Nintendo holds Smash Bros. Brawl-for-All

The Super Smash Bros. series of games has led many-a-player to be recognized as the best in the household, best on the block, and perhaps even the best in the neighborhood. The addition of online play to the upcoming Super Smash Bros. Brawl on the Wii expands the pool of contenders significantly, but even before the game's March 9 release, Nintendo and Best Buy are teaming up for a tournament to determine who can lay claim to being the best Smash Bros. Brawler in the US.

Starting this Sunday and continuing until the eve of the game's launch, Nintendo will run weekly regional tournaments to determine finalists who will compete for the grand prize package. Once the dust settles, the king or queen of quarrelling will be crowned with a crystal-covered Wii system bearing a Smash Bros. design, a home theater system, and a copy of the anticipated game. Each regional tournament is limited to 256 participants, none of whom will walk away empty-handed; Best Buy is providing every contestant with a $10 Best Buy gift card regardless of his or her pummeling prowess.

The regional qualifiers' dates, times, and locations are listed below. For more on the tournament, visit Nintendo's official site.

Feb. 16
Doors open at 3 p.m.
Orpheum Theater
842 S. Broadway
Los Angeles, CA 90014

Feb. 23
Doors open at 2 p.m.
Ten15 Folsom
1015 Folsom St.
San Francisco, CA 94103

March 1
Doors open at 3 p.m.
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Olden Hall
100 Institute Road
Worcester, MA 01609

March 8
Doors open at 5 p.m.
Best Buy (NOHO)
622 Broadway
New York, NY 10012