2012 was a massive year for Mortal Kombat! Not only was it the 20th Anniversary of the original game, but also the second year the current iteration would be contested at the Evo World Championship!

Released in its original form in April 2011; the Mortal Kombat reboot consolidated a dedicated competitive fanbase throughout 2012 -- growing bigger, badder and better in the second year.

The Road to Evo seeding series of 2012 inducted a new regime of dominant players, in the US and abroad. By the time the July major arrived; targets were mounted, rivalries were established, and a massive field of players was ready to challenge the established hierarchy. Mortal Kombat at Evo 2012 was destined to be something special, and cameras were rolling as the action unfolded.

When the Mortal Kombat IP was acquired from a bankrupt Midway [in 2009] -- nobody was quite sure what to expect. Warner Brothers promised better resources, but nobody could truly anticipate the breadth of investment that would follow. The reinvention of MK would be more than cross-media licensing. The game makers would focus their attentions on newly competitive, hardcore gameplay; setting the stage for WB to invest in the growing arena of eSports.

In 2011, Mortal Kombat had finally challenged its long favoured Japanese rivals for the first time. The notorious American fighter wasn't necessarily embraced with open arms by the Evo sects, but by 2012, it was impossible to deny the self-sustained strength of the title. Now a proven contender; WB could not only contribute dollars (to the prize purse), but also the resources to legitimize an unruly, youthful rabble that is the "FGC." The result is a four-part Road to Evo documentary from the 2012 tournament [above].

It's fair to say Mortal Kombat has always had its share of warring siblings and factions. In the competitive scene, it was inevitable the same diversity would play out in a narrative of wins, losses and intertwining encounters. This is the focus of the Road to Evo features, which detail the weekend of July 6-8.

The major stories of 2012 all featured a clan of New Yorkers who were laying waste to the realm of the United States. Emmanuel Brito (CD Jr), Maximo Figuereo (Maxter) & Robin Figuereo (Crazy Dominican) shared blood and talent as some of the most dominant players on the tournament scene. CD Jr alone earned more titles, wins & dollars than any other player on the US tour.

Across the Atlantic, another set of siblings were earning a reputation for their dominance over the UK leagues. Named for the Lin Kuei cyborgs; Jake Neal (Mustard) & Ryan Neal (Ketchup) would represent the international interest in the tournament. These strangers in Vegas would be forced to combat heat, travel, continental rivalry and a comrade down, as they brought the international X-factor to the world championship.

Before you dive into the dramas of the 2013 Evo World Championships, take a chance to soak in the Evo atmosphere through these features. Selecting each chapter from the menu above will load the clip on this screen. For more, relive the 2012 Mortal Kombat Evo Final in our archived feature.

Follow and discuss all the tournament action from this year's Evo World Championship, or previous tournaments, on the Gameplay & Matchmaking forum.