ROCKFORD, Ill. (WIFR) – Rockford University’s esports teams held their third Smash tournament on campus which attracted players and teams from schools across the state.
RU Ready 3 kicked off the morning of Saturday, March 1 at the Zelenka Family Esports Center inside the Burpee Student Center on Rockford University’s campus. Competitors playing Super Smash Bros. Ultimate on Nintendo Switch. Each series was a best of three except for the semi-finals and finals which were best of five. The tournament format was also double elimination, which means you could lose one set and still be alive in the tournament. After a second set lost, you’re out for good.
To attend and play in the event, you have to be “high school age” or older. The tournament is free to enter and in person only. Although the Smash Ultimate tournament is the main attraction, there is always room for friendlies, trading card games, chess, tabletop games and networking with other gaming enthusiasts.
Regents Esports’ very own RU Chito, who plays Shulk, won RU Ready 3 without dropping a single set or game.
Alongside the trophy, Chito also took home a $100 Amazon gift card. In second place, HundoP of Aurora took home a $75 Amazon gift card. Augustana College’s MiteHF placed third in the tournament and got a $25 Amazon gift card.
The event is being called a “tremendous success.” The first iteration of RU Ready saw a solid amount of competitors with the second time around attracting even more people to the competition.
The school’s most recent Smash tournament had the same amount of attendees as its first go at hosting, but that decline is outweighed by the impact Regents Esports is having on collegiate esports in Illinois.
Gamers from Augustana College, Northern Illinois University and Roosevelt University traveled to the Forest City to compete and connect at RU Ready 3. Boys and Girls Club of Rockford also had some gamers at the event.
The date for RU Ready 4 is expected to be announced soon.
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