ICYMI: Punk Da God Won SF6 Evo 2024 and Why That’s a Big Deal
Street Fighter has a longstanding history when it comes to fighting games. From its second installment, sparking the literal renaissance of the genre, to the legends of Evo. Street Fighter has been a staple of the FGC for a very long time. From Evo Moment 37 to the recent WGG dubbed Evo Moment 38.
Enter Punk, a.k.a. Punk Da God, who’s been active in the American FGC since 2016. He’s been a part of WGG’s favorite American esports team, FlyQuest, since 2023. Punk first rose to dominance during the Street Fighter V era. He won consistent 1st place finishes in smaller tournaments. But when it came to the biggest, like the Capcom Cup and Evo, he admittedly would get in his head and crumble under the pressure. That is, until this year’s Evo, where a smile on his face appeared during a match between his biggest rival.
In Punk’s top 24 Street Fighter 6 match between Tokido, whom he badly lost to in 2017, Punk was smiling. Punk was facing his toughest opponent, but he didn’t crumble under pressure. Something was different this Evo, and this attitude took him to the grand finals against Big Bird from the United Arab Emirates.
Punk is known for using Cammy in SF6, and he took that character to the top of the world. He made the reset from his losers bracket, and then the match came to the final round of the final game. Punk pulled off one last super with his Cammy to win the set against Big Bird’s Rashid, a character that was introduced in SFV known for his turbulent wind powers.
Punk shared the moment with the crowd, the spectators, and the commentators, as many in the FGC knew how big of a deal this win was for Punk. In fact, the arena got a little emotional. The crowd teared up along with Punk, and so did the commentators. Punk finally got his first Evo victory. He showed the world, in front of over 20,000 people in the arena, that he was the best. Punk overcame his rival, showing his growth as a person and as a player. He eliminated his own doubts when it came to bigger tournaments and took home the gold for American esports.
Punk was cheered on throughout the Las Vegas convention center as people chanted his name as he exited the event. He earned it, and everyone knew how much that meant.
What are some of your favorite esports victories? Share in the comments below!
