Whether you love them or loath them, electronic fighting games are big business and a fast-growing part of American popular culture, especially for young people. Come Memorial Day weekend 2016, some of the best players in the world are coming to St. Charles for a competition that’s being billed as “the largest competitive fighting game event in Illinois.”

COMBO BREAKER will host its three-day competition from May 27 to May 29, 2016, at the Pheasant Run Resort Megacenter in St. Charles. The event draws more than 1,000 gamers from 48 states and seven countries, including multiple provinces in Canada.

“A melting pot of culture and competition, CB 2016 is a gaming entertainment event where its players can compete, relax and have a great time,” organizers said in a recent news release.

According to combobreaker.org, the event was born from Adam Heart retiring the Ultimate Fighting Game Tournament series in 2014.

“Recognizing that his absence would leave the area without its annual gaming extravaganza, Richard Thiher, then assistant director of the series, partnered with Gaming Generations to develop a worthy successor,” the website said. “When COMBO BREAKER arrived in 2015, it showcased exciting, clockwork proficient tournaments and a unique 24-hour venue experience. Its focus on community also saw it become one of the most viewed fighting game tournaments on twitch.tv in 2015.”

This year’s competition of 20 tournaments features games such as Super Smash Brothers Melee, Mortal Kombat, Skullgirls, Tekken 7 – a special yet-to-be-released-in-America arcade game, and Street Fighter V — the featured game for the 2016 Capcom Pro Tour. Street Fighter V features 16 new and returning characters as well as new battle mechanics.

CB 2016 activities include a classic arcade open 24 hours a day, character auction tournaments, an artist alley with participants representing seven states, an abundant vendor floor; the Indie Game showcase, a pool party and much more. Gamers are encouraged to “come for the tournaments, stay for the experience.”

Spectators are allowed and encouraged.

“Bring a friend, bring your significant other, bring your boss, or bring your entire extended family so grandma can see you defeat all challengers,” combobreaker.org says on its FAQ page.

Event sponsor Gaming Generations has made free onsite registration available for spectators at this year’s event. Gaming Generations has been helping the gaming community grow for nearly a decade.

With confirmed world champions in attendance and dramatic prizes for winners (including a $10,000 prize pool for Mortal Kombat), Combo Breaker 2016 is a sought after and highly anticipated competition for gamers and future eSports professionals.

About the Greater St. Charles Convention and Visitors Bureau

The Greater St. Charles Convention and Visitors Bureau is funded by the Illinois Office of Tourism and a portion of the hotel/motel tax collected by St. Charles hotels to promote Greater St. Charles as a destination for leisure tourists and meetings and conventions, sports events, and motor coach trips.  For additional information regarding the bureau’s marketing and sales activities, contact the bureau at 630-377-6161, 800-777-4373 or www.visitstcharles.com.

SOURCE: St. Charles Visitors Bureau news release