Capcom Pro Tour Update: Results Roundup for September 24 to September 27
Over the weekend, there were three tournaments held in the Middle Eastern and European regions for the Capcom Pro Tour. Headlining them was the Premier tournament at the KO Fighting Game Festival held in Kuwait. Whoever came out as champion for said event would automatically earn a slot at the Capcom Cup. Apart from KO, there were also Ranking tournaments for CPT points at The Call of Ragnarok over at Oslo, Norway and the EGX Pro tour held in Birmingham, UK.
KO Fighting Game Festival
It was an all Razer grand finals over at Kuwait as Singaporean Kun Xian “Xian” Ho and his Gen took on Japanese teammate Keita “Fuudo” Ai with his Fei Long and Seth.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smYszPZEdp8
These two players need little introduction for those familiar with the Street Fighter scene. Both are recognized to be the best of the best, having top placings in numerous international tournaments. This includes an Evolution championship apiece, with Xian winning it in 2013 and Fuudo claiming it back in 2011. Needless to say, spectators were expecting this to be an exciting grand finals.
At the start of the set, Fuudo opted to bring out his Seth to take on the challenger from the loser’s bracket. Xian easily beat him taking a quick first game, and Fuudo ended up going back to his Fei Long. Despite returning to his bread and butter, Xian continued to dominate his teammate. The first set ended in a bracket reset with a 3-0 in favor of Xian.
The second set would prove to be much more close. Fuudo started strong and gained an early 2-0 lead. Xian would comeback to tie the set at 2-2.
The momentum would continue on to the final game, with Xian quickly taking first round. During the second round Fuudo snatched a life lead at the 20 second mark from a full anti-air punish. With less that 10 seconds left Xian would clutch it out with an anti-air Super of his own to an Ultra, winning the game and taking first place.
Because Xian had already qualified for the Capcom Cup back in Final Round 18, Fuudo would take the slot having come in second. This makes him the 10th player to secure a spot for the year end event.
Final Results
1. RZR|Xian (Gen, Sagat)
2. RZR|Fuudo (Fei Long, Seth)
3. Latif (C.Viper)
4. Itazan (Zangief)
5. YBK|-R- (Balrog)
5. WTQ8|Gannoon (Sakura)
7. FA|Prodigal Son (Sagat, Yun)
7. WTQ8|Nox2 (Rolento, Guy, Sagat)
9. YBK|SANTAROU (Sagat)
9. YBK|KichiKEN (Ken)
9. WTQ8|Dudebag (Ken)
9. Akimo (Elena)
13. HunTeR (Sagat)
13. Arika (C.Viper, Sagat)
13. YBK|Dashio (Seth)
13. EvilYoshi (Evil Ryu, Yun, Rolento)
Call of Ragnarok 2015
Over at Norway, the Call of Ragnarok grand finals would be played between Team YUBIKEN’s (YBK) Sanshiro “Shiro” Nagai with Abel and Seth player Yoshihisa “Gonzales” Hirata.
https://youtu.be/tKZkEzhXpi4?list=PLIOJmsXAbP7oQK5LKLm04Cn_RlIcexn0D
The first game started in a rather anti-climactic way when Gonzales accidentally hit the pause button. By tournament rules, the round would go to Shiro. He would then end the first game with a perfect in the succeeding round for the early lead. It would take one more game before Gonzales recollected himself from the first game hiccup. With Shiro ahead by two, Gonzales answered back by taking the next two games. Shiro would win out in the last match however, ending the set 3-2 and resetting the bracket.
The second set was much more one-sided compared to the first. Shiro would take the first two games and the first first round of their final match to put him at tournament point.
With his tournament life on the line and no margin for errors left, Gonzales pulled out an EX Uppercut. It hits and he manages to convert it to a full combo. A mix up at the end earns him the round to prolong the grand finals set.
Shiro would not be fazed by the amazing comeback, and goes on to win the final round and the championship. The win propels him from 41st to the 22nd spot on the CPT rankings. Gonzales on the other hand manages to break into top 32. He is now tied with UK top player, The Fighter Alliance’s (TFA) Ryan “Prodigal Son” Hart at 31st place.
Final Results
1. YBK|Shiro (Abel)
2. Gonzales (Seth)
3. BX3.TPLink|Phenom (M.Bison)
4. PxP.KIG|Problem X (Seth, C.Viper)
5. Pro Fluke (El Fuerte)
5. BX3.TPLink|Veggey (Zangief, Fei Long)
7. IND|ThunderBear (Cody)
7. Packz (Cody)
9. RBN|Bliredd (Rose)
9. Rosso (Abel, Guile)
9. Pedram
9. Bashfest (Sagat)
13. Badi Lootion (Cammy)
13. TSM|Leffen
13. Eunbeen (Sakura)
13. RBN|Duppsko (Decapre)
EGX Pro Tour 2015
Last but definitely not least, we head on over to Birmingham, UK for the grand finals match at the EGX Pro Tour. Coming from loser’s we have last year’s EVO champion, Team Meltdown’s (MD) Olivier “Luffy” Hay and his signature Rose. On the winner’s side we have Team YP’s newly sponsored player, Valentin “Valmaster” Petit with his Chun Li.
The two of them are recognized to be the top two players in France and among the best in the European region. They have faced off in tournaments on multiple occasions and in a couple of show matches. Watching their matches is a treat to behold, as they usually come down to the wire. Many are hopeful that this showdown at EGX would bring the same excitement that many have come to expect.
The grand finals started off promising. Both players kept on trying to get one step ahead of each other with neither showing signs of backing down.
First game would go to Valmaster thanks to an incredible Ultra to punish Luffy’s fireball attempt. Luffy would win game two after managing to take the life lead with three seconds left on the clock. Game three would go back to Valmaster after another well timed Ultra in the first round then closing it out convincingly in the second. With his tournament life down to one more game, Luffy rallied and came back to win the next two. The first set ended with 3-2 and a bracket reset in favor of Luffy.
The second set started off with the same intensity as the first. This time, Luffy took the first game after an intense bout, including another timer scam in the first round.
Second game would go to Valmaster after an impressive air-to-air fierce into an Ultra in round one and an almost perfect in round 2.
It was in the third game that Valmaster began making crucial mistakes. During the second round, Valmaster failed to punish Luffy’s whiffed EX Soul Spiral with his Ultra. This cost him the victory and put Luffy ahead of the set 2-1.
Valmaster would make another mistake yet again in game four. With both characters at dangerously low health, he failed to punish Luffy’s jump in to lose the first round. Luffy would go on to beat Valmaster to seal his victory at EGX 2015.
In terms of CPT rankings, Luffy was able to bump his placing one level higher from 6th to 5th. Valmaster meanwhile sits just at the edge of top 32, coming in at 33rd.
Final Results
1. MD|Luffy (Rose)
2. YP|Valmaster (Chun-Li)
3. FA|Prodigal Son (Sagat, Evil Ryu)
4. Deku.WSO|Andreas (Rufus)
5. Gonzalez (Seth)
5. PxP.KIG|Problem X (Seth)
7. Flawless Deku
7. Afii (Poison)
9. BT.UM|Hurricane (Decapre)
9. BT.UM|Tyrant (M.Bison)
9. Pro Fluke (El Fuerte)
9. ECO|Ninja Shakz (Abel)
13. BXC|Phenom (M.Bison)
13. BT.UM|Gunslinga (Guy)
13. Melty|Will2pac (C.Viper)
13. BT.UM|Imstilldadaddy (Guile)
Credits to USF4 RBK and SMOAI2010 for the videos.
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