American Triumphs at EVO: 'Punk' claims First Win in 20 Years

Victor "Punk" Woodley secures a historic triumph in Street Fighter 6 at EVO 2024, breaking a 20-year streak without an American victor. Read on to learn more about the tournament and why this victory is significant to devotees of the series.

Historic 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 triumphing in the Street Fighter 6 competition. EVO, considered one of the grandest and most esteemed fighting game tournaments globally, was a 3-day spectacle that hosted contests 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 triumph in Street Fighter 6 holds particular significance as it marks the first time in over 20 years that an American player has captured a primary Street Fighter title at EVO.

The finals were a captivating battle between Woodley and Anouche, who had emerged from the loser’s bracket. Anouche managed to reset the bracket by besting Woodley 3-0, leading to a second best-of-five encounter. The final contest was fiercely contested, with both players tied at two set wins apiece and 1-1 in the concluding game. Woodley's decisive super move with Cammy clinched the championship, ending the protracted wait for an American victory in this category.

Woodley's E-Tournament Journey

Victor "Punk" Woodley has had a remarkable career in the competitive gaming scene. His initial rise to prominence came during the Street Fighter V era, where he secured victories at multiple major events, including West Coast Warzone 6, NorCal Regionals, DreamHack Austin, and ELEAGUE, all before his 18th birthday. Despite his early successes, Woodley experienced a setback in the grand finals of EVO 2017 where he lost to Tokido.

In subsequent years, Woodley continued to perform strongly, winning various major tournaments, though the titles at EVO and Capcom Cup eluded him. 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 against Adel "Big Bird" Anouche. The match is already being hailed as one of the greatest in EVO history, with Woodley finally securing the coveted championship.

A Showcase of Global Talent

⚫︎　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)