Puyo Puyo eSports U-15 'Gigo Cup' SEASON4 to be Held at 9 Venues Nationwide Plus Final, Total of 10 Battles!

GENDA GiGO Entertainment Inc. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director and President: Kazuhiro Ninomiya; hereinafter 'the Company') will hold the 'Puyo Puyo eSports U-15 Gigo Cup SEASON4' esports tournament in fiscal 2026. This tournament is for the 'Puyo Puyo' series, a competitive action puzzle game that is a Japan eSports Pro License certified title, and is open to players aged 15 and under.

About the Puyo Puyo 'Gigo Cup'

This tournament is hosted by the Company and is open to all players who meet the entry conditions.
Each venue will hold 'qualifiers' and a 'final tournament'. Winners and runners-up will receive a certificate of commendation and an official uniform.
Additionally, all participants will receive a participation gift.
Event homepage: https://contents.gendagigo.jp/gigo-cup

Tournament Overview

Tournament Name: Puyo Puyo eSports U-15 'Gigo Cup'
Title Used: PlayStation®4 software 'Puyo Puyo eSports'
Format: Held at local venues (offline only)
Eligibility: 15 years old or younger (both professional and amateur players can participate)
Qualifiers: Ranking by score attack in 'Official Challenge' mode. Top 16 players (plus 2 substitutes) advance to the final tournament. 1 practice round / 2 attack rounds.
Final Tournament: Tournament style. 1-on-1 matches using 'Puyo Puyo Tsu' rules. First to win 5 games in a set wins.
Entry Fee: Free

■ Schedule and Venues (Fiscal 2026)
・[Round 1] Ario Hashimoto, Kanagawa Prefecture, July 4 (Sat) - 5 (Sun), 2026
・[Round 2] Amu Plaza Kumamoto, Kumamoto Prefecture, July 11 (Sat) - 12 (Sun), 2026
・[Round 3] AEON Mall Musashi Murayama, Tokyo, August 14 (Fri) - 15 (Sat), 2026
・[Round 4] AEON Mall Kawaguchi, Saitama Prefecture, August 22 (Sat) - 23 (Sun), 2026
・[Round 5] Kobe Harborland umie, Hyogo Prefecture, September 26 (Sat) - 27 (Sun), 2026
・[Round 6] Minami-machida Grandberry Park, Tokyo, October 4 (Sun), 2026
・[Round 7] SMARK Isesaki, Gunma Prefecture, October 10 (Sat) - 11 (Sun), 2026
・[Round 8] Market Square Sasashima, Aichi Prefecture, October 25 (Sun), 2026
・[Round 9] Lalaport Fujimi, Saitama Prefecture, December 12 (Sat) - 13 (Sun), 2026

■ Registration
・On-site registration: Direct entry accepted at each venue.

■ Cooperation: SEGA Corporation

▲ 'Gigo Cup' Official Uniform (Image)
*Image is for illustrative purposes. Actual product may differ.

■ Concurrent Challenge Events
At each 'Gigo Cup' venue, challenge events will be held simultaneously, including 'Score Attack' and 'Chain Challenge' that anyone can join on the spot, as well as 'Group Challenge' where families or groups cooperate to battle the CPU.
Official Puyo Puyo merchandise will be awarded based on performance in each challenge.

Grand Championship to be Held Again This Year, Offering Entry to Puyo Puyo Grand Prix Final
SEASON4 will also feature the 'Puyo Puyo eSports U-15 Gigo Cup Grand Championship'.

■ Results of Last Year's Grand Championship
At the 'Grand Championship' held on December 21, 2025 (Sunday), player 'Kii-kun', representing the Lalaport TOKYO-BAY venue, became the first Grand Champion.
Player Kii-kun also performed well in the official SEGA tournament 'GigaCrysta Puyo Puyo Grand Prix Final', for which he earned a spot through this tournament, placing in the top 4.
Furthermore, in April 2026, together with player Yuuki, also from the 'Gigo Cup', he obtained the JESU-certified professional license for 'Puyo Puyo' as a 5th-grade elementary school student, becoming the youngest professional esports player in history.

After all SEASON4 rounds are completed, winners will be invited to the 'Grand Championship' in December 2026.
The one player who becomes the Grand Champion will be granted the right to participate in the 'Puyo Puyo Grand Prix Final', a prize tournament open to both professionals and amateurs scheduled for February 2027.

By holding the Grand Championship, the 'Gigo Cup' provides a step-up to a prize tournament, creating opportunities for players aged 15 and under to challenge themselves in the competitive esports scene.

Details will be announced later on the event homepage and the 'GiGO Group Stores Official X' account.
Official X: https://x.com/GENDA_GiGO

▲ 'Gigo Cup' Grand Championship Official Logo
▲ 'Gigo Cup' Step-Up Flow

■ About 'Puyo Puyo'
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 the MSX2 and Famicom Disk System, followed by arcade and Mega Drive versions released by Sega in 1992. It became a massive hit due to its simple and easy-to-understand rules of connecting four or more same-colored 'Puyos' to clear them, its cute characters, and its gameplay that introduced versus mode for the first time in a falling-block action puzzle game. The series has continued to evolve, being released on various platforms such as home consoles, PCs, and smartphones, enjoyed by a wide range of generations.

Furthermore, as a JESU (Japan eSports Association) certified title, it attracts attention in the esports scene where professional players compete, with heated battles taking place both in Japan and internationally. In 2026, celebrating its 35th anniversary, 'Puyo Puyo' will continue to deliver the joy of 'Dai Rensa' (big chains) to everyone!

'Puyo Puyo eSports' Official Website
https://puyo.sega.jp/PuyoPuyo_eSports/

■ About 'eSports'
'eSports' is short for 'Electronic Sports'. In a broad sense, it refers to entertainment, competitions, and sports conducted using electronic devices. It is a term used when viewing competitions using computer or video games as sports.

■ Product Information
Product Name: Puyo Puyo eSports
Compatible Platforms: PlayStation®4 / Nintendo Switch™
Release Date: Package version: On sale now (released June 27, 2019 (Thursday))
Download version: Available now (released October 25, 2018 (Thursday))
Suggested Retail Price: Package version: 1,990 yen (2,189 yen incl. tax) / Download version: 1,851 yen (2,036 yen incl. tax)
Genre: Action Puzzle
Number of Players: 1-4
Publisher/Distributor: SEGA Corporation
CERO Rating: A (All ages)
Copyright: ©SEGA
Official Website: https://puyo.sega.jp/PuyoPuyo_eSports/
Official X: https://X.com/puyopuyo20