Street Fighter 6 EVO 2024's \"Punk\" First American to Win in 20 Years

Victor "Punk" Woodley's historic win at EVO 2024's Street Fighter 6 tournament marks the end of a two-decade drought for American players in the prestigious competition. This article delves into the tournament and the significance of this remarkable victory.

Historic Win at EVO 2024's Street Fighter 6 Finals

Victor "Punk" Woodley's Triumph

The Evolution Championship Series (EVO) 2024, a three-day spectacle concluding July 21st, witnessed Victor "Punk" Woodley etch his name in fighting game history. He secured the Street Fighter 6 championship, a feat unparalleled for an American player in over 20 years. EVO, renowned as the world's premier fighting game tournament, this year boasted competitions across a diverse range of titles, including 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.

The finals were a nail-biting showdown against Anouche, who fought his way back from the loser's bracket. Anouche's 3-0 victory reset the bracket, forcing a second best-of-five set. The final match was a rollercoaster, ending in a 2-2 tie before Woodley's masterful Cammy super move sealed the victory and ended the long American championship drought.

Woodley's Journey to Victory

Victor "Punk" Woodley's competitive gaming career is nothing short of impressive. He first gained recognition during the Street Fighter V era, claiming victories at major events like West Coast Warzone 6, NorCal Regionals, DreamHack Austin, and ELEAGUE—all before turning 18. Despite a setback in the EVO 2017 grand finals against Tokido, Woodley consistently performed at a high level, winning numerous tournaments. While EVO and Capcom Cup titles remained elusive, his third-place finish at EVO 2023, narrowly losing to Amjad "AngryBird" Al-Shalabi and Saul Leonardo "MenaRD" Mena II, set the stage for his triumphant EVO 2024 run. His grand finals match against Adel "Big Bird" Anouche is already considered legendary.

A Global Showcase of Talent

EVO 2024 showcased exceptional talent from around the globe. The winners 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)

This diverse range of winners underscores the international nature of competitive fighting games and the exceptional skill displayed at EVO 2024.