XBF,
The Samurai Shodown League was created to honor the players across North America, South America, and nearby connected regions who have kept the spirit of SamSho alive through years of dedication, consistency, and community support. This League is presented by Ke11y Ann and ThrustyZol, in association with the XBF Discord Fighting Game Community established by Lemmy Hawkins in 2019.
Since 2019, ThrustyZol (aka Thrust Jonson) and Ke11y Ann have been running Samurai Shodown events on Xbox, watching the scene evolve as players came and went. But everything changed in late 2021/early 2022, when SNK released the 120fps update for the Xbox Series. That single patch revealed the game’s true competitive potential and sparked a new wave of growth. Once players experienced how smooth and responsive the game felt at 120fps, our online events transformed almost overnight—expanding from a online scene into a full hybrid ecosystem of weekly lobbies, monthly tournaments, Hybrid Fusion events, and the game returned as a featured game at major FGC offline Tournaments, built around the Xbox Series version.
This was the turning point where our core group of players locked in and never looked back. They played nonstop, pushed each other to improve, and helped cultivate a competitive environment strong enough to carry Samurai Shodown from grassroots online brackets all the way to inclusion in the SNK World Championship. Their commitment during this pivotal era paved the way for the game’s presence on the global stage.
The League exists to recognize those long‑time loyalists and the players who joined the XBF Community mid‑journey. Many stepped into the scene after its early years, facing a roster of already‑established competitors. They took their losses, stayed hungry, and kept showing up because they knew they were learning from some of the best players in the world. Their growth, perseverance, and willingness to challenge themselves deserve just as much spotlight.
The League will continue offering weekly lobbies and monthly tournaments through the end of November, giving players consistent opportunities to earn points toward the 2026 standings. But the upcoming CFF Monthly Tournament on Friday, March 6th—the first Friday of the month—comes with something special. The Champion will receive fully paid hotel accommodations and a tournament entry ticket to compete in Samurai Shodown at Vegas Climax VI, a Master 2 Qualifying Event for the SWC 2026. The prize includes a stay at the Luxor Hotel in Las Vegas, from April 2 – 6, 2026 (Thurs-Monday).
This League is our way of celebrating the players who never stopped believing in this game—and the players who joined later and proved they belong right alongside them.
