BEYBLADE X SEA Cup: A milestone event for fans

BEYBLADE fans from across Southeast Asia gathered on Sunday for the highly anticipated BEYBLADE X SEA Cup.

Officially launched by Dato’ Azmir Saifuddin Mutalib, CEO of the National Film Development Corporation (FINAS), this event marked a significant milestone, celebrating the brand’s 25th anniversary and its enduring popularity since its debut in 1999.

Uniting BEYBLADE enthusiasts

The BEYBLADE X SEA Cup 2024 is the first cross-region tournament since the launch of BEYBLADE X in 2023.

Representatives from Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, and Indonesia competed in two categories: the Junior Category for ages 6-12 and the Open Category for ages 13 and above.

A total of 15 participants vied for the championship, with the winner earning the coveted Rare Bey .COBALTDRAKE 4-60F.

Each participating country hosted local G1 events to select their top competitors.

Winners and first runners-up from the Junior Category, along with winners from the Open Category, advanced to the SEA Cup.

These G1 events, known for their larger scale and higher stakes, saw fierce battles as competitors fought for the chance to represent their country.

Prizes for the top three bladers in each category included gold, silver, and bronze versions of DRANSWORD 3-60F.

In the SEA Cup this year, individual battle winners took home trophies and the Special Bey – Cobalt Drake 4-60F, while champion teams in the team battles were awarded champion medals.

A historic partnership

A major highlight of the event was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) among TAKARATOMY, ADK Emotions Inc., Animasia Studio Sdn. Bhd., and One Universal Production Sdn. Bhd. (OUP).

The MOU outlined their roles and objectives: TAKARATOMY as licensor and master toy provider, ADK Emotions Inc. as licensor, Animasia as master licensee of the BEYBLADE brand (non-toy, publication & event) in Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, and Brunei, and OUP as event organiser, brand promotion, and development partner.

Their collaboration aims to hold large-scale BEYBLADE X events in Malaysia over the next three years, expand the BEYBLADE brand through strategic partnerships and marketing initiatives, and engage with the local fanbase, with Litt Tak Sdn. Bhd. acting as the official toy distributor in the country.

This partnership seeks to attract more fans across the Southeast Asia region, reward loyal BEYBLADE supporters, and recruit new players through regional events, promoting BEYBLADE X as a competitive sport.

Adding to the excitement, the grand opening coincided with the launch of the latest BEYBLADE X TV series on Astro CERIA, which premiered on 18 July.

The series follows the adventures of Kurosu Ace, Kazami Bird, and Nanairo Multi as they tackle the immense challenges of the X Tower.

The series also collaborated with popular Japanese rock band ONE OK ROCK for the theme song “PROVE” and Korean K-Pop group AESPA for the ending song “Zoom Zoom”, generating significant buzz among the fans of the musical groups.

“At FINAS, we are committed to supporting and promoting the local creative industry, and we encourage more local players to collaborate with international mega brands like BEYBLADE in order to elevate our local creative industry and provide enriching experiences for audiences both locally and globally,” said Azmir in officiating the competition.

The BEYBLADE X SEA Cup not only showcased the competitive spirit and talent of the participants but also highlighted the collaborative efforts of key industry players in promoting and expanding the BEYBLADE brand in Southeast Asia.

This year’s event was particularly special, celebrating BEYBLADE’s 25th anniversary and reinforcing its place in the hearts of fans worldwide.