Following an intense, nine-day occasion on the Avalon in Hollywood, which included a number of aggressive occasions, last-chance qualifiers, group tournaments, and extra, Capcom Cup X not too long ago concluded, crowning a brand-new champion within the Taiwanese participant, Uma327. Whereas the event was spectacular to look at, one of the crucial notable issues about Capcom Cup X is what Uma received for ending in 1st place: a whopping $1,000,000.
With gamers from all corners of the world in attendance, and a lead-up that noticed the defeat of even some fan-favorite gamers like Tokido and Punk, there have been many stunning moments and upsets each earlier than and through the occasion.
That is the primary Capcom Cup for Street Fighter 6, however a prize this large isn’t simply new for Street Fighter–it’s new for combating video games, interval. No first-place end has ever awarded this a lot cash or had this large a prize pool (over $2,000,000 in whole). After the event concluded, Capcom President & COO Haruhiro Tsujimoto introduced that Uma wouldn’t be the final “combating recreation millionaire” the corporate would create, both. Subsequent 12 months’s Capcom Cup XI will additionally award $1,000,000 (so if you wish to attempt your hand at successful it, I would begin practising now).
After successful, Uma stated, “I need to say because of the entire Taiwan combating recreation neighborhood, and [my] household and associates. That’s why [I had] an opportunity.” When host RobTV requested Uma when he knew he might win the event, Uma’s reply was unbelievable: “When Capcom introduced the prize cash of $1,000,000, [I knew I was] going to get it.”
I sat down with Uma backstage, moments after his historic win, to ask him just a few questions. He sat, casually holding the enormous frosted glass trophy in his lap, as he quietly answered, whereas the crowds on the Avalon nonetheless cheered exterior. Whereas his calm demeanor and talent to remain targeted underneath stress is one shared by combating recreation veterans who’ve performed for many years, Uma began taking part in combating video games in Season 1 of Street Fighter V.
Each participant who made it to high 16 skilled lengthy, onerous hours, and Uma was no totally different in that regard, taking part in for round 12 hours a day. He additionally skilled by combating Japanese gamers on-line, which meant he obtained a lot of matchup expertise towards each extremely expert gamers and highly effective, top-tier characters, however there have been nonetheless “some gamers [I] did not need to face, particularly DCQ,” who performed JP through the event.
Not like DCQ, nevertheless, Uma was considered one of a minority of unsponsored gamers, touring from Taiwan to California on his personal dime. After I requested if he had plans for his newfound wealth, Uma stated he’ll make it final: “I’ll spend the cash for the lifetime.”
Uma additionally shared his ideas on the steadiness of Street Fighter 6, and his hopes for its future. After I requested which characters he wish to see added, he stated, “Ibuki and Makoto.”
The post-Capcom Cup replace for SF6 means a brand new character, Ed, has been added. It additionally provides just a few tweaks to a number of distinguished characters, and Capcom has confirmed {that a} sweeping steadiness patch can also be on the way in which, which can impression each character. Nevertheless, even on the time of Capcom Cup X, Uma felt Blanka was “fairly sturdy” and under-represented in aggressive play, and the steadiness on the time of Capcom Cup X was “not too dangerous,” solely needing “one or two [little changes]” for JP and Luke, which the brand new patch simply supplied.
So what’s subsequent for Uma? It’s easy: “I am simply going to proceed to play.”
Earlier than the event, I additionally spoke with Takayuki Nakayama, the director of SF6, and Shuhei Matsumoto, its producer. After I requested how they really feel in regards to the historic nature of Capcom Cup X, and the prize on provide, they stated, “[We] are pleased with this end result and the way [we’re] seeing Street Fighter at this time… It is at all times superb to see gamers from totally different nations, and youthful gamers getting concerned. [We’re] witnessing new expertise… new athletes who [we’ve] by no means heard of.”
“It makes [us] joyful to see our product be performed at this high-level event with this sort of prize pool,” they continued. “Hopefully this can create a purpose and extra incentives for there to be extra tournaments… and never simply tournaments of this [scope]. Possibly one thing mid-tier or one thing somewhat extra informal and enjoyable. There are other ways to get pleasure from a event, whether or not it is really taking part and competing… [or] the viewer perspective. Simply watching [these] high-level [matches] is fairly thrilling. [We hope] that may proceed to help Street Fighter 6 so hopefully there are extra alternatives like what [we] have at this time.”
In the course of the occasion, the Street Fighter League (SFL) additionally concluded, which the ‘Bandits’ group (comprised of Caba, Chris T, Xiaohai, and EVO champion MenaRD) received. The SFL had a prize pool of $150,000 and Bandits left with a verify for $80,000.