the event.
Overall, the TFT Macau Open promises to be an exciting and unique esports event that prioritizes storytelling, accessibility, and player enjoyment. Riot Games continues to push the boundaries of esports events with their convention-style approach, and fans can look forward to more innovative formats and experiences in the future.
