Punk: First US Street Fighter 6 EVO Champion in 20 Years

Victor "Punk" Woodley achieves a landmark victory in Street Fighter 6 at EVO 2024, ending a 20-year drought without an American champion. Read on to learn more about the tournament and why this win is significant to fans of the series.

Landmark Victory in Street Fighter 6 Finals at EVO 2024Victor Punk Woodley Triumphs

The Evolution Championship Series (EVO) 2024 concluded on July 21, with Victor "Punk" Woodley creating history by winning the Street Fighter 6 tournament. EVO is one of the biggest and most respected fighting game tournaments globally, this year a 3-day event showcasing 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 Street Fighter 6 triumph is especially noteworthy as it's the first time in over 20 years an American competitor has claimed a mainline Street Fighter title at EVO.

The finals were a captivating showdown between Woodley and Anouche, who had advanced from the loser’s bracket. Anouche managed to reset the bracket by defeating Woodley 3-0, resulting in a second best-of-five match. The final match was intensely fought, with both players tied at two set wins apiece and 1-1 in the final game. Woodley's decisive super move with Cammy secured the championship, ending the long wait for an American win in this category.

Woodley's E-Tournament Journey

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

In subsequent years, Woodley continued to perform exceptionally, winning various major tournaments, though the titles at EVO and Capcom Cup remained elusive. 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 coveted championship.

A Showcase of Global Talent

EVO 2024 showcased exceptional performances in diverse fighting games. The main event champions 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 outcomes demonstrate the competition's global reach, with competitors from numerous nations displaying their prowess and adding to the event's triumph.