All About Big Buck World Championship XVIII

The Big Buck World Championship is an annual two-day event that brings together the best 128 Big Buck Hunter players from across the United States, Canada and Australia to compete with a massive $125,000+ prize pool, including a $25,000 top prize! Throughout its storied 18-year history, the Big Buck World Championship has been hosted in Chicago, New York City, Minneapolis, Austin and Las Vegas.

The 18th Annual Big Buck World Championship is taking place on Friday, October 10th, and Saturday, October 11th, at Marathon Music Works (1402 Clinton St) in Nashville. On Friday, the doors open at 4 p.m. and the tournament starts at 7 p.m. On Saturday, the doors open at 1 p.m. and the tournament starts at 2 p.m.

The Tournament Structure

The Big Buck World Championship features an in person head-to-head, double-elimination tournament. If a player loses in the Winners Bracket, they drop to the Reload Bracket. If a player loses in the Reload Bracket, they're eliminated. Each round is one trek - five sites and a bonus game. The exception to this rule is the Championship Round, which is a full adventure - three treks. The finalist from the Reload Bracket must defeat the finalist from the Winners Bracket twice in back-to-back adventures in order to hoist the coveted Pappy's Jug.

Every participant walks away from the weekend with a cash prize, whether they finish in first place or 128th place. On top of that, the Ladies Division and Rookie Division provide additional payouts to the 16 highest-placing women and eight highest-placing first-time competitors in the tournament, respectively.

How To Qualify

Simply create a FREE Big Buck Hunter Player Account and play in Pro Mode at any online-connected Buck Hunter: Reloaded machine. If you fall within the top 64 on the Global Skill Leaderboard or the top 64 on the Global Wildcard Leaderboard when the qualifier season ends on Monday, September 8th, 2025, at 6 a.m. UTC, you'll receive an invitation!

Global Skill Score is the sum of your best 3 gun scores and best 3 bow scores on each of the game's 33 treks, Global Wildcard Score is the cumulative total of every score you put up in Pro Mode

*Participants must be at least 18 years old.
Learn More About How to Qualify

The 2025 Big Buck Amateur Open!

The Big Buck Hunter Amateur Open returns giving brand new players a chance to take their shot at Big Buck glory. The Amateur Open is a free-to-enter competition for players ages 13 and up who have never competed in any Big Buck World Championship. It will take place at Marathon Music Works on Saturday, October 11th, with sign-up occurring on-site on Friday, October 10th. With only 16 spots available, make sure to be one of the first to secure your spot. All players must be in attendance to participate!

It's the perfect opportunity for fresh faces to showcase their skills and dive into the competitive spirit of Big Buck Hunter. Whether you're a newbie or an enthusiast eager to join the action, the 2025 Big Buck Hunter Amateur Open promises a fun and competitive atmosphere. Don't miss out on this chance to test your skills and become part of the Big Buck Hunter community! The winner will receive a Big Buck cash card to continue sharpening their technique even after the event!

FREE ADMISSION at Big Buck World Championship XVIII

The Big Buck World Championship is free admission for all ages! Aside from the main tournament, the Big Buck World Championship offers a free arcade with the latest-and-greatest games from Play Mechanix and Raw Thrills, free Big Buck Hunter swag, a live-performing DJ, on-stage contests and much, much more.

More About Big Buck World Championship XVIII

Can't make it to Nashville? Watch Big Buck World Championship XVIII from home. Every single match and moment of the Big Buck World Championship is streamed live at bigbuckhunter.com, where you can also follow up-to-the-minute tournament results.