SHAKA Hosts LEGENDUS Gateball Tournament With Fighting Game Influencers
The event marks a deliberate pivot from esports titles to a non-digital sport, testing whether fighting game community influencers can generate viewership around a physically strategic lawn game.
Reporting from 2 sources: 4Gamer.net, KAI-YOU.
ZETA DIVISION streamer SHAKA will host a gateball tournament titled "LEGENDUS Gateball" on June 4 at 13:00 JST, streamed via his Twitch channel. Ten fighting game influencers will split into two teams of five for a serious match of gateball, a lawn sport often associated with older players but known for its strategic depth. The "Sōshihan Tomo no Kai" team includes Sōshihan KSK, Naruo, Koku-nii, Haitani, and Ōnuki. The opposing "Handsome Gateball Club" team includes Handsome Orikasa, SHAKA, Ōsu Akira, Donpisha, and Ishii Pro. Āru and Hameko, known for their Street Fighter 6 commentary, will serve as referees. The match lasts 30 minutes, with points awarded for passing through three gates and hitting a goal pole. Tactical elements such as touch and spark shot are allowed. The event is part of SHAKA's "LEGENDUS" series, which previously featured Street Fighter 6 and League of Legends.
The tournament will be broadcast live on both Twitch and YouTube, expanding reach beyond SHAKA's usual audience. SHAKA's "LEGENDUS" series has previously centered on competitive video games, making gateball an unconventional choice. The released rulebook visuals explain basic gateball rules: players must pass through the first, second, and third gates in order, earning 1 point per gate, then hit the goal pole for 2 points. The team with the highest total after 30 minutes wins. Tactical moves include "touch" (hitting an opponent's ball with your own) and "spark shot" (sending the touched ball flying), which add layers of interference and cooperation. The two teams are evenly matched in terms of influencer fame, with both sides featuring prominent fighting game figures. Āru and Hameko's roles as referees bring a familiar esports commentary style to the lawn. No explanation has been given for why gateball was chosen over a traditional esports title, but the event leans into the novelty of seeing competitive gamers adapt to a physical sport.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 2 cited sources below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.