The Nintendo World Championships have just wrapped up in New York, USA, and it was Thomas Gonda who took home first place in a competition that saw players compete in a number of different titles, from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild to Super Mario Odyssey.
Reigning champion John Numbers was also at the event, which marks the third World Championship since the original in 1990 and the return in 2015. In terms of the games on offer, these were a surprise until their reveal during the event, both to viewers and to players.
"One of the things that we really do like, both for players and for viewers, is that feeling of surprise. So being able to draw on that and say "OK, what can we pull out of [Nintendo's] library that's just going to blow people away in terms of 'What am I seeing right now,''" Nintendo of America's Senior Product Marketing Manager Bill Trinen told IGN.
"We really want to focus in on games that make sense, the competition rules make sense, there's a clear objective," Trinen explained. "It's easy for a fan to undersatnd what people have to do, it's easy for the player to understand what they have to do, but it's still a game that's fun to play and one that is fun to watch."
The 24 players advanced from Underground stages throughout the competition, until only Thomas Gonda was left. The range of competitors featured YouTubers, qualified players, and more, and Nintendo says they'll keep learning and improving the tournament for future years.
Are you glad Nintendo is continuing to move into esports?