We’ve all seen fighting game tournaments take place in hotel ballrooms, giant esports arenas, and even an Olympic stadium or two, but what about a true World Heritage Site? built thousands of years ago?
The 2021 Red Bull Gladiators pulled off something special this weekend by hosting their Guilty Gear Strive tournament in a Roman Empire-era theater, and the show is definitely something to see.
While the energy drink company is generally known for its big-budget gaming event productions, it’s something else.
La primera partida de la noche que llega a la novena partida y final round. ACABA CON A PERFECT para @kendeep_fgc. Muy muy well @GenisGod_FGC with a tremenda actuación.
Sigue el directo en nuestro Twitch channel: https://t.co/jlblkLyS0O pic.twitter.com/3ck2It5LN0
– Red Bull España (@redbullESP) October 16, 2021
Some of Strive’s top players across Europe were escorted onto the Stone Stage by men dressed as gladiators to compete in a Guilty Gear where the ancient Romans would go watch their own plays.
Mystic, BarryBones, Alioune, Oplon | Skyll, MGF | KenDeep, RL | Uriel, Dan (dy) and WIZ | GenisGod managed to climb into the top 8 to compete with a backdrop of statues and columns built as early as 15 BCE, which must have been a surreal feeling to participate.
.@ Uriel_Légion ES UN DIOS !!!!!! ?? #RedBullGladiators
https://t.co/uM9tZlSFwz@redbullESP @BandaiNamcoES @AOC_Spain @DRIFTgamingeu @DominosGaming pic.twitter.com/DLXCiiSXOX
– BCN Fighters (@BCNFighters) October 16, 2021
The action itself was also excellent with Dan (dy) working with Goldlewis, Alioune showing what his Millia is capable of, and KenDeep against GenisGod boiling down to a wild match nine in a first-to-five set.
Red Bull lit up the Roman Theater in Mérida with its iconic red and blue lights as the crowds sang for their favorite fighting warriors, which certainly adds to the atmosphere.
This cool event is one that the contestants will probably never forget and in a way, wrestles games into world history.
We recommend that you check out the full special event on Red Bull Spain’s Twitch archive. We’ve also included the final results below, which obviously contain spoilers if you plan to watch on your own and want to be surprised.
Se life !! pic.twitter.com/3qjrEyPQSm
– KwK | RockShooter (@RicardoRockShoo) October 16, 2021
1. OP | Skyll (Sol)
2. MGF | KenDeep (I-No)
3. RL | Uriel (Nagoriyuki)
3. Mystic (Axl)
5. BarryBones (Axl)
5. Dan (dy) (Goldlewis)
5. Alioune (Millia)
5. WIZ | GenisGod (Ramlethal)
Image via RedBullES.
