First Worldwide Tic Tac Toe Championship Kicks Off

The childhood classic game is going pro with a tournament at SXSW in Austin.

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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The first Worldwide Tic Tac Toe Championship is underway, with the finals set to take place during SXSW in Austin, Texas. The tournament, organized by entrepreneur and comedian Victor Varnado, aims to bring competitive gaming to a wider audience by placing the competition in public transit spaces like the Port Authority bus terminal in New York City.

Why it matters

Tic Tac Toe is a simple game that most people learn as children, but this tournament seeks to elevate it to a professional level, showcasing the competitive spirit that can emerge even from the most casual of games. The goal is to introduce competitive gaming to new audiences and promote Varnado's High Score Game Arcade platform.

The details

The tournament began on February 18 in New York City and will culminate the week of March 12-18 at SXSW in Austin, Texas. Players will compete in both live competitions and city-versus-city leaderboards, with the winner crowned at the SXSW event. The tournament emphasizes accessibility and scale, bringing structured gameplay to everyday life and introducing competitive gaming to audiences beyond traditional gaming spaces.

  • The Worldwide Tic Tac Toe Championship began on February 18, 2026 in New York City.
  • The finals will take place the week of March 12-18, 2026 at SXSW in Austin, Texas.

The players

Victor Varnado

An entrepreneur, comedian, and the founder of the High Score Game Arcade platform, which is hosting the Tic Tac Toe championship.

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What they’re saying

“By placing competition in a public transit space, the Championship emphasizes accessibility and scale — bringing structured gameplay to everyday life and introducing competitive gaming to audiences far beyond traditional gaming spaces.”

— Tournament Organizers (Press Release)

What’s next

The winner of the Worldwide Tic Tac Toe Championship will be crowned during the SXSW event in Austin, Texas the week of March 12-18, 2026.

The takeaway

This tournament demonstrates how even the most casual of games can be elevated to a professional level, showcasing the competitive spirit that exists in all of us and introducing new audiences to the world of competitive gaming.