Some duelists aren’t aware that at many of the Shonen Jump Championships, there are actually two Cyber-Steins up for grabs. While one is awarded to the first-place finisher in the main event, a second Cyber-Stein is sometimes available through side events!
The system by which the second Cyber-Stein is awarded tends to vary, but there is a general pattern. Thus far the side events have been used as a sort of qualifying round, and that qualifying round has been followed by an elimination tournament. The exact method of qualifying and the number of accepted qualifiers has varied, but here at Shonen Jump Orlando it breaks down like this.
All side event players over the course of the weekend get registered in a two-day points program. You get points just for participating, but you’ll also need to earn points through your performance as well—so there’s a big pressure to not just play but also win.
“Of course, we want to make sure that no one can just walk in and buy the Cyber-Stein,” said PTO Jeff Williams.
From there, four players will qualify for a single-elimination tournament at the end of the day. The winner of that four-man brawl, or “quartet of chaos,” as I like to call it, will walk away with a copy of the one, the only, Cyber-Stein.
If you’re a more casual duelist interested in a Cyber-Stein, or you can’t make it for the entire event, head to a Shonen Jump Championship anyway! Playing in side events allows an experienced or beginner duelist more control over how much playing they do in a day, so you won’t be as fatigued. Or, if you’re extra-ambitious about wanting that Cyber-Stein and are willing to risk your chance at the other awesome prizes being offered in the main event, the side events can be a great resource. Not many duelists are playing in the side events, and judging by the success of Team Comic Odyssey’s side event endeavors—Juan Cardenas won the team yet another Cyber-Stein through side events in Columbus, Ohio—it looks like a couple of really determined, skilled players can win a Cyber-Stein with a bit of planning.
A big event like the Shonen Jump Championship Series can be a huge amount of fun, but it can also be a bit difficult and tiring. If you’ve been hesitating coming out to a Shonen Jump Championship because of that, remember that you have a lot of different options aside from the main event itself, and there are lots of great opportunities to win some tremendous prizes. Currently, the side event Cyber-Steins are a clever duelist’s dream—a ripe reward just waiting to be claimed. However, that might change, as interest in Cyber-Stein ramps up even more and more duelists realize that they aren’t limited to just one chance to win one.