Combo Breaker 2020 Canceled Amid Pandemic

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Combo Breaker 2020 will be the first event to be canceled since the series started in 2015. Refunds will be issued to registrants in April.

The fighting games community has suffered another loss. Combo Breaker 2020, the largest competitive fighting games convention and tournament in Illinois, is canceled due to the ongoing Coronavirus Pandemic

Announced in a status update on the event’s site, Combo Breaker 2020 was canceled “following government guidance and our own judgment regarding COVID-19.” This is the first time Combo Breaker has been canceled since its first event in 2015. If you’ve purchased either a competitor or community pass for the event, expect a refund to come your way next month. According to the update, refunds will begin April 20, although they will not include tax. If you purchased a room at the event’s host hotel, don’t worry, your reservation will be carried over to 2021. If that’s not optimal for you, the Schaumburg Renaissance Marriott will be taking calls for full refunds starting April 3.

Event status update for COMBO BREAKER 2020: https://t.co/jYin501xou pic.twitter.com/Q9IY6VbHDu
— COMBO BREAKER (@ComboBreaker) March 31, 2020

Like I said before, this isn’t the first hit the FGC has taken due to the Coronavirus. Earlier this month, the newly announced Smash World Tour also canceled events. The Overwatch League has had multiple games across South Korea canceled as well, and is moving others to an online-only format. Even Arc System Works had to cancel their “Final Round” tournament due to the ongoing pandemic. If there are any events going on over the course of the next six months, be cautious. So far, very few FGC events have been able to continue as planned in the face of the Coronavirus.

The cancellation of Combo Breaker is, frankly, heartbreaking. If you’re a fan of fighting games, Combo Breaker is one of those tournaments you always watch. It offers a buffet of fighting games, with Combo Breaker 2019 hosting 21 different tournaments. That includes big names like Street Fighter V, Dragon Ball FighterZ and Mortal Kombat 11. If those aren’t your speed, smaller names also had appearances, namely Skullgirls, Street Fighter Alpha 2 and for some reason TMNT Tournament Fighters.

Naturally, I’d also like to encourage you, our readers, to stay safe. At this point, that goes beyond simply washing your hands. Practice social distancing and stay inside if you can. There’s no reason to put yourself or others at risk. Plus, if you stay in, you can play more games, a professional recommendation of the WHO.