EVO 2024: Punk wins, first American "Street Fighter 6" champion in 20 years

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

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

The Evolution Championship Series (EVO) 2024 wrapped up on July 21, with Victor "Punk" Woodley making history by winning the Street Fighter 6 tournament. EVO, one of the largest and most prestigious fighting game tournaments in the world, was a three-day event featuring 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 1, and The King of Fighters XV. This victory in Street Fighter 6 is particularly notable as it marks the first time in over 20 years that an American player has secured a mainline Street Fighter title at EVO.

The finals were a gripping contest between Woodley and Anouche, who had come through the loser’s bracket. Anouche managed to reset the bracket by defeating Woodley 3-0, leading to a second best-of-five match. The final match was fiercely contested, with both players tied at two set wins each and 1-1 in the final game. Woodley's decisive super move with Cammy clinched the championship, ending the long wait for an American victory in this category.

Woodley's E-Tournament Journey

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 victors 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 diverse and global nature of the competition, with players from various countries showcasing their skills and contributing to the event's success.