The American Street Fighter 6 EVO champion is born: the first winner in 20 years

Victor "Punk" Woodley secures a historic win in Street Fighter 6 at EVO 2024, breaking a 20-year streak without an American champion. Read on to learn more about the tournament and why this win is significant to followers of the series.

Historic Win in Street Fighter 6 Finals at EVO 2024Victor "Punk" Woodley Triumphs

The Evolution Championship Series (EVO) 2024 culminated on July 21, with Victor "Punk" Woodley etching his name in history by triumphing in the Street Fighter 6 championship. EVO, renowned as one of the world's most prestigious fighting game tournaments, hosted a three-day spectacle showcasing fierce competitions in Street Fighter 6, Tekken 8, Guilty Gear -Strive-, Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising, Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike, Under Night In-Birth II Sys:Celes, Mortal Kombat 11, and The King of Fighters XV. Woodley's victory in Street Fighter 6 holds immense significance, marking the first time in over two decades that an American competitor has claimed a mainline Street Fighter title at EVO.

The finals witnessed an intense clash between Woodley and Anouche, who valiantly emerged from the loser's bracket. Anouche forced a bracket reset by defeating Woodley 3-0, leading to a second best-of-five encounter. The climactic match was a nail-biting affair, with both players locked at two set victories apiece and 1-1 in the final game. Woodley's decisive super move executed by Cammy sealed the championship, bringing an end to the protracted wait for an American triumph in this category.

Woodley's E-Tournament Odyssey

Victor "Punk" Woodley has had a remarkable career in the competitive gaming scene. His initial rise to prominence came during the Street Fighter V era, where he secured victories at multiple major events, including West Coast Warzone 6, NorCal Regionals, DreamHack Austin, and ELEAGUE, all before his 18th birthday. Despite his early successes, Woodley experienced a setback in the grand finals of EVO 2017 where he lost to Tokido.

In subsequent years, Woodley continued to perform strongly, winning various major tournaments, though the titles at EVO and Capcom Cup eluded him. Last year, he achieved a commendable third place at EVO 2023, narrowly losing to Amjad "AngryBird" Al-Shalabi and Saul Leonardo "MenaRD" Mena II. At EVO 2024, Woodley once again reached the grand finals, this time against Adel "Big Bird" Anouche. The match is already being hailed as one of the greatest in EVO history, with Woodley finally securing the elusive championship.

A Showcase of Global Talent

EVO 2024 featured exceptional performances across a variety of fighting games. The victorious of the main events were:

　⚫︎　Under Night In-Birth II: Senaru (Japan)
　⚫︎　Tekken 8: Arslan Ash (Pakistan)
　⚫︎　Street Fighter 6: Victor "Punk" Woodley (USA)
　⚫︎　Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike: Joe "MOV" Egami (Japan)
　⚫︎　Mortal Kombat 1: Dominique "SonicFox" McLean (USA)
　⚫︎　Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising: Aaron "Aarondamac" Godinez (USA)
　⚫︎　Guilty Gear -Strive-: Shamar "Nitro" Hinds (USA)
　⚫︎　The King of Fighters XV: Xiao Hai (China)

These results highlight the varied and international nature of the competition, with players from various countries showcasing their skills and contributing to the event's success.