The Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) has dropped the official brackets for the 2026 Esports State Playoffs, pitting 32 top high school teams each in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe for regional supremacy and state titles.chsaanow
Tournament Structure and Schedule
Both events use single-elimination brackets with strategic twists tailored to Nintendo's party fighters:
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Playoffs (32 Teams):
- Round 1: Thursday, April 9 @ 4:00 PM MT – All 16 Bo3 matches (best-of-3 races, track vetoes allowed).
- Quarterfinals: Friday, April 10 @ 6:00 PM – Bo3 advancing 8 teams.
- Semis/Finals: Saturday, April 11 @ Cherry Creek HS Arena – Bo5 semis, Bo7 grand final.
- Rules: 150cc Mirror mode, 4v4 teams, no item bans but character/track/team coordination required.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Playoffs (32 Teams):
- Round 1: Thursday, April 9 @ 5:00 PM MT – 16 Bo3 sets (2v2 crew battles converting to 1v1s).
- Quarters: Friday, April 10 @ 7:00 PM – Bo3.
- Bracket Finals: Saturday semis Bo5, grand final Bo7 with 2-stock, 8-min timer, no Mii Fighters.
- Stage List: Battlefield, Final Destination, Smashville, Town & City, Small Battlefield legal.
All matches stream live on CHSAA Esports Twitch with student casters and pro Smash/MK commentators.
Seeds and Matchups Highlights
Mario Kart Top Seeds (projected based on qualifiers):
- Cherry Creek Chargers vs. #32 Fossil Ridge Sabercats
- Legacy Lightning vs. #31 Rocky Mountain Lobos
- Boulder Panthers vs. #30 Fort Collins Lambkins
... - Arapahoe Warriors vs. #17 Fairview Knights
Smash Bros. Top Seeds:
- Regis Jesuit Raiders vs. #32 Palmer Ridge Bears
- Cherry Creek (defending 2025 champs) vs. #31 Poudre Wildcats
Dark horses: Valor Christian Eagles (#8 seed, MKLeo-trained coach).
Tiebreakers: Head-to-head from qualifiers, total race kills (MK), set win % (SSB).
Stakes and Prize Pool
State winners earn trophies, $5K equipment grants per school, and auto-bids to national DreamHack Smash Week (May 2026). Runners-up get hardware upgrades. Total playoffs viewership hit 50K+ last year; expect double with arena crowds.
| Placement | Prize Value | Perks |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | State Title + $5K Gear | National Bid |
| 2nd | Runner-Up Trophy | $2K Gear |
| 3rd-4th | Bronze Medals | $1K Gear |
| Top 8 | Certificates | Swag Bags |
Venue and Production
Live finals at Cherry Creek High School's 1,200-seat auditorium (Denver suburb) with LED screens, pro lighting, and guest appearances from DreamHack casters VGBC. Online qualifiers drew 200+ schools; top 10% advanced.
