Even though it’s an international tournament now, it’s still got that homey, grassroots feeling.
Not even the weather could dampen the mood of the Filipino Tekken community, as Manila Madness 4 raged on through the storm. The annual local Tekken tournament played on last weekend at Leap Studios, Makati, proving that nothing can get in the way of some good-ass Tekken.
I was eagerly anticipating Manila Madness 4 as it’s been a while since our last big fighting game tournament. Ever since REV Major’s last event in 2023, there’s been a noticeable fighting-game-shaped hole in the Philippine esports scene. Granted, Manila Madness has always been running in the background, gaining followers and momentum. But it doesn’t really compare to the size of REV Major, and I think it doesn’t need to.
When I got to Leap Studios, I was hit by a wave of nostalgia. The venue was rather small, just enough to fit the 200-ish competitors plus spectators, staff, and merchants. It was exceptionally hot that day and inside didn’t feel any better as the air conditioners struggled to cool down all those people. There were crowds around tables, trying to catch a glimpse of certain matches, and through that all that din was the garbled voices of the shoutcasters commentating all the hype moments of the mainstage games.
It reminded me of a time before all the glitz and glamor of modern esports, back when a community really liked a game and decided to make an event celebrating it. Manila Madness 4 really highlighted that grassroots feeling – that even with its shortcomings, it’s all about the community coming together to make something cool.
Entering the International Stage
What made Manila Madness 4 special, however, was that it’s its first time being part of the Tekken World Tour. As a Challenger tier event, it saw multiple international competitors competing for more points to move around the global leaderboards.
This was something we lost with the end of REV Major – an important connection to the global Tekken community. Not just for the competitors but for Filipino Tekken fans who are some of the most passionate in the world.
Manila Madness 4 brought that connection back but where do they go from here? Now that they’ve brought the Philippines back to the international Tekken stage, I imagine that they’re aiming to make the next event bigger and better than the last. Will they give up some of that grassroots spirit to accommodate the expectations of being part of a bigger tour?
Regardless, I’m excited to see where Manila Madness goes from here. They weathered a literal storm this year so I’m sure they’ll be ready for anything down the road.
Banner and photos by Ramon Domingo.