Harada jokes “I will quit this game” after loss to LilyPichu at EVO

At EVO 2024’s Sajam Tekken Slam: Beat-A-Pro tournament, streamer LilyPichu defeated an unexpected opponent – none other than Tekken 8’s Game Director, Katsuhiro Harada.

At the Beat-A-Pro event, Sajam, the stage host, chose spectators to compete against popular Tekken 8 streamers like PhiDX, BoxBox, and Scarra. Several people onstage had previously participated in the Sajam Tekken Slam, an online tournament that occurred in March.

Harada steps on stage to face LilyPichu at EVO 2024

At the Evo Showcase during EVO 2024, in the last community exhibition bout for Tekken 8, game director Katsuhiro Harada of Tekken 8 was invited onstage by Sajam to face off against LilyPichu.

LilyPichu, a popular streamer and musician, has been an avid fan of Tekken 8 since its debut. She frequently streams and records her progress in the game, currently holding a Mighty Ruler rank with a Tekken Prowess score of 143,000. Notably, she specializes in playing Lili. In preparation for EVO 2024, Lily has received coaching from pro player and content creator PhiDX, who was also present at the event.

Lily Pichu (Lili) vs Harada (Feng)

As a gamer, I found myself facing off against Harada in a high-stakes match, with me playing as Lili and him wielding the formidable Feng in Tekken 8. The competition was set up as a best-of-three series, promising an exciting and unforgettable experience. Each round brought about thrilling moments, showcasing both our skills and strategies to their fullest.

Series 1 – Harada [3:1] LilyPichu

As I nervously watched LilyPichu’s trembling hands before our match, I was impressed as she pulled off some stunning combos in rounds 2 and 3 of the first series, wiping out over half of Harada’s health bar each time. And in round 1, she even managed to sneak in a clever Rage Art, although it didn’t quite finish off the esteemed Game Director of Tekken 8.

As I took the controller in my hands, ready to face my opponent in the third set, I could sense the excitement building up among the commentators and the spectators. With a calm and collected demeanor, I executed wall carries and wall breaks, leaving my adversary behind. The crowd went wild as I clinched the first series with a 3-1 score.

Series 2 – Harada [1:3] LilyPichu (including a Perfect for LilyPichu)

In the second series, I watched as Harada dominated round one with ease. But in an unexpected turn of events during round two, his use of a Rage Art left both the audience and me in stitches, ultimately leading to his defeat. However, LilyPichu’s flawless performance in round three left me in awe, resulting in a perfect victory for her.

In Round 4, I found myself momentarily confused as Harada seemed to have overlooked the fact that Heat Burst no longer inflicts fatal damage when LilyPichu’s pixels were low. However, I was pleasantly surprised as LilyPichu staged a thrilling comeback with her powerful Matterhorn move executed in slow motion.

Series 3 – Harada [2:3] LilyPichu (Rage Art pixel health finish by LilyPichu)

In the last round of their series, Harada started strong with a 2-0 lead over LilyPichu. Yet, it was her impressive sidewalk moves that kept her in the game. The most thrilling moment, though, came when they reached the fifth round. Defying all odds, LilyPichu executed a stunning Rage Art using pixel health, leaving Harada, the creator of Tekken 8 himself, amazed.

Final Thoughts

At EVO 2024, it was a treat to witness Katsuhiro Harada perform live and connect with North American creators who have significantly boosted the game’s popularity. LilyPichu’s victory wasn’t a mere coincidence; the competition between her and Harada was equally balanced. The Sajam Tekken Slam: Beat-A-Pro event concluded magnificently at EVO 2024 with this intense finale.

As a fan, I was truly impressed by LilyPichu’s selfless decision to step down from the match against Harada, allowing someone else to have their moment in the spotlight. And oh my, the thrill of witnessing her execute a stunning Rage Art during the final round of that best-of-three series was absolutely breathtaking. What an unforgettable end to an unexpectedly fantastic competition.

Harada was also a good sport, even joking after the loss that he would quit the game.

As a gamer, I’d be happy to help you out if you’d like to watch the enthralling showmatch between LilyPichu and Harada. You can find the entire VOD on Twitch during Evo Day 1.