Update: This post is being updated to reflect the additional contribution from dedicated Kof fans since the article was originally published.

Following KOF’s disappointing showing at West Coast Warzone last weekend with a paltry 10 entrants, many bystanders have proclaimed that KOF is dead, but is KOF really dead? Many players on the East Coast disagree. KOF is in fact alive and well on the East Coast with many passionate players willing to go to great lengths to show love for their favorite game.

“Wyseguy” (@ThatWyseguy), NYC resident and KOF super fan, has stepped up to provide a $1,000 bonus pot at NEC XV. This will make the KOF XIII tournament FREE TO ENTER for everyone. The exciting news quickly reverberated amongst the East Coast KOF scene.

Following this exciting news, BigE, the boss behind NEC, followed suit and decided to add $250 to the pot.

Not willing to be outdone by his fellow comrades, NYC resident and super Terry fanboy “Garou Mike” decided to match BigE’s $250 to the pot bonuses, on the condition that the number of entrants exceed 62, which is double the 31 entrants at Summer Jam.

Seeing this, fellow NYC player and KOF/Fatal Fury super fanboy “Rome himself” decided to follow suit and pledged $200 to the pot if the entrants reach 62.

The news of all the pot bonuses from KOF fans quickly snowballed overnight.

Dedicated NYC based streaming group Kick, Punch, Block (KPB) whose members consist of many long-time KOF fans including “Meanestrage” and “Roddyness” decided to add $300 to the pot. KPB has been supporting the east coast KOF community consistently in the past by streaming many of the past KOF tournaments and holding qualifier events for KOF majors.

SB2, an up and coming gaming venue based on the Bronx has pledged $100. The gaming lounge, in an effort lead by Galley the Pirate, has been pushing to include KOF XIII in its tournament and weekly casuals line up.

Together with Wyseguy, BigE, Garou Mike, Rome himself, KPB, and SB2’s contribution, the total bonus pot for KOF at NEC XV will be $2,100 IF the entrants exceed 62 players.

Ever since the news of Wyseguy’s $1000 bonus pot was released, the hype surrounding KOF at NEC XV is exploding fast, many players have already confirmed their intention to attend the event. Besides the usual KOF players on the East Coast, the hype has reached players across the country and beyond. Several players from CA, TX, CO, and Scotland have already confirmed their attendance or expressed strong interest in the event.

Since KOF at NEC XV will be a free-to-enter tournament, there is no excuse not to sign up.

NEC XV takes place this December 5-7 at the Clarion Hotel and Conference Center in Essington, PA. You can find out more about the event at bigegaming.com or check out the Facebook Page for the event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1521414411428753/