Advertisement from SpaceWorld 2001 in Japan, the very first Melee tournament (used a demo build slightly improved since E3 that year)

"So you think you're the Super Smash Bros. champ of the world, huh? Well Nintendo is offering you the chance to prove yourself…if you can be in Tokyo, Japan by the end of the month. If you've been keeping up-to-date on your news, you know Nintendo is holding its annual Space World show in the Land of the Rising Sun. The event is open to the public from August 25-26, 9am-4pm and will display all of the newest Game Boy Advance and GameCube software.

In commemoration of Super Smash Bros. Melee's premiere debut to the Japanese public, Nintendo is holding a tournament during the exposition. Fans and newcomers alike will have the opportunity to participate in four-player, free-for-alls. And since very few people have had the opportunity to play SSBM for GameCube, the playing field will be slightly leveled. Nintendo hasn't divulged every detail behind the tournament, but from what we can discern there will be two separate events -- one on Saturday and one on Sunday.

It's highly likely that the company will demonstrate and tout the tournament mode integrated into SSBM. Each day a Smash Champion will walk away with a free GameCube and a copy of Super Smash Bros. Melee. Second place winners will garner a copy of only the game. Since neither the system nor the game will have been released yet, we presume Nintendo will ship prizes to winners at a later time. What about third-place? Well, it doesn't appear third-place winners get anything special, but everyone who makes it into the finals will receive a Smash Bros. Melee tote bag.