In a nutshell

• Puyo Puyo Champions debuts as an official esports medal event at Asian Games 2026
• 10-year-old YUUKI selected as Japan’s national team candidate
• SEGA named Official Supplier, strengthening its esports presence

SEGA has officially announced its partnership with the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 as an Official Supplier, marking a major milestone for esports in Asia.

The puzzle-fighting title Puyo Puyo Champions has been selected as one of the official medal events, with 10-year-old prodigy YUUKI chosen as Japan’s national team candidate.

SEGA’s Partnership with the Asian Games

The 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 will run from September 19 to October 4, 2026, with esports competitions scheduled from September 23 to October 2 at the Aichi Sky Expo Hall D.

This marks the first time Japan hosts the Asian Games in 32 years, with esports once again recognized as a medal event following its debut in Hangzhou. Puyo Puyo Champions will appear alongside 12 other titles across 11 disciplines.

YUUKI: Japan’s Rising Star

At just 10 years old, YUUKI from Tokyo has already built an impressive resume:

• Champion at multiple Inter-Prefectural Esports Championships (2023–2025)
• Winner of the Puyo Puyo Global Ranking Match 2024
• Champion at ASIA esports EXPO 2026

“I am really happy that I got chosen as a candidate to represent Japan. My next dream is to win a gold medal at the Asian Games,” YUUKI shared in his official statement.

SEGA’s Esports Legacy

Since 2018, SEGA has expanded its esports initiatives with Puyo Puyo and Virtua Fighter certified as official titles by the Japan eSports Union (JESU). The Puyo Puyo series, celebrating its 35th anniversary in 2026, continues to thrive globally with tournaments and community events. Meanwhile, Virtua Fighter has gained international recognition, appearing at EVO 2025 and the Esports World Cup.