What is Brawl Cup and what makes it special?
“Brawl Stars” is one of the leaders of mobile games among Lithuanian teenagers, although it is no longer “number 1”. My thirteen-year-old self doesn’t care about trends. He even claims that the popularity of Brawl Stars is on the rise. I’m not arguing. I lost the most important war “my child will not play on the phone/tablet/computer” a long time ago.
May 15-17 The Brawl Cup tournament in Berlin is an elite live event where 12 of the best teams in the world met. The top prize (notwithstanding $35,000 for the first place winner) is the right to participate in a tournament where $1 million will be shared.
Jolita Zykutė’s photo/The visitors were entertained by actors dressed as game heroes
Why bring your mom to the Brawl Cup?
To make the spectators (the arena can hold over 4,000) more fun, an outdoor entertainment area has been set up near the entrance to the tournament building. For each completed task, you will receive a stamp on a postcard, and finally an exclusive one pin Pin – Brawl Stars uses an emoji-like emoticon during gameplay.
I stand in line at one of the tasks while my son takes a photo with YouTubers. I’m watching what’s going on. Lots of goofy teenagers.
According to the rules of the event, spectators must be over 12 years old. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Seeing other moms, dads, and even grandparents gives me peace of mind that I won’t be alone.
The parents of the audience smile a little shyly. Their children shout the names of passing players or run erratically as they can’t decide whether to complete a task or ask for an autograph. When the parents get used to it, the routine begins – the foxes teach the little ones how to steal chickens.
Photo by Jolita Zykutė/Everyone who bought a ticket received such a card. He gave the right to get an exclusive pin
Adult games
“Where did you get this seal?” asks one mother standing in line to another. Can’t stand it, because the son who was sent three times didn’t figure it out on his own. Then instructs the teenager. This makes collecting stamps faster.
One of the tasks is an improvised construction container filled with garbage bags. You have to put your hand inside through the hole and guess which of the heroes of the game the found item belongs to. When my mother puts her hand into the container after sharing the information about the stamps, I look away. I don’t want to see someone else’s shame. The woman is smiling.
Photo by Jolita Zykutė/Brawl Stars Championship 2026 at the Brawl Cup tournament in Berlin
The tournament begins. What do parents do?
When I watch the teams fight on the giant screen, I see a lot of movement and flashing. The action takes place in several points (plays three against three). In short, I don’t understand anything. I keep asking my son – “Who wins?” He patiently (!) answers. Perhaps honored by my attention to his favorite game.
I looked around. One father sits with his laptop open and works. Another is playing a mobile game, but not Brawl Stars. A mother with a fur scarf walks back and forth in the hall, the other is on the phone. Teenagers stare at the screen, watching the game, but soon some pull out their phones. Playing Brawl Stars.
Human theater
If it weren’t for the giant screen and the play of lights, we would have six hunched-over young people on stage playing with tablets. When the team logo lights up on the black screen, it looks majestic. The screen splits in half and opens. Turns into white smoke. Three dark people – the players – emerge from them. The hall screams. Sometimes louder, sometimes a little quieter. I am interested in what the popularity of the teams is based on. “Everyone likes winners. I don’t care how the English third league football team plays either. I only care about Liverpool,” explains my son, using an analogy closer to me.
There are no third league players among those appearing. Elite from all over the world. If we were to look for Ronaldo, it would probably be the Japanese Tensai. He is the only three-time Brawl Stars Champion to date. It is estimated that this 25-year-old has won about 600 thousand. US dollars.
What to answer to the question “Are you ready?”
The host of the event talks to the team leaders every time before the duel game – whether they are ready for the duel. “Yes, ready”, “We have been waiting for this match for five years”, “We will win”. Do the players have answer sheets? Rehearsing at home in front of the mirror? If he doesn’t rehearse, he should. The voice and demeanor give away more than you’d like. Not only I can see it, but so can the opponents.
Photo by Jolita Zykutė/Brawl Stars Championship 2026 at the Brawl Cup tournament in Berlin
Shown badge – insult or innocent banter?
I know from a report about the daily life of e-athletes in Germany that they not only train while playing, but also visit the gym, a physiotherapist comes once a week. There was no mention of psychological help. It definitely should. The stress placed on the players is immense. Another important topic is mutual relations in the team or with the opponent.
Team OnlyRealm has never won an official tournament against Japan’s ZETA DIVISION, which is considered one of the strongest in Brawl Stars history. Will this time be different? No!
At the end of the game, when victory is obvious, the Japanese show three clowns pin I demonstrate accounting for the importance of visual communication in Japanese culture. We saw her a second ago. My Brawl Stars expert confronts, “It’s toxic pin. ZETA mocked OnlyRealm. The fox is dead. Lapiuk knows this world better.
21st century code of virtual fighting knights
During the break, I listen to a thirteen-year-old lecture about the rules of the code of honor in the virtual 21st century. in duels. Disrespecting another player is a slippery slope. Here in one of the Brawl Stars tournaments, one player showed his opponent toxic pinthinking he had already won. Hastened. Another one won. The mocking winner gave a very emotional scolding. Yet another player openly said before the game that the opponents were losers. Said and lost.
Such situations have been perpetuated YouTube Shorts gets tons of views and is more impactful to teenagers than Aesop’s fables. About risking “getting karma” for being toxic pin or behavior, even those who do not believe in reincarnation know.
Jolita Zykutė’s photo/Task zone outside
What language do Brawl Stars players speak?
After the duels, the presenter interviews the winning team. I forget the answers in such chaos after a minute, but it remains surprising that the South American and three Japanese teams communicate only through a translator. I did not expect that there are still people in this world who do not know English. The son assures that the players really know English, but maybe not enough to freely answer the presenter’s questions on speed talk.
Out of the corner of my eye, I catch a German teenager sitting next to me, who uses Google Translate to explain how to say “Can I take a picture with you?” in Japanese.
The best strategy to hunt the star
As I watch the hunt for autographs and selfies with celebrities, I understand the rules that are likely universal for any multi-day event.
You need to come on the first day a couple of hours before the start. To be at least in the top ten who will talk to them. Everything is fresh, the celebrities are in a good mood and miss the attention, there are few queues. So they hug for a photo. Even accepts as friends on your Brawl Stars account! The famous Japanese Crazy Rakoon team not only agrees to take a photo, but fulfills the request – taking a photo by making a “finger heart” (pressing the tips of the index finger and thumb). “Mom, I asked this for you,” the son then explains. A few days ago, I told him that this gesture was popularized by South Korean pop culture.
On the second day of the tournament, everyone is more irritable. Didn’t sleep. A lot of stress. Gods with T-shirts of different teams pass by in a hurry, and the guards (and where do the organizers get employees with such stern faces?) stop you with an outstretched hand so you don’t get too close. On the third day, it is better not to crawl. Some are disappointed, others are proud because they won.
Jolita Zykutė’s photo/Chairs in the front for the VIP area. other spectators were seated higher up
Finally the final
When the final fight begins on the stage in the evening of the third day, the hall explodes with emotions. Only it doesn’t seem to touch me anymore. I’m counting the time to see if we can eat before the train. I understand that the duel is over only from the fact that glitter is falling near the stage – something new for the eye, so I notice it. HMBLE wins. Some are bursting with joy, others are simply silent. It’s the same for me. It’s strange, but also for a leaf.
As we sit in the restaurant next door, we see Diegogamer pass through the large windows. This 19-year-old from Mexico has earned over $33,000 in various Brawl Stars tournaments. His mother and father are holding his hand. All three chat amiably and smile. When you get off the stage, you’re just human.
Was it worth the ride?
After returning home, it takes a few days for things to calm down inside. The thirteen-year-old says he “needs a break” too.
“Was it worth the ride? Would you like some more?” i ask The son’s answer is straightforward: “If I were to go, it would be just to play with the team on stage. I saw that the audience wasn’t as big as it looks on the broadcasts. I wanted to see if I could handle the tension and pressure while playing. I would. I wouldn’t be the leader of the team making strategy, but the one who will execute the task and use every chance to destroy the opponents.”
It’s not just me who can learn this confidence from this teenager. However, the stories about whether such a trip will ever happen will have to wait at least three years. Because you can become an e-athlete at the age of sixteen. Maybe the desire will pass by then?
Now I can be happy that he got to see how the game and the players look like in reality. Agrees (or not) to be photographed, smiles sincerely or not so much. After all, life is more than professional selection and editing from the best shots YouTube Shorts.
