The prestigious Ryogoku Kokugikan Arena recently played host to the Capcom Cup 11, where pro player Kakeru emerged victorious after a week of intense competition. Facing 48 of the world’s top Street Fighter 6 players, Kakeru showcased exceptional skill, ultimately defeating opponent Blaz in a final showdown to claim the coveted World Champion title.
Kakeru, formerly known as Uzura, is a Japanese Street Fighter pro player with a prominent history in the field. He ranked 65th at EVO JAPAN 2020, and placed 2nd at the 2023 eSports BATTLE in Okinawa. He also qualified for Red Bull Kumite 2023 in South Africa by winning both the LCQ Japan Qualifier and the final Last Chance Qualifier. His opponent, Blaz, was also notable for managing to make it to the Capcom Cup 11 finals despite being only 15 years old.
Adding to the excitement, the Street Fighter League: World Championships premiered on Sunday, March 9th. This tournament, featuring the winning teams from the Japan, U.S., and European regions, culminated in a fierce battle where Good 8 Squad triumphed, earning the title of “World’s Strongest Street Fighter 6 Team” and securing a spot in the upcoming Capcom Cup 12.
The momentum of Street Fighter 6 esports continues with a series of upcoming events. Next week, fans can anticipate the REJECT FIGHT NIGHT × Sajam Slam: Street Fighter™ 6 International Championship. Further ahead, the Esports World Cup 2025 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, will feature another high-stakes competition.
Looking forward to 2025, the Capcom Pro Tour (CPT) season is set to launch, offering a plethora of offline tournaments. Notable events include EVO Japan starting on May 9th, Combo Breaker on May 23rd, and a series of subsequent tournaments such as CEO, EVO Nice, EVO Vegas, the Asia Premier, UFA, and Blink Respawn. In response to player feedback, Capcom has announced the return of a new points system for the CPT, with further details to be released soon.
Capcom has also announced that the Capcom Cup 12 will return to Japan in 2026, an announcement that has been met with excitement from the global fighting game community.
