Evo Brazil takes place from March 26 to 28, 2027, at Expo Center Norte in São Paulo, with a minimum guaranteed prize pool of R$ 1 million and eight games in the main lineup. Leading the operation is Rafael Queiroz, Evo Brazil’s Head of LATAM, who took the job in April after eight years at Team Liquid Brazil.
We spoke with him by email about choosing the date, the LOCALS program, the prize split, registration prices, Evo Mexico, broadcasts and his message for players who have never competed in person. His answers are below in full, translated from Portuguese.
SavePoint: At Team Liquid Brazil, you saw the operation grow from 7 to more than 100 people in eight years and followed the development of the Alienware Training Facility closely. What do you take from that experience with a team organization to Evo, an open-bracket festival where anyone can sign up?
Rafael Queiroz: There is always an intersection that is inherent to the business itself. My experience building the success story that was TL in Brazil gives me the knowledge to lead other initiatives in different segments. I would say the product is different, but a lot overlaps with what we did at TL: a passionate fanbase, a scene to explore, an extremely well-known brand and the chance to build something memorable for the community. There are challenges, but without a doubt what matters most is the passion and energy to make Evo Brazil an event the whole FGC community can be proud of.
SavePoint: You took over in April, and the city and dates were announced in October. What was your role in those choices, and why March? Did the calendar with Evo Singapore, in January, play a part?
Rafael Queiroz: My role was to build the launch and execution strategy for Evo Brazil together with the global team. As the person inside the region, my perspective helps align what we want to achieve as a brand while taking the local culture into account. We looked for a date that would kick off the big gaming festivals in Brazil and tried to find a holiday weekend to make it easier for people from out of town to come, since many players who want to compete need to be available for all 3 days. The calendar was built taking into account all the events on the roadmap announced at the start of the year, so I would say all of them played a part, because they had to fit into the year’s calendar in the best possible way.
SavePoint: In your interview with The Gaming Era, you mentioned the LOCALS program. How will it work in practice: how many tournaments, in which cities, and how can a local organizer take part?
Rafael Queiroz: We will still announce how it will work and what the rules are. I don’t have much more to share right now, except that we will soon have information on how it will work and how local events can sign up for it.
SavePoint: How was the eight-game lineup chosen? Did the strength of KOF and Fatal Fury in Brazil weigh on picking the two SNK titles?
Rafael Queiroz: This is an important point. We know many games appeal to the Brazilian community and we always pay attention to that, but when we put together the main lineup, we try to pick the games that are most relevant to the region. So it is a difficult and very carefully considered decision by our product team, even knowing that great games may end up being left out.
SavePoint: The minimum guaranteed prize pool is R$ 1 million. How will it be split between the games, and do you expect to attract competitors from outside Brazil? Is there a target for entrants and attendance?
Rafael Queiroz: It will follow the same per-game split criteria used at every Evo. How that split will look is something we will only know once the brackets and game registrations have built up. We hope players from abroad take part, and we would love for the best in the world to come and support the event in the region. We don’t have a specific target, but we want to make the biggest event possible for our community.
SavePoint: On top of the pass, registration costs R$ 50 per game. Will there be a cheaper competitor-only option, or support for people coming from other states and Latin American countries, with travel and visas?
Rafael Queiroz: Right now we don’t have any additional initiatives planned, but from the start we have tried to build a pricing policy that is as fair and accessible as possible, considering the reality of the Brazilian market and the economic context of our region. We know attending an event involves other costs beyond the ticket, so we are always looking at opportunities that could make Evo Brazil more accessible. Affordability is something we take very seriously, and if new possibilities come up along the way, we will certainly evaluate them and let the community know.
SavePoint: Evo has also announced an edition in Mexico in 2027. How do the two editions complement each other in the Latin America strategy? Will there be qualifiers or points linking both to the fighting game World Championship Evo announced?
Rafael Queiroz: We don’t have a set date yet for announcing Evo Mexico, but we hope to share more news soon.
SavePoint: So far, Twitch and YouTube broadcasts have been announced. Will HBO Max and Warner Play return for Evo Brazil? And will there be a Spanish broadcast for the rest of Latin America?
Rafael Queiroz: WB is a great Evo partner and has done very important work developing and supporting the FGC community in Latin America. We have a close relationship and greatly value initiatives that help strengthen the scene in the region. At this point we can’t confirm specific broadcast details, but we will soon have news on languages, co-streamers and other aspects of Evo Brazil’s coverage.
SavePoint: What would make you consider the first edition a success? Is the idea for Evo Brazil to be annual?
Rafael Queiroz: I believe a combination of factors, but the main ones are the audience, the competitors and an incredible experience for all of them. And yes, Evo’s plan is long term.
SavePoint: What would you say to a Brazilian player who has never competed in an in-person tournament and is thinking about signing up?
Rafael Queiroz: Take the chance to live one of the most rewarding experiences for fighting game lovers. Evo is democratic and opens its doors to every kind of player out there. Essentially, everyone who plays fighting games competes, so Evo becomes a big meeting point for people who share the same passion and create great stories. Come be part of it all!
Interview conducted by email, with support from DRONE Comunicação.
Max Xavier
Sapo