The EVE Online Alliance Tournament (AT) is one of the most exciting PvP events in the EVE universe, presenting the best pilots and strategies from across New Eden. First held in 2005, the tournament has become a beloved tradition, drawing thousands of viewers and participants as alliances vie for dominance in fierce battles. Organized by CCP Games, the developers of EVE Online, the Alliance Tournament pits teams against one another in a structured environment, emphasizing both skill and coordination.
The format has evolved over the years, but at its core, it is a double-elimination tournament with set team sizes and strict ship restrictions. Each alliance forms teams of pilots who must use carefully selected ships, fittings, and tactics to outwit and outfight their opponents. With a time limit on each match, teams must balance offensive and defensive strategies, making every second count. CCP Games provides official support and commentary, but there are also numerous community-run tournaments that keep the competitive spirit alive throughout the year, offering even more opportunities for pilots to hone their skills.
Each tournament is sponsored by a certain faction, and the grand prizes are very limited and valuable spaceships worth hundreds of billions if not trillions of ISKs. Each faction also adds a twist to the rules, making ATs quite unique.
Personal guidance for the event?
The tournament is purely entertainment for me, and I’ve turned it into a ‘father and son’ family tradition. We load the stream on a big TV screen, take out our notepads, grab some drinks and snacks, and watch it like any other sport. We yell at the screen, laugh, and cheer on random ships as they either explode or somehow survive. My son is 5 years old, and this is his third Alliance Tournament. He hardly understands what the commentators are talking about; for him, it’s just health bars, points, and the ‘pew-pew-pew’ Rifter ad. For me, it’s a wonderful way to spend an evening with family, making failed predictions and having fun.
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