The watchful eyes of spectators were on the big screen projector of the se7en nightclub specially reserved for Saturday night. The participants were keeping their composure while also analyzing their opponents at the VIP section of the place. Half of them barely even touched their food (which is excellent stuff, given the special SBO event-level price) while they see a pro-level Balrog finding opportunities to do an EX Headbutt-to-Ultra combo against an offensive pro-level Ryu player.

In-jokes involving the club’s own chicken wings with Fei Long’s own patented “Chicken Wing” move (among others) were tossed out to the crowd with the appropriate response. For those who feel a bit lost as to who is involved, the bios on the top left and right projectors helped kept them up to speed.

Ladies and gentlemen, that Saturday was the first time Round1.sg and Tornado held an international qualifier tournament in Singapore. And it was glorious. Not just because it was the first time Singapore ever did something on an international scale with Super Battle Opera Tougeki, perhaps one of the biggest fighting game tournaments on the face of the planet (next to EVO, of course), but because the event was held without much interference from the corporate side of things. This was a labor of love from the fighting game community in Singapore. Everyone involved knew their stuff, from the rules and tournament structure, to the commentary provided by Jon “Jonda” Lim and Yong “vx” Hui.

To say that the grand finals between Team HAPPY & Team BETS was intense was an understatement. As countrymen of Singapore, a lot was at stake for them. Pride among their peers, an opportunity to fight with the best of them overseas; everyone involved wanted a piece of that glorious pie. Of course, after the dust settled, Team HAPPY took the gold and will be fighting for Singapore in this year’s Super Battle Opera Tougeki event.

Even amidst the tension, the Round1.sg community were still all comrades and friends in the end. Hands were shaken, backs were patted on, and group photos were taken when all was said and done. And yes, local singer Inch Chua and guitarist Mark John Hariman graced us with their presence, since they love Street Fighter too.

Hats off to Round1.sg and Tornado for showing us how holding something like this is done. Will there be another one like this in the near future? With games like Marvel vs. Capcom 3 and Street Fighter x Tekken on the horizon, why not? Def Leppard were right in proclaiming that Saturday night’s alright for fighting, if the SBO Singapore Qualifiers were of any indication.