The NPB eSports Splatoon 2 League
A guide to the NPB Splatoon League
On March 3rd 2019, the Nippon Professional Baseball League sat down to decide which teams to draft. However, it was not baseball teams that they would be working with. Instead, the prestigious baseball clubs of Japan would be drafting the best Japanese Splatoon 2 teams to compete in a Nintendo x NPB event.
8 months ago, the NPB announced that they would be entering in a partnership with Nintendo to bring Splatoon 2 to their esport league. 18 teams were selected to be interviewed based on their performances in the 2019 Koshien qualifiers and finals.
Today, on March 3rd 2019, the 12 baseball clubs of the NPB have selected their representative teams for the Splatoon 2 league. They will compete to determine the strongest team in Japan.
Hiroshima Toyo Carp
Director Yanocchi [Mildly Norishio-Flavored Melon]
- YuMild. — https://twitter.com/YumYum_Splatoon
- Norishio — https://twitter.com/mintorotoon3
- メロン [Melon] — https://twitter.com/melon1_game
- やのっち♪ [Yanocchi] — https://twitter.com/mi_splacherry
Chunichi Dragons
WataNeo
- きょう [Kyou] — https://twitter.com/kyoumachyanisan
- おせんべい [Osenbei] — https://twitter.com/nem_os3
- のすけ [Nosuke] — https://twitter.com/splatnosuke
- ポチ産 [Pochisan] — https://twitter.com/potisan_1210
Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters
Babonyanzu
- ばぼ [Babo] — https://twitter.com/babo_ENJ
- あきうー [Akiu] — https://twitter.com/kitty_0102
- みすと [Mist] — https://twitter.com/mist_gun_haru
- わらびずむ† [Warabism] — https://twitter.com/s_knowledge
Orix Buffalos
Libalent Calamari
- くろすっω・）つ [Cross] — https://twitter.com/bbcross34
- 2438学園 [Nishizawa] — https://twitter.com/kong_2438gakuen
- あとばる [Atobaru] — https://twitter.com/Atobaru_ika
- ぴょん [Pyon] — https://twitter.com/raizingu1007
Saitama Seibu Lions
Cool&Cool
- ばぐちゃん [Bugking] — https://twitter.com/bugking_Spla
- 反射神経[Reflect] — https://twitter.com/hansyashinkei
- うどん店長 [Udonten] — https://twitter.com/Udoten0315
- のりすけ [No Risk] — https://twitter.com/no_spl
Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
GGBoyZ
- ダイナモン [Dynamon] — https://twitter.com/str_dynamo
- たいじ [Taiji] — https://twitter.com/taijich0324
- えとな [Etona] — https://twitter.com/et7sp
- やまみっちー [Micchi] — https://twitter.com/auaubabutyan
Hanshin Tigers
Popojirou Senior High Year 3 Class A
- あまり [Amari] — https://twitter.com/___Drinkmexxx
- ちんたお [Chintao] — https://twitter.com/cntomk4
- きのこ [Kinoko] — https://twitter.com/rando_ru96
- まひろ [Mahiro] — https://twitter.com/ma_h_taro
Tokyo Yakult Swallows
Ultra Revengers
- はんじょう [Hanjou] — https://twitter.com/hanjyou_
- かよたそ [Kayotaso] — https://twitter.com/kayotaso_sp
- その [Sono] — https://twitter.com/sononono03
- りうくん [Riukun] — https://twitter.com/riukugel
Chiba Lotte Marines
Year 5 Star Team ~ Ashin and Raz’s Homeroom
- raz — https://twitter.com/714t_t
- ほのか [Honoka] — https://twitter.com/srhh0628
- ハル [Haru] — https://twitter.com/haruspla2
- あしん [Ashin] — https://twitter.com/ashin_spl
Yokohama DeNA BayStars
Hyper Beam
- テルミ [Terumi] — https://twitter.com/terumi6464
- けいとぅーん [Keitoon] — https://twitter.com/spla_keitoon_
- しめぴぃ [Simepyi] — https://twitter.com/Shimepyi__
- ミルクレープ♪ [Millecrep] — https://twitter.com/killukure_0707
Yomiuri Giants
SpRush!!
- ぱーく [Park] — https://twitter.com/Saitsuyo_Park
- まめでん [Mameden] — https://twitter.com/mamedendenden
- みじこ〜ん [Mijikon] — https://twitter.com/Marron114514
- だぶ [Dabu] — https://twitter.com/dabu20_
Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles
Senka Rekkou
- まぎえーす [MagiAce] — https://twitter.com/jstars1121
- ろんつ [Lontu] — https://twitter.com/halloweentu
- バズ [Bazz] — https://twitter.com/bazz900
- ひいらぎ [Hiragi] — https://twitter.com/hiragi0223spla2
NPB eSports League Format
The teams will be divided into a Pacific and Central League based on their team’s respective leagues. Currently there is no monetary prize, but each team will be compensated based on promotional material and appearances.
Inauguration and Training Camp — March 23rd-24th
Players selected from the draft will officially be signed on here. They will also participate in a camp to learn the etiquette of pro players and play practice games.
Open Practice Matches — April 14th
Serious practice matches as each player has their eyes on the actual tournament.
Main Tournament— May 18th
Each league will battle each other out in a Turf War tournament. Day 1 will consists of Round Robins within each league. The top two teams of each league will move on to the Day 2 Final Bracket, while the remaining teams will compete in a redemption bracket on day 2 for the third spot in their respective leagues.
Final Bracket — May 19th
The teams placed 3rd-6th in each league will face each other in a single-elimination bracket to determine who will make it to the quarterfinals.
The redemption bracket winners will first play against the 2nd place team from their respective league. The winner will move on to face the 1st place team in each league.
The winner of the Pacific and Central Leagues will then face off at the e-Japan Series for the title of Champion. This event has not been announced yet.
Special thanks to sanchi, ganbawoomy, and Toadsili T for translation and information gathering. Stay tuned for our coverage of the latest competitive Splatoon 2 season in the west!
