A group of people in Atlanta, Georgia set up the first-ever Tekken tournament inside an IKEA store to show off the store’s gaming furniture.

Fighting games usually show characters fighting in many different places. From inside a erupting volcano to a pirate ship, there’s always something exciting happening in these games.

Fighting game tournaments are similar. In fact, a French company that helps older adults held Street Fighter tournaments for seniors, with winners getting a trip to a big gaming event in France.

Now, the big furniture company IKEA has also become a place for tournaments. They held their first Tekken tournament at their Atlanta store on October 28, 2025.

IKEA Becomes a Real Fighting Place

An IKEA worker who likes fighting games had the idea to hold a Tekken 8 tournament in their store to show off their gaming furniture.

They worked with a local gaming group called 4o4esports to get game consoles and TVs. They also used their own IKEA gaming chairs and desks for players to use.

In total, twelve players joined the competition. The first-place winner got a Huvudspelare desk and chair set – worth $429 together.

The second and third place winners got $150 and $75 IKEA gift cards. All three winners also got passes to a fan convention called MomoCon in May 2026.

The Tournament Idea

In a statement, the IKEA worker said they first thought about having a Super Smash Bros tournament, but chose Tekken 8 because Atlanta has many Tekken players.

The tournament was called the ‘Brännboll Battle.’ It was just one event, but IKEA Atlanta wants to have more competitions for other games in the future.

Brandon Lomax, who manages the IKEA store in Atlanta, said: “When two workers suggested having a gaming tournament in our store, I knew it could be special. They wanted to show how IKEA’s furniture can help gamers with comfortable setups and smart storage. The event was a creative way to connect with our community and show how useful our products can be.”

The feedback was very positive, and Lomax said he was proud of his team for finding new ways to help customers discover how IKEA can support their hobbies.

This small tournament showed how creative fighting game players can be. But it’s not the first time players have chosen unusual places for events. Players have even played Street Fighter 6 in the middle of a dance party, and one group held a competition in a very hot room.

Some fighting game players are even known for playing in bathrooms – so an IKEA furniture store is definitely a big improvement!

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