Punk becomes first American player to win Street Fighter at EVO

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Punk becomes first American player to win Street Fighter at EVO

As a long-time fighting game enthusiast and avid follower of the esports scene, I’ve witnessed many historic moments throughout the years. But tonight, at EVO 2024, I was on the edge of my seat as history was made right before my eyes.

At EVO 2024 tonight, history was made as the intense competition of Street Fighter 6 came to an end. After an action-packed weekend, only one player emerged victorious: Victor “Punk” Woodley. He claimed the title of 2024 EVO champion for Street Fighter 6 and became the first American player ever to win a singles championship in this event’s 20-year history.

At EVO 2024, PunkDaGod secured the victory as the first American contestant in the Street Fighter competition. #Evo2024 #FGC #StreetFighter6

— Shacknews (@shacknews) July 22, 2024

Esports experts like Rod ‘Slasher’ Breslau have noted that Street Fighter has a notable trend: it’s primarily won by players from Japan (starting with Street Fighter 3: 3rd Strike and up to Street Fighter 6). South Korea is the only other country to claim multiple victories, with a total of three wins. Countries such as the United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, France, Singapore, and Taiwan have each had one winner. EVO side events, where Street Fighter titles were showcased, weren’t taken into account for this analysis. Despite this, an American didn’t secure a victory in Street Fighter 3: 3rd Strike during the latest tournament either.

Punk becomes first American player to win Street Fighter at EVO

At EVO 2017, Punk came close but fell just short of winning the Grand Finals at the age of 23. Fast forward to now, a more experienced and composed Punk, aged 25, refused to let another disappointing defeat get the best of him. After suffering a Perfect KO and facing yet another potential heartbreak in the final set, Punk rallied back and seized an opportunity to clinch victory.

As a gamer excitedly looking forward to EVO events, I’m thrilled to share that we have some major news coming up! While EVO will make its annual trips to Japan and Las Vegas next year, things are about to get even more exciting. We’re adding a new stop to the itinerary – an awards night in Los Angeles! Additionally, we’ll be exploring a fresh venue in France, and mark your calendars for a venture to Singapore in 2026. Can’t wait to experience the best of gaming culture at these incredible locations!

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2024-07-22 08:27