Punk Wins Street Fighter 6 at EVO 2024, First American Victor in 20 Years

Victor "Punk" Woodley has etched his name in history with a groundbreaking victory at the Street Fighter 6 finals during EVO 2024, ending a 20-year drought for an American champion in the series. Dive deeper into the tournament's highlights and understand the significance of this momentous win for fans of the franchise.

Historic Win in Street Fighter 6 Finals at EVO 2024

Victor "Punk" Woodley Triumphs

The Evolution Championship Series (EVO) 2024, held from July 19th to 21st, culminated in a historic moment when Victor "Punk" Woodley clinched the Street Fighter 6 tournament. As one of the world's premier fighting game tournaments, EVO 2024 showcased a thrilling 3-day event with 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 not only broke the 20-year streak without an American champion in the mainline Street Fighter series at EVO but also highlighted his skill and determination.

The finals were a nail-biting affair against Adel "Big Bird" Anouche, who came through the loser's bracket. Anouche initially reset the bracket with a decisive 3-0 victory over Woodley, setting the stage for a dramatic best-of-five rematch. The final showdown was intense, with both players evenly matched until Woodley's strategic use of Cammy's super move sealed the championship, marking a monumental moment in American fighting game history.

Woodley's E-Tournament Journey

Victor "Punk" Woodley's journey in the competitive gaming scene is nothing short of remarkable. He burst onto the scene during the Street Fighter V era, achieving early success at events like West Coast Warzone 6, NorCal Regionals, DreamHack Austin, and ELEAGUE before turning 18. Despite a setback in the EVO 2017 grand finals against Tokido, Woodley's resilience shone through as he continued to dominate various major tournaments.

Although the coveted EVO and Capcom Cup titles remained just out of reach in subsequent years, Woodley's 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 return in 2024. Facing Adel "Big Bird" Anouche in the grand finals, Woodley delivered a performance for the ages, finally securing the elusive championship and cementing his legacy.

A Showcase of Global Talent

EVO 2024 was not only about Woodley's historic win but also a celebration of global talent across multiple fighting games. The champions 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 international appeal and competitive spirit of EVO, with players from around the world showcasing their prowess and contributing to the event's success.