Historic Win in Street Fighter 6 Finals at EVO 2024
Victor "Punk" Woodley Triumphs
The Evolution Championship Series (EVO) 2024 concluded on July 21 with Victor "Punk" Woodley making gaming history by claiming victory in the Street Fighter 6 tournament. EVO stands as one of the world's most prestigious fighting game tournaments, with this year's three-day event featuring top-tier competitions across multiple titles including Street Fighter 6, Tekken 8, and Guilty Gear -Strive-. Woodley's achievement marks the first American victory in a mainline Street Fighter EVO championship in over two decades.
The finals delivered heart-stopping action as Woodley faced off against Adel "Big Bird" Anouche. After being sent to the loser's bracket, Anouche staged a remarkable comeback with a 3-0 victory to force a bracket reset. The subsequent best-of-five showdown reached a climactic 2-2 tie before Woodley sealed his legendary win with a perfectly executed Cammy super move.
Woodley's E-Tournament Journey
Victor "Punk" Woodley's path to EVO glory represents one of competitive gaming's most compelling comeback stories. The American phenom first rose to prominence during Street Fighter V's competitive cycle, claiming multiple major tournament victories before turning 18. However, his 2017 EVO finals loss to Tokido became a defining moment in his career.
Despite numerous tournament wins in subsequent years, the EVO championship eluded Woodley until this historic moment. His third-place finish at EVO 2023 set the stage for this year's triumphant run, culminating in what many are calling one of EVO's greatest Grand Finals ever against his longtime rival Anouche.
A Showcase of Global Talent
The EVO 2024 tournament highlighted the truly international nature of competitive fighting games, with champions representing multiple nations:
- 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 demonstrate the exceptional skill and diversity within the global fighting game community, making EVO 2024 one of the most memorable tournaments in competitive gaming history.
