Analysis: How to Find Out Who's the Best

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The best ways to find out who's the best. How brackets work.
Thanks to Koungnak Baek, Frankie Huynh, Flan, Cory Wright, Dekapact, WoodenFence, Jamaal Graves, KILLYIS, Matt Bahr, Sam Not-Sam and everyone else who pledged on Patreon!
Thanks to Bear (@bearUNLV), Andres (@nothingxs), Rick (@The Hadou), and Curl CloWer (@CurlingW) for letting me bother them about tournament bracketing.
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BGM in order:
Killer Instinct (2013) - Kim Wu Theme
Killer Instinct Gold - Jago Theme
Secret of Mana - Distant Thunder
Street Fighter Alpha 3 - Character Select
Tekken 7 - Twilight Conflict Round 1
Street Fighter V - Ring of Pride

[@CoreAGaming]

True story, Pablo jumped on my stick during a ranked match in USF4 and lvl 3 red focused my opponent killing him. Couldn't get mad.

[@PrimusSheck]

Then you would think Pablo could beat Guy.

[@grimmkiller2161]

Core-A Gaming dude I love your videos they're are so well made.

[@WindHashira]

Haha Nicesuu

[@Zhalfrin]

Pablo and Maximilian dood's dog Benny need to battle now, animals with leet fighting game skills

[@silverrain530]

Core-A Gaming My cat killed a lvl 9 cpu Ganondorf by tripping over my controller's C-stick.

[@MrCactuar13]

Invitationals should be reserved for big events, something purely for spectators to see a game at its highest level. However, the majority of tournaments ought to be open. Like you said, honoring the arcade-era romance of anyone with a couple of quarters in their pockets becoming a local star is one of the greatest appeals of fighting games specifically, and that legacy deserves to remain through time.

[@ScribeAwoken]

I'd also add that there's another use for invitationals, that also are aimed more at spectacle than on actual competition: stuff with a more casual atmosphere and a heavier focus on player interactions and silly side events than on actual competition. See HyperX's stuff where they had players from multiple games, or the Smash Summit and Smash 4 Boot Camp invitationals for Melee and Smash 4 respectively.

[@canadiangooseok7281]

I completely agree, I love the arcade idea of all you need to start your fighting game career is a quarter

[@DickTrickleqt]

open tournaments is the thing that makes fighting games a better "esport" than others. almost every other game genre you need to be on a team and shit. fighting games you can literally be the lone wanderer, go practice in the mountains, and win evo if you got good enough

[@AirLancer]

Not to mention the competitive fighting game scene is easily the most diverse of any competitive gaming community.

[@Karionfabe1]

99% of Starcraft tournaments (bw and sc2) have open brackets/qualifiers. I think being a 1v1 game makes it easier to have open brackets, FG and sc have that in common.

[@baker7280]

That’s probably just because it’s a 1v1

[@isaacyingzhouteh]

Other genre have open tournaments as well, it's called qualifiers. Fighting games can do open tournament like this because it doesn't takes as long to finish a BO3 or BO5.

[@SkyreeXScalabar]

true real life tournament arc

[@TheLeetCasualGamer]

The fundamental problem with Palblo the cat is that he always sleeps on his opponent. Otherwise he could do very well in Street Fighter tournaments.

[@Free-4554]

If we are talking melee Jigglypuff, then sleeping on the opponent is the real strategy.

[@canadiangooseok7281]

He’s like bed man, he could be god if he stops sleeping

[@louisng114]

2:23 How is having a cat in a tournament a problem?

[@CoinBox170]

The world just isn't ready to accept cats into pro gaming.

[@esmo9728]

louisng114 discrimination against felines

[@leonardowatch6997]

Yea, I thought that comment was really discriminatory and unnecessary. Not cool dude. Lost a lot of respect for him. I have two wonderful cats, and I'd hate for them to hear that kind of bigotry.

[@toadstar1004]

Speciesism.

[@TAKEYOURCREATINE]

#NotAllCats

[@ssjgoten202]

Stop what you're doing, Core A uploaded a video. I'm going to enjoy these 10 mins.

[@arcadehayabusu2295]

ssjgoten202 me too

[@internetexplorer9492]

Damn straight

[@sheercold26]

Lol same

[@dcode1000]

I got high before watching this

[@S1Roni]

Gerald is life, bro. Also, I think I played a ranked match against you the other day in SFV lol.

[@miguelmora3629]

I think we all slept on pablo.

[@xthe_nojx5820]

Mad Respect to Punk for knowing Money and Prestige are not the same thing. Also, I surprised they didn't call it the Deadpool. I mean, it was right there.

[@sarthakverma1030]

xThe_noJx Copyright. Sucks, I know. I also realize that you may have known that and I killed a joke. I don't regret anything.

[@niceboy5559]

Sarthak Verma we have the same pic

[@Free-4554]

It's kinda sad to see him get brutally harassed in the tournament he was destined to win.

[@Spades20XX]

Pablo for EVO 2018!

[@brunop.8745]

Pablo for EVO 2019

[@kamui1847]

yo let's go Pablo

[@baton3779]

Pablo for EVO 2020

[@zojaXII]

@@baton3779 yeah about that...

[@ShivaM-dc4xe]

@@zojaXII lmao his comment didnt age well

[@fernandofelix892]

Damn Evil Bill put me against Infiltration in pools at EVO this year.

[@CoinBox170]

RIP

[@anappleaday1889]

Damn son...But hey if anything, I'd much rather lose to a legend like Infiltration than some random player. I least you could say " *I played Infiltration at evo* ".

[@Switcheroo4542]

Did you win? :P

[@onslauhtphoenix3962]

Tocsin haha fuck evil bill

[@warangelcloud]

Did you learn anything? I mean it's not like you can't grow. Become the next EVO champ.

[@edi4360]

9:18 this moment just puts a smile on my face. Two people from completely different worlds enjoying the same thing.

[@icaro9554]

dude you're one of the best channels out there holy shit

[@elwachinmanda]

we all know Diego is the best.

[@poketto5853]

+Ranc Henash you're right, Diego Brando is the best version of Dio

[@omg241]

Diego Umejuarez is love.

[@Cunt143]

Brian Pokettofan Estrada you are unironically correct

[@matheusaragao7640]

Yeah man, in tournament, Diego sure is a Scary Monster

[@nelsonrodriguez2085]

Diego UmeJuarez is the best Río in Fighting Street history

[@screaming10yearoldsinc.66]

They should do both open and invitationals but the invitationals should only be winners of previous open tournaments. That way people in the open tourneys have another thing to look forward to aside from the experience or prize money. it would make open tourneys like a stepping stone to the more elite invitationals

[@jjrobledo]

Screaming10YearOlds Inc. Invitationals need viewers so they should invite diverse players

[@Innaething9]

Screaming10YearOlds Inc. Well that's kinda what it is on E league, as it was said on the video the benefits of the league is to have staked up matches all the time. And you do that by having player that are good and already have a following fanbase. And how do you get recognized for being good and start having a fanbase in fighting games? Winning open tournies. The thing is that e league brings a whole other kind of production value to the table that very few if not zero endemic fighting gaming brand is able to offer. It's good for the future

[@Kitsune81]

I like this. Much better than the popularity contest that invitationals are usually, where questionable people get invited who never really placed well in tournaments in recent years lol

[@HildrTV]

Dude we already have that. Its called capcom cup

[@aspreedacore]

he means more like it

[@CoinBox170]

Pablo placed 3rd? That's better than most of my placings in tournaments! Teach me your ways, Pablo!

[@CoinBox170]

Also, open tournaments always. I'd never get into an invitational.

[@chriskim1521]

i think there needs to be a balance of both. opens give a chance for fresh new blood to enter the scene while invitationals reward players for strong performances in past tourneys.

[@RyuGuitarFreak]

Chris Kim Agree. I enjoyed the hell out of eleague SFV. The different format was really interesting. I say the same for Red Bull Proving Grounds.

[@AmyLionheartArtistry]

I absolutely adore these Analysis videos. Your hard work never goes unnoticed. Very informative, I must say.

[@BebehCookieIcecream]

Love your videos! I never understood the bracket system until you, Core-A-Chan

[@millefune]

The bracket having Maikky vs Dr. Mike bracket was hilarious. Thank you, Gerald.

[@mrfreakmaster2256]

i am a simple man....i see robotech/macross i like

[@ricard1414]

Your videos are the best in gaming genre. I keep rewatching them 3 years after, please keep them coming!!! So talented

[@GrandLufaine]

Gerald, I love your videos!!! They are highly informative, clear and concise, and very well edited! You're probably the only educational YT channel that I drop everything to see to a notification for!

[@robotdude2206]

6:12 > Ayn Rando My friend, you just launched my sides into orbit.

[@aramisia]

One of the reasons why I loved my experience in open tournament (especially the "open training" gattering the evening before the official tournament at DreamHack Montreal) is meeting people from around the world who share the same passion. I cannot play anymore coz my hands are ruined by artritis but it was so great just to hang out, chill and learn. I have been able to chat with some of the greatest players (that you interview a lot on your channel), and everybody was equal on that day. By chatting with everyone I got way more involved as a fan to follow their career and their match. It kind of democratize the whole industry. My teen nephew was with me and he's too young to have really played with sticks on arcade machines and usb ones are quite expensive so he doesn't own one. But on that day he met somebody who decided to teach him the basics, he borrowed somebody's stick and a huge bunch of top player gamers started to coach him just for the fun of it. (They all saw something in him I guess!) The next event is in autumn and he's already asking me to go with him but he wants to play next time!! I also remember the frenzy my friend showed when his opponnent was his idol!! Thing were going quickly, he didnt check the bracket he just sat at his machine and than the player he loves the most just sat next to him. He was both horrified coz he knew he had no chance but psyched to meet him at the same time! My friend's greatest moment of the tournament was when he won ONE round over him. I think he still talks about it coz he cannot believe it himself!! Also, one of the thing I loooooove about open tournaments is how it creates some kind of reality check for people who are bragging non-stop on how good they are even tho they only played against their buddies or NPC. Open tournament makes some people more humble!!! 😅 ***Even tho, I will admit that if I watch a tournament online I love the invitation formula so I guess I like them both in different context.

[@Guruc13]

This is such a well made video. As someone with only a cursory knowledge of Melee from my friends, I now feel like I understand and appreciate tournaments so much better. Thank you so much Core-A, I hope to see more vids from you in the future!

[@deanmartin163]

Dude all of your content is so damn top notch. I love how much work you put into every single video you upload

[@Magcargo96]

What I love so much about these videos is that they are actual analysis'. Very few videos go so in depth and explain thoughts so well.

[@odeclas1460]

the production value of your videos keeps getting better. amazing work, keep it up!

[@sdro106]

One of my favorite channels on KZbin. Great editing and commentary I hope you keep up the videos

[@w0lkensucher]

You captured the essence of tournaments pretty much in your video, keep up the great work!

[@henriklintrup6009]

I enjoy your videos so much. Thank you so, so much for making them! Hope for many more in the future

[@AureliusWhite]

Core-A your videos are so well made it baffles me sometimes. Thanks for the content man!

[@youllgetnoinfoaboutmytwitt5689]

Very nice video dude. Love the visual aids and editing!

[@fernando4659]

as always a well crafted video, nice job Core-A, was missing your videos

[@theibox360]

Great video man. Being someone who manages small-scale sports tournaments (Table Tennis, Carrom..etc), this video helps me understand some things better as well explain the idea behind single elimination, seeding, brackets ..etc in the most fun way possible.. Keep up the great work!!

[@startingoverpodcast]

Your stuff is great. I use your videos in coaching sessions for my table top team I run. Keep up the excellent work!

[@talbotsolenberger4434]

I didn't understand from the title that this video was going to be about how to organize the play in tournaments, but now I know exactly what video to show someone when they're learning this stuff. Thanks!

[@blakbro2k]

The production value of these are top notch. Keep it up man. Great job.

[@3dthegamefreak]

I swear, im glad i subbed a few months back. I look forward to these videos all the time 👌

[@ShuusakuSama]

I am always so pleased to see a channel with high quality and meaningful content. Please keep up the good work.

[@LotusKST]

Awesome vid brah, your content is solid and I finally understand how fighting game tournaments work. Keep it up!

[@HalosydneICS]

This is a really good video, it gives a really good overview of how tournaments within the FGC work. Invitationals are both good and bad. They allow the best of the best to compete against eachother, and generally cut out the 'clutter' of random players at big tournaments. But the thing is, this also cuts out some of the hype. With an invitational, it's just a display of pure skill against pretty evenly matched people, generally without a crowd and there's a winner and they shake hands, and that's the invitational over. With a massive tournament like EVO, there's a huge crowd cheering on the competitors, which adds to the hype. Random players also add to the hype, because it creates bigger and more devastating upsets, which sucks as a competitor but it's healthy for the viewers and for the community. As a competitor myself, losing to a random unseeded wifi player feels terrible, but watching and rooting for the underdog in a tournament is so much fun, and adds to the experience as a whole. Which is something that Invitationals take away. It's just the best, not the randoms of mixed talent or the people who shake things up. So an invitational is the best display of skill, but an open tournament is the best display for the viewers. So a mix is good.

[@bbqseitan7106]

the music at the end is epic as fuuu. I really like both, as mostly a spectator I appreciate the two formats for different reasons

[@oishhh]

these vids clear up so much questions i have. thanks a lot man

[@RekkabitesThirteen]

Always exciting to see a new video from this guy!

[@yeetyafeet2503]

Love these sick videos!! Keep up the great work!

[@oiopquatro4846]

That s my favorite video of this channel. Inspired me to organize one tounament with my friends (:

[@dunnaredside8460]

Duuuuude! This is top 3 best KZbin channels I've EVER stumbled upon. I'm definetely getting all those songs. The guitars on the 1st one sound brutal!

[@Mr0mart]

Very interesting input , and the part about seeding and why it is so important its educative for TOs.

[@SketchCarellz]

These videos are so well put together. Nice job.

[@enochexe1620]

My boy Gerald coming through with the right subject at the right time. Thank you for exploring and clarifying this topic in the midst of the whole Shine 2017 debacle. Keep up the good work man!

[@sammayes948]

I think the last example is a great setup. It makes the community more welcoming and diverse. And honestly for a passive player like me who sucks it's just fun to feel welcomed and play this fun game with similar minded folks.

[@branwagon]

Great content as always Gerald, I always look forward to your videos!

[@JmBlast]

That picture with all the randoms and then Diago at the front really hit home 🤣🤣

[@gracechan3039]

Each of your videos is like a smal documentary film on fighting games. I love it.

[@smcdonough1427]

Good video! I think both open tournament and invitational formats are good and exciting to watch. We should just keep using both. Also, Austin was so cute at the end lol he's such a nice guy

[@MisteryPlayer13]

Great analysis guys. Keep up the great work

[@spencerbatute10]

It’s rare to see videos so well done

[@chickrepelant]

another great video CAG i like both! i love being able to participate, and i love that the PROS can choose to enter the big ones, or wait for the invitationals. 2017 is a beautiful time. now only if sf5 can fix their input lag / throw "mix-ups", i'll be happy.

[@Jacckwaite]

Bro, you make the best content on youtube. I've never played or been interested in fighting games in my life and love this series. Thankyou.

[@MrFiendinpotter]

Great video as always, clean, interesting and with a perfect flow. You also list the songs you use in the video which a secret god tier move

[@vnbt3932]

These are my fav videos no lie. Please never stop :)

[@rachelslur8729]

Love at first sight with the song at the beginning 0:01. Don't regret looking it up.

[@crunkplaya6929]

My mind involuntarily shut off because I don't ever see myself having to organize a tournament on such a scale but I did watch it all the way through because I was so intrigued. Thanks for another great vid!

[@CNDSfilms]

Very informative video. Keep up the good work!

[@tacmus]

Excelente video como siempre. Excellent video as usual.

[@broceedwin]

Great video! Love the Kim Wu theme on the video, keep up the good work!!

[@erictouw4455]

I get so exited when I see you upload

[@beyondtherhetoric]

This wasn't what I expected based on the title, but I couldn't have enjoyed it any more than I did. Thanks so much for what you do!

[@rk9515]

Been waiting for these videos.

[@franker86]

I want weekly videos like this! I really learn new things with your content

[@RadioactiveBlutonium]

These videos take too much work to be released weekly, quality over quantity!

[@dylandlp19]

You should definitely have more subs. You're freaking awesome. I like the research you do.

[@NMGardening]

Please don't stop making videos. You've got a hell of a talent good sir.

[@viniciusmarra1291]

Please make more videos, I love discussions about interesting subjects such as fighting Games, maybe you could tell us about YOUR experience learning fighting games

[@millzmajiicz9848]

Loving that p4a evo trophie!! That year was sick!

[@mcab-ir1gr]

What an incredibly well made video! Awesome!

[@kirjian]

Is that Secret of Mana soundtrack? I highly respect you.

[@AliMohamed-fu5lc]

AND I RESPECT YOU FOR NOTICING IT AS WELL

[@Nintega2K]

uh, check the description

[@kirjian]

Nintega94 I mentioned it because it's not in the description.

[@CoreAGaming]

Sorry, fixed that.

[@jamz8729]

another facet of competitive gaming i never considered and am now dwelling on all of the possibilities of a tournament bracket setup and applying them to sports n shit while visiting contemplation nation. sikkk vidd as usual

[@coffeebot7016]

Your videos are fucking A+ quality my dude. Keep it up, we all really appreciate them.

[@freshyeska9875]

Dude this is my favorite channel on KZbin for sure.

[@kfk4441]

Another analysis video!! Yes!! Thank you Core-A Gaming :D

[@Tharag999]

Jebaily popping out of chun li's mouth is the best ahahaha! Great video as always!

[@reignandbongao9497]

The animation of the still pictures of the top players are hilarious.

[@mushmak]

Your videos are always great Keep it up man

[@supersaltlee7657]

im always happy to watch your vids. you guys are awesome.

[@swordflay7384]

I’m on my cycle of watching all your videos in 2 days every 4 months or so

[@SlayaBEE]

Right off the bat w/ Kim Wu's theme. *I'M IN*

[@Lewdology]

Goddammit that shawshank clip gave me the biggest grin of the century. Thanks Gerald, you are awesome.

[@Zadiekun]

Good quality content as always! 😄

[@PrinceBeef]

Great stuff, keep it up!

[@deeku.4009]

Bro your videos are TOP quality.

[@yumyumeatemup]

Awesome, Awesome, AWESOME job with this Core-A. Really well edited and put together and gets at the heart of the matter as to the different types of tournaments as well as how each helps determine player skill. To answer your question at the end I argue both need to work in a symbiotic relationship with one helping sustain the other. Massive tourneys like EVO, CEO and Final Round help introduce us to players previously unknown and gives them a venue and a platform to make a name for themselves. Where would Punk, Snake Eyez, Justin Wong really be on a national level with out these things to help them garner our attention and admiration? Similarly over in Japan, even with one man elimination events, through sheer determination and force of will from grinding it out, the best players are able to stand out and rise above the rest to form an identity within their community. However I feel once you've established a field of talent that is well and far above the rest, its nice to do things like E-League and invite the best of the best to a high-stakes, rigorous fight. Giving players that have already managed to stand out among their respective communities the ability to play longer more thorough sets in a round robin format helps really do a lot to show who is truly hot and who is not. With both of these types of tournament formats working in tandem you can come to a much more complete and informed opinion on who is truly the best at a competition, instead of spazzing out and exclaiming the guy who won that one tournament that one time is the best because he had really cool hair and you like really cool hair and he won, so OBVIOUSLY he's the best.......................................... -_- Like TOO MANY people in the FGC LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE to do sadly. SMH

[@SilverStarGG]

what is the cool hair guy problem you refer to?

[@giedriuqaz]

man these videos are nice to watch

[@danielholmqvist8747]

Fantastic video as always

[@xxstrider3188]

another great vid by the man Gerald ill be waiting for the next

[@Anya_Tekken]

Thank you so much for this video. It is just perfect. I really wish it was in Spanish as well, if this hasn't been done I would be more than happy to volunteer to add subtitles.

[@ichigoshinobia.k.alitshino9781]

That secret of Mana music switch brought back a nice nostalgia 💪🏿

[@danaisduhbom]

Goddamn. Tournament design is a fascinating topic.

[@ajmolle6812]

Great episode! Thanks!

[@KidKarolus]

In certain competitive sports (I am thinking informal fencing tournies here) there is a "Super Bracket" then the normal brackets. The super bracket consists of the elite players, who get to round robin, whereas the normal bracket is played before hand, and allows anyone to join and get a shot at the round robin tourney. In fencing, this is used so amateur fencers can fence against peers and have a good time, and "A ranked" or very skilled fencers can participate in the finals. I think a concept like this could work very well, where after a certain number of victories, a walk-in joins a bracket to enter the round robin stage (for arguments sake say 10 victories in a row). Now you have a group of brackets that have been seeded with more skilled player, who then compete for the chance to join the round robin. You could invite pros (say 10) and then have 25 slots open for grabs out of the brackets, the number of victories in the open tourney needed to join the closed brackets and finally the round robin can be decided so the desired number of competitors in the final rounds are met.

[@ggmasterguiltygear6315]

Very informative! I hope one day I can play you in a fighting game.