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

Victor "Punk" Woodley has etched his name in the annals of gaming history by clinching a monumental victory in Street Fighter 6 at EVO 2024, marking the first American win in this category in over two decades. Dive deeper into the details of this landmark tournament and understand the significance of this achievement for fans of the series.

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 history by winning the Street Fighter 6 tournament. EVO stands as one of the world's largest and most prestigious fighting game tournaments, and this year's event spanned three days, 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. Woodley's victory in Street Fighter 6 is especially noteworthy, as it marks the first time in over 20 years that an American player has claimed a mainline Street Fighter title at EVO.

The finals were a nail-biting affair between Woodley and Adel "Big Bird" Anouche, who had advanced through the loser’s bracket. Anouche managed to reset the bracket with a stunning 3-0 victory over Woodley, setting the stage for a second best-of-five showdown. The final match was intensely competitive, with both players tied at two set wins each and 1-1 in the final game. Woodley's decisive super move with Cammy sealed the championship, ending the long drought for an American victory in this category.

Woodley's E-Tournament Journey

Victor "Punk" Woodley's journey in the competitive gaming scene has been nothing short of remarkable. He first rose to prominence during the Street Fighter V era, securing victories at major events like West Coast Warzone 6, NorCal Regionals, DreamHack Austin, and ELEAGUE, all before turning 18. Despite these early triumphs, Woodley faced a setback in the grand finals of EVO 2017, where he was defeated by Tokido.

In the years that followed, Woodley continued to excel, winning various major tournaments, though the coveted titles at EVO and Capcom Cup remained just out of reach. 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 facing off 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 showcased exceptional performances across a variety of fighting games. 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)

These results underscore the diverse and international nature of the competition, with players from various countries showcasing their skills and contributing to the event's success.