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Combo Breaker 2026

CompletedTier S

The Combo Breaker 2026 tournament is one of the largest and most prestigious annual gatherings for the fighting game community (FGC) in the world. This edition took place from May 22 to 24, 2026 at the Schaumburg Convention Center in Schaumburg, Illinois, USA, attracting over 7,000 attendees.

Street FighterMay 22, 2026 – May 24, 2026Schaumburg, IL, United StatesUnited States$19,720The Hadou Gaming Generations

Format

1. Upper Bracket (UB)

  • Structure: Starts from the UB Semifinals and progresses to the Upper Bracket Final.

  • Match Rules: Matches are played in a Best-of-3 (Bo3) series (first to 2 wins).

  • Advancement: Winners advance through the upper side, while losers drop down to the Lower Bracket Quarterfinals.

2. Lower Bracket (LB)

  • Structure: High-stakes elimination rounds (LB Quarterfinals, LB Semifinal, and Lower Bracket Final). Any loss here results in immediate tournament elimination.

  • Match Rules: The final rounds (such as the LB Final) escalate to a Best-of-5 (Bo5) series (first to 3 wins).

3. Grand Final & Bracket Reset

  • The Matchup: The undefeated Upper Bracket Champion faces the Lower Bracket Champion.

  • Winning Condition:

    • The Upper Bracket Champion only needs to win one Bo5 series to claim the title.

    • The Lower Bracket Champion must win two consecutive Bo5 series. Winning the first series triggers a "Bracket Reset" (as shown by the 3–0 then 3–1 scores), leveling the playing field for a final, decisive championship series.