Sega Announces Partnership Agreement for the 20th Asian Games (2026/Aichi-Nagoya) ~5th Grader Yuuki Selected as Japan National Team Candidate for 'Puyo Puyo Champions/Puyo Puyo eSports'~

Sega Corporation (Headquarters: Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director, President and COO: Shuji Utsumi; hereinafter "Sega") is pleased to announce that it has concluded a partnership agreement for the 20th Asian Games (2026/Aichi-Nagoya).

In this tournament, Sega's competitive action puzzle game "Puyo Puyo Champions/Puyo Puyo eSports" has been adopted as an eSports competition title, and the candidate for the Japan national team has now been decided.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The 20th Asian Games (2026/Aichi-Nagoya) is Asia's largest sports competition, to be held in Japan for the first time in 32 years. Following the previous Hangzhou Games, eSports will be held as an official medal event. It will be implemented across 11 disciplines and 13 titles, including "Puyo Puyo Champions/Puyo Puyo eSports," which will be featured for the first time.

 

■ Partnership Agreement Overview

 

Sponsorship Rank: Asian Games Tier 4 Official Supplier

Sponsorship Category/Industry: eSports Game

Contract Period: From contract signing date to December 31, 2026

 

 

■ "20th Asian Games (2026/Aichi-Nagoya)" Overview

 

Event Period: September 19 (Sat) - October 4 (Sun), 2026

*eSports competition will be held from September 23 to October 2, 2026

eSports Competition Venue: Aichi Sky Expo (Aichi International Exhibition Center) Exhibition Hall D
(Address: 5-10-1 Centrair, Tokoname City, Aichi Prefecture)

Official Website: https://www.aichi-nagoya2026.org/

 

 

■ "Puyo Puyo Champions/Puyo Puyo eSports" Japan National Team Candidate Decided

 

In the eSports competition to be held at the 20th Asian Games (2026/Aichi-Nagoya), Yuuki has been selected as the Japan national team candidate for "Puyo Puyo Champions/Puyo Puyo eSports."

Yuuki was recommended as a Japan national team candidate by the Japan eSports Union (JESU) and will be officially decided after approval by the Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC).

＜Profile＞

Player Name: Yuuki

Hometown: Tokyo

Age: 10 years old

 

＜Main Achievements＞

2023 Fiscal Year

National Prefectural eSports Championship 2023 KAGOSHIMA, Elementary School Division Winner

2024 Fiscal Year

National Prefectural eSports Championship 2024 SAGA, Elementary School Division Winner

Puyo Puyo Global Ranking Match Winner

Puyo Puyo Ranking Pro Selection Tournament 2025 Runner-up

Taiyo Life Puyo Puyo Grand Prix Final Top 4

2025 Fiscal Year

Puyo Puyo Global Ranking Series SEGA Official Tournament 1 Runner-up

National Prefectural eSports Championship 2025 SHIGA, Open Participation Division Winner

GygaCrysta Puyo Puyo Grand Prix Final Winner

Asian Games (2026/Aichi-Nagoya) Japan National Team Candidate Final Selection Competition Winner

 

＜Comment＞

I'm incredibly happy to be a national team candidate. Many of my Puyo Puyo dreams have come true, but next, I want to win a gold medal at the Asian Games.

 

 

■ About Sega's eSports Activities

In Sega's eSports activities, since the "Puyo Puyo" series and "Virtua Fighter" series were adopted as official titles by the Japan eSports Union (JESU) in 2018, Sega has been holding eSports tournaments utilizing Sega IP both domestically and internationally.

For the "Puyo Puyo" series, the official tournament "Puyo Puyo Championship" is held, it has been adopted for the "National Prefectural eSports Championship" cultural program, and as a pre-event for "Nenrin-Pic Ehime 2023," expanding the eSports player base from elementary school students to seniors. In recent years, with the holding of official tournaments like the "Puyo Puyo Global Ranking Series," many community tournaments are held not only in Japan but also in various regions worldwide, increasing opportunities for adoption as a competitive event in the international eSports scene, showing new excitement.

For the "Virtua Fighter" series, since the official tournament "VIRTUA FIGHTER eSports CHALLENGE CUP" was held, in 2025, it will expand globally with the official global tournament "VIRTUA FIGHTER Open Championship," adoption as a title in overseas eSports tournaments such as "EVO 2025," and an exhibition match at "Esports World Cup 2025," attracting attention as an overseas eSports competition.

Furthermore, we are also engaged in eSports x edutainment activities that utilize the know-how and assets cultivated through eSports development. We provide educational support such as planning and operating educational curricula using the learning material "Puyo Puyo Programming" and conducting outreach classes. This material has been adopted in school education classes in over 1,000 schools nationwide.

 

■ About the "Puyo Puyo" Series

The "Puyo Puyo" series is an action puzzle game that has been loved worldwide for over 30 years since its release. The first "Puyo Puyo" appeared in 1991 for MSX2 and Famicom Disk System, and the following year, in 1992, Sega released arcade and Mega Drive versions. With simple and easy-to-understand rules of connecting four or more "Puyo" of the same color to clear them, cute characters, and game mechanics that were the first to introduce a competitive format for falling block action puzzle games, it became an explosive hit. Since then, the series has continued to evolve, expanding to various platforms such as home consoles, PCs, and smartphones, enjoyed by a wide range of generations. Furthermore, as an official title recognized by JESU (Japan eSports Union), it has attracted attention in the eSports scene where professional players are active, with fierce battles unfolding both domestically and internationally. In 2026, celebrating its 35th anniversary, "Puyo Puyo" will continue to deliver the fun of "dairensa" (chain reactions) to everyone!

 

'Puyo Puyo Champions' Official Website

https://puyo.sega.com/champions/

 

'Puyo Puyo eSports' Official Website

https://puyo.sega.jp/PuyoPuyo_eSports/

About Sega (https://www.sega.co.jp/ )

Sega Corporation primarily develops, sells, and operates games for home consoles, PCs, and smartphones. In addition, it plans, develops, and sells digital services and character merchandise, including prizes, utilizing the expertise gained from its game business. In the game business, it provides game content developed in studios in Japan and overseas to the entire world through its bases located in Japan and various other regions.

 

 

Company names and product names mentioned are registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective companies.

The information contained in this document is current as of the announcement date.

©SEGA