40 And Above Only Street Fighter 6 Tournament Launched In Japan

An esports doctor for the Japanese team LaVision, Dr. Rekka, has introduced a new Street Fighter 6 tournament called Legacy Cup, open exclusively to players aged 40 and above.

He announced the initiative on social media, stating that it will take place in April and is intended to help remove any stigma around pursuing gaming at an older age.

The tournament has already received widespread support, to the point that the number of entrants had to be increased to 256 players. Even that expanded cap has now been exceeded.

The Vision Behind Legacy Cup

Dr. Rekka explained the thinking behind the tournament in a detailed post:

“Regarding the Street Fighter 6 tournament ‘Legacy Cup’ limited to those aged 40 and above,

It has exceeded our initial expectations and, despite it being the first day of entries, has already reached a waitlist status, so we will increase the entry cap to 256 participants.

Thank you so much for all the entries and shares.

In addition, we have discussed the ‘age display’ for this tournament with the event organizer Yunakko-san.

This tournament is being held as a space to positively embrace the very condition of being ‘40 and above.’ We believe there is value in the fact that there are people who have continued playing games for so long, or who are still challenging themselves today.

We are aware that seeing ages displayed on Tonamel can evoke a variety of feelings. On the other hand, we think there may be those who feel motivated to join upon seeing, ‘People my age are trying so hard,’ or who draw courage from that sight.

With this background in mind, for this tournament, we will set ages to ‘public.’

I would be delighted if this event becomes a space that fosters a positive atmosphere of ‘Even at 40 and above, we can achieve this much.’ I hope you can understand this as the core concept of the tournament.”

A Unique Figure in Esports

Dr. Rekka is something of a rarity within esports, a licensed medical doctor who aims to work almost exclusively within the scene. Initiatives like this are part of his effort to bring a greater level of respectability and inclusivity to esports.

Interestingly, he only joined LaVision on March 20, making this his first major initiative as part of the organization

The Legacy Cup will take place on April 25, 2026, and will be streamed on Twitch.