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 prestigious 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 significant 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 lengthy wait for an American win in this category.

Woodley's E-Tournament Journey

Victor "Punk" Woodley boasts a distinguished career in competitive gaming. His initial ascent to fame occurred during the Street Fighter V era, where he achieved victories at numerous significant events, including West Coast Warzone 6, NorCal Regionals, DreamHack Austin, and ELEAGUE, all before turning 18. Despite early triumphs, Woodley faced a setback in the EVO 2017 grand finals, losing to Tokido.

In following years, Woodley maintained a strong performance, winning various major tournaments, although EVO and Capcom Cup titles remained elusive. Last year, he earned a noteworthy third-place finish at EVO 2023, narrowly losing to Amjad "AngryBird" Al-Shalabi and Saul Leonardo "MenaRD" Mena II. At EVO 2024, Woodley again reached the grand finals, this time facing Adel "Big Bird" Anouche. The match is already considered one of the greatest in EVO history, with Woodley finally claiming 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 players from numerous nations exhibiting their prowess and boosting the event's triumph.