Comebacks, revenge, and big money! Xiaohai wins the Street Fighter 6 EWC 2025

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To win his second Esports World Cup trophy worth $250,000 at Capcom Cup 12, Xiaohai executed a reverse sweep on Punk, avenged his loss to GO1, defeated AngryBird, and showcased astonishing adaptability against Blaz. He also managed to take revenge on his previous opponent.

In 2025, Xiaohai dedicated much of his time to the latest FATAL FURY game, earning him the victory at the Evo Japan tournament among other accomplishments. However, it seemed that his Street Fighter journey took a pause this season as he either missed major events or failed to reach the top 8.

After that, Xiaohai made a comeback on the SF6 scene with his 5th-6th position achieved at Evo Las Vegas 2025. It seems like some rigorous training sessions found their way onto his schedule as Xiaohai geared up for the Street Fighter 6 (SF6) Esports World Cup 2025, also known as EWC 2025.

As the victor of the SF6 EWC 2024, Xiaohai was exempt from the grueling qualification rounds. With significant meta shifts and fresh characters added to the game, there was speculation about his performance level in the new setup. However, any doubts were quickly alleviated! Xiaohai successfully defended his SF6 EWC title, making it back-to-back victories for him. The tournament’s high-stress matches and extended playoff sessions seem to align perfectly with Xiaohai’s playstyle.

Reverse sweep, revenge, and adaptation

In the Street Fighter 6 EWC 2025 tournament, Xiaohai’s opening was challenging as he was grouped with Punk and encountered the Evo 2024 Champion in his very first bout. The initial two games didn’t go well for him, with Punk delivering a stunning game-clinching comeback in the second match. However, Xiaohai showed remarkable determination to carry on the fight, eventually pulling off an impressive reverse sweep!

In their second group stage contest, Xiaohai’s opponent was none other than the previous Capcom Cup 11 champion, Kakeru. This time around, things were far easier for Mai as they progressed. During the opening playoff bout, Xiaohai managed to best Torimeshi and emerge victorious.

In the semifinals, the game was historic, as Xiaohai squared off against GO1 for a second time. A repeat of their FATAL FURY CotW EWC 2025 championship match ensued, and this time, Xiaohai claimed victory to settle the score!

For Xiaohai to make it to the ultimate showdown, he annihilated AngryBird so effectively that its adversary’s Akuma was nearly powerless.

In this SF6 esports competition, the pivotal game was played against the rising star, Blaz. Remarkably, he mirrored his achievement from the Capcom Cup 11, a tournament in which Blaz made it to the finals only to be defeated by Kakeru.

This occasion saw Blaz off to an impressive beginning, winning three matches consecutively. At this point, Xiaohai decided to change from M. Bison to Mai, ultimately leading to his triumphant return.

FATAL FURY in Street Fighter

It’s no shock that Xiaohai chose Mai for SF6 EWC 2025. After all, she’s an iconic FATAL FURY character with a strong presence in The King of Fighters series, and Xiaohai is renowned as one of the best KOF players ever!

Previously, Xiaohai claimed victory in the Street Fighter 6 Esports World Cup while using M. Bison. In his latest matchup, he chose this character against opponents Kakeru’s JP and Torimeshi’s Dhalsim. However, it seemed as though the Shadaloo leader was not effective against Ryu of Blaz; possibly due to his amnesia.

Sagat and Kimberly

Overall, the SF6 Electronic Wrestling Championship (EWC) 2025 offered an impressive demonstration of the game’s strategy following the introduction of Sagat and several tweaks to the Elene update’s balancing.

  • Elena wasn’t present at the main EWC event, but she was picked by Dogura in the top 16 match of the Last Chance Qualifier.
  • pugera played Sagat up to the final match of the EWC Second Phase. He couldn’t win over Dhalsom of Torimeshi to advance further. Also, Kakeru picked Sagat against Xiaohai, and he even won one game with the Emperor of Muay Thai.

  • Kimberly and Dhalsim were picked by a few players. YHC-Mochi on Dhalsim and Matsu56 on Kimberly reached the final brackets. This feels like the result of proper buffs for both characters, as they did not have such a tournament presence before.

In our Street Fighter 6 EWC 2025 review, you’ll discover a comprehensive list of all characters and items enclosed within the concluding parentheses.

Blaz to beat ‘em all!

At the Esports World Cup, the Street Fighter 6 tournament offered a new platform for the youth to showcase their skills and talent.

  • Blaz destroyed extremely strong opponents on his way to the SF6 EWC 2025 grand final: GO1, Itbashi Zangief, YHC-Mochi, and Leshar.

  • EndingWalker qualified for the playoffs from the #1 spot in his group. In the quarterfinal, he defeated the SF6 Evo 2025 Champion, MenaRD himself — with 5:0. 

Observing these players achieve notable victories instills confidence within us regarding the thriving nature of the Fighting Games Community (FGC) in the years ahead.

Variety of controllers

In the world of Street Fighter 6 esports, seeing Blaz and EndingWalker in action is twice as inspiring, especially since they prefer using gamepads among other control options. While many opponents rely on leverless controllers or fighting sticks, these two consistently come out on top. As a gamer myself, I find their unique approach to be incredibly motivating!

  • A few others play Street Fighter 6 on gamepads with Classic Controls as well: Punk, Hurricane, Juicyjoe, and more.
  • Many Japanese players are on leverless controllers, including Tokido, Kawano, and Kakeru.
  • Fighting sticks remain popular, as GO1, AngryBird, Xiaohai, and others play with them.

At the EWC 2025, an exciting Street Fighter 6 tournament took place, with many participants showcasing their skills. Regrettably, Kakeru had to withdraw from the competition due to some health concerns. Fortunately, it’s been reported that he’s feeling much better now.

In the Esports World Cup 2025, during the second fighting games competition, ULSAN managed to secure a consecutive title by winning yet another trophy. This victory was made in Tekken 8, where they were previously crowned champions.

In September 2025, the highly anticipated SF6 tournament, known as Ultimate Fighting Arena, will take place in France over three days, from the 12th to the 14th. This event serves as a top-tier qualifier for the prestigious Capcom Cup 12.

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2025-08-24 17:12