What was the name of the 1996 fighting-game tournament that became the predecessor of EVO?

Battle by the Bay was the 1996 fighting-game tournament that became the predecessor of EVO.

The event was organized by Tom Cannon, Tony Cannon, and Joey Cuellar and was held in Sunnyvale, California. It began as a competition centered on Street Fighter Alpha 2 and the Tekken series. Battle by the Bay later evolved into the Evolution Championship Series, commonly called EVO.

EVO became a major annual gathering for arcade and fighting-game competitors. Its open-bracket format allowed players from around the world to enter, rather than limiting the field to invited professional teams. That structure helped make the event especially important to the fighting-game community.

The name “Battle by the Bay” is distinct from EVO’s later branding. The tournament was not originally called EVO, and it should not be confused with the first editions held under the Evolution Championship Series name. Its 1996 origin is a key date in the tournament’s history.