THE 17TH ANNUAL CLASSIC TETRIS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
The Classic Tetris World Championship is the largest live event in the Tetris community, as well as one of the most prestigious in Retro Gaming. The best players all over the world come to test their skills against one another to vie for the title of Classic Tetris Champion.
Now in it’s 17th year, the tournament field gets stronger and stronger as the back-to-back reigning world champion, Alex T, looks to defend his title against all challengers!
DETAILS
WHERE: SoCal Retro Gaming Expo
Pasadena Convention Center
300 E Green St., Pasadena, CA 91101
WHEN: June 5-7, 2026
EXPO HOURS:
Friday June 5 | 10am-10pm (TETRIS QUALIFIERS & TGM4 CHAMPIONSHIP ONLY – NO OPEN VENDORS)
Saturday June 6 | 11am-8pm (Tetris qualifying at 10am. Tournament starts at 12:30pm)
Sunday June 7: 11am-5pm (Top 16 Gold Bracket at 10am. Finals at 5pm)
TICKETS: Admission is required to attend the Classic Tetris World Championship. Tickets on sale now: https://checkout.conventions.leapevent.tech/eh/SoCal_Gaming_Expo_2026
Make sure to purchase the Classic Tetris World Championships (CTWC) Qualifying on Friday + Full Event 2 Day Weekend Pass – Saturday and Sunday to gain entry for all 3 days.
There is a spectator pass available as well for those that wish to watch qualifying live on Friday.
REGISTRATION
To register for the Classic Tetris World Championship, please visit our start.gg page here: https://www.start.gg/tournament/classic-tetris-world-championship-2026/details
Deadline to register for the World Championship is June 1, 2026.
RULES
Full rule set can be found on our start.gg home page. See above for registration link.
FORMAT
NEW FOR 2026 – We will be using the “point system”.
In this format, points scored in excess of a million points WILL count. Players will play on a modified version of classic Tetris that allows the player to exceed the “maxout” score of 999,999 and “uncap” the score so that it is calculated in a 7-digit format. Players earn “points” for reaching the 1 million point threshold and continue to receive points for every 100k earned in score.
The point system works as follows:
0-999,998 – 0 points (your high score will be considered your “kicker score” and recorded the same as in previous years) 999,999-1,099,999 – 2 points
1,100,000-1,199,999 – 1 additional point
1,200,000-1,299,999 – 1 additional point
1,300,000-1,399,999 – 1 additional point
1,400,000-1,499,999 – 1 additional point
1,500,000-1,599,999 – 1 additional point
1,600,000-1,699,999 – 1 additional point
1,700,000-1,799,999 – 1 additional point
1,800,000-1,899,999 – 1 additional point
1,900,000-1,999,999 – 1 additional point
2,000,000+ – 2 additional points
Potential max “points” in a single game: 13
Seeding will be determined by the points accrued during the qualifier, with ties broken by comparing the highest score. For instance, if Joe and Bob have 3 “points” each, and Joe’s highest score is 956k, and Bob’s is 922k, Joe will earn the higher seed.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Friday Qualifying
- 10:00AM – SoCal Expo opens for Classic Tetris area only (Expo is closed to the public). Only those with the 3-day Tetris pass or a spectator pass may enter
- 10:30AM-12:00PM – Qualifying Session 1
- 12:30PM-2:00PM – Qualifying Session 2
- 2:30PM-4:00PM – Qualifying Session 3
- 4:30PM-6:00PM – Qualifying Session 4
- 12:00PM-5:00PM – TGM4 Tournament Qualifying
- 7:00PM-10PM – TGM4 Tournament | Top 8
Saturday Qualifying
- 10:00AM-11:30AM – Qualifying Session 5 (limited to special request). Make sure to get the Tetris 3-day pass to enter
- 11:00AM – SoCal Expo Opens
- 11:30AM – Qualifying Ends. Brackets to be finalized
- 12:00PM – Class Picture (after qualifying, before tournament kickoff)
Saturday Brackets
Gold Rounds 0 & 1 (48-player single elimination bracket)
- 12:30PM – Round 0 (Block A) ~45 minutes
- 1:15PM – Round 0 (Block B) ~45 minutes
- 2:00PM – Round 0 (Block C) ~45 minutes
- 2:45PM – Round 0 (Block D) ~45 minutes
- 3:30PM – Break ~30 minutes
- 4:00PM – Round 1 (Block E) ~45 minutes
- 4:45PM – Round 1 (Block F) ~45 minutes
- 5:30PM – Round 1 (Block G) ~45 minutes
- 6:15PM – Round 1 (Block H) ~45 minutes
Silver Tournament (32-player single elimination bracket)
- 12:30PM – Round 1 (16 continuous Bo3 matches) ~3hrs
- 3:30PM – Round 2 (8 continuous Bo3 matches) ~1.5hrs
- 5:00PM – Round 3 (4 continuous Bo3 matches) ~1.5hrs
- 6:30PM – Round 4 (2 continuous Bo5 matches) ~ 1.0hrs
- 7:30pm – Round 5 (Finals Bo5 match) ~ 1.0hrs
Bronze Tournament (32-player single elimination bracket)
- 12:30PM – Round 1 (16 continuous Bo3 matches) ~3hrs
- 3:30PM – Round 2 (8 continuous Bo3 matches) ~1.5hrs
- 5:00PM – Round 3 (4 continuous Bo3 matches) ~1.5hrs
- 6:30PM – Round 4 (2 continuous Bo5 matches) ~ 1.0hrs
- 7:30pm – Round 5 (Finals Bo5 match) ~ 1.0hrs
Sunday Brackets
Gold Top 16
- 10:00AM – Pre-Show/Tetris Anthem
- 10:30AM – Part 1 ~60 minutes
- 11:30AM – Part 2 ~60 minutes
- 12:30PM – Break
Gold Top 8
- 1:00PM – Part 1 ~60 minutes
- 2:00PM – Part 2 ~60 minutes
- 3:00PM – Semis Part 1 ~60 minutes
- 4:00PM – Semis Part 2 ~60 minutes
- 5:00PM – Break
- 5:15PM – FINAL ~60 minutes
- 6:15PM – Wrap-up
Planning on attending? Fill out the attendance sheet! CTWC Attendance
Want to help volunteer at CTWC? Fill out this form by May 15 CTWC Volunteer