The culmination of the Street Fighter League.
"Street Fighter League: World Championship 2024" was held at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo on Sunday, March 9, 2025!
The winner was decided to be Japan Representative "Good 8 Squad"!
Preliminary Match 1 Good 8 Squad vs. Ninjas in Pyjamas
Japan Representative "Good 8 Squad" appeared in the very first match!
Their opponent was Europe Representative "Ninjas in Pyjamas."
― You are fighting with strong teammates, do you feel confident?
Phenom: I think our team is very complete. I think we have good character variety and we're all very, very high level. So I think we're just overall a strong team. And it's not just we that are strong, our opponents are also very strong. So I don't think anyone is invincible. But I think, as always, the one who the one who perform their best will most likely have the best chance of winning. So I think that's the thing that we are focusing on.
― Starting from the away side
Kawano: Honestly, it's tough (lol).
However, I think it's okay if we overcome them with sheer power, so I want to win.
Phenom (Cammy) was up against Gachikun (Rashid).
A fierce battle unfolded in the very first match, going to a full set and full rounds, but in the end, Gachikun won by aggressively attacking Phenom's burnout!
Next up in the middle was Pugera (Juri) vs. Big Bird (Rashid).
They traded sets, but in the end, Pugera, who showed perfect gauge management, won!
"Good 8 Squad" was overall very complete, and the anchor, Kawano (Akuma), won a full set against AngryBird (Akuma), securing 3 consecutive wins and a total of 40 points.
They got off to a good start towards victory.
Preliminary Match 2 FlyQuest vs. Good 8 Squad
The second match was a showdown between America Representative "FlyQuest" and Japan Representative "Good 8 Squad."
"FlyQuest" had a composition with two Kimberlys.
The announcement of YHC-Mochi for the middle match brought the crowd to a great excitement!
Although he unfortunately lost, he showed a close match that went to a full set.
The anchor match between Punk and Pugera also went to a full set and full rounds.
It was a supreme situation with both players having max gauge, but Punk won with guts.
Preliminary Match 3 Ninjas in Pyjamas vs. FlyQuest
The third match was a showdown between Europe Representative "Ninjas in Pyjamas" and America Representative "FlyQuest."
Looking at the total points, it was clear that "Ninjas in Pyjamas" faced a tough condition where they couldn't lose a single player to advance from the preliminary round.
ChrisCCH's Terry was in his first match of the day, but Phenom's Cammy controlled the stage.
First, Phenom won one of the battles he couldn't afford to lose.
AngryBird vs. Punk was a battle of EVO champions.
However, this time AngryBird showed incredibly perfect movement.
After losing two rounds, Punk chose to change characters to Kimberly!
He managed to take back one round with this, but AngryBird calmly defeated Punk.
Although "Ninjas in Pyjamas" was eliminated with this, they left a strong impact at the end.
Final FlyQuest vs. Good 8 Squad
Saiga NAKThe final match was between America Representative "FlyQuest" and Japan Representative "Good 8 Squad."
First, "Good 8 Squad," who advanced from the preliminary round in first place, stood on the home side.
Kawano showed overwhelming completeness in the preliminary round, but Psycho took revenge and won one match.
The team that reached 70 points first would be the champion.
In the middle match, Gachikun defeated Shine by winning two consecutive sets.
With this, it's 10 points to 10 points!
The anchor match was the same matchup as the second preliminary match, Pugera vs. Punk.
...Which means the match development was also similar.
After a fierce full set battle, Punk won again, earning 20 points.
Fearless Punk, who continued to attack even while in burnout...!
Saiga NAKIn the second round of the final, Kawano became the anchor for "Good 8 Squad."
"FlyQuest" put Psycho against the first player, Gachikun.
Shine's Kimberly and Psycho's Kimberly were different.
Gachikun unfortunately lost before the fear of the two-Kimberly composition, giving "FlyQuest" 40 points!
They were halfway to victory.
The middle match was between Pugera and ChrisCCH. ChrisCCH chose Ed.
The match went to a full set, but ChrisCCH, who had a slight gauge advantage, finally broke through with a Drive Impact and got the KO.
ChrisCCH roared.
Saiga NAKKawano challenged the "FlyQuest" anchor, Punk, who was on the verge of winning.
Kawano, who was in excellent form that day, showed perfect movement and quickly took 3 sets.
With Kawano's victory, the final entered its third round.
Here, "FlyQuest" showed a three-Kimberly composition, which greatly excited the venue.
Pugera challenged Psycho, the first player, and won after a full set and full rounds!
Was the momentum with "Good 8 Squad"...?
Next up in the middle was Gachikun challenging Shine.
In the first round, Gachikun had won this matchup.
An offense and defense worthy of a championship match continued, with sets being traded back and forth, and in the end, Gachikun won.
With this dramatic victory, both teams were on the verge of winning.
Everything was left to the anchor match.
Saiga NAKThis was the last chance, win or lose.
The anchor match was a showdown between Punk and Kawano.
The final battle kicked off with Punk getting two perfect rounds.
Kawano's name echoed through the venue, but Punk's momentum didn't stop, and he won two consecutive sets.
However, Kawano wouldn't go down easily from here.
Situation judgment, backsteps, mind games.
Everything clicked, and he won four consecutive rounds to force a full set.
In the full set and full rounds, the end came with four consecutive throws!
Kawano won, and Japan Representative "Good 8 Squad" shone at the top of "Street Fighter League: World Championship 2024."
Saiga NAK"Good 8 Squad" Wins!
"Good 8 Squad," who won the championship, was presented with the prize money of 80,000 USD from Taiyo Holdings Co., Ltd.!
Saiga NAKFurthermore, a championship ring was presented by Haruhiro Tsujimoto from Capcom Co., Ltd.!
― How did you feel fighting in the final match?
Gachikun: It was insane, seriously!
My hands are still shaking. That's how crazy it was.
― What did you think when they brought out triple Kimberly?
Gachikun: I thought, "It's come to this" (lol).
However, ever since "FlyQuest" became the America representative, Aru and other Kimberly users in Japan were practicing with me every night.
― How was the final match?
YHC-Mochi: "FlyQuest" made it to the finals, so as a Dhalsim player, I felt like "Please stop with the Kimberly" (lol).
It was a difficult matchup for me, so I left it to my teammates, but I think it was a team victory thanks to everyone advising each other!
― You also used Dee Jay in the "SFL: Pro-JP 2024" Grand Finals, what about this time?
Pugera: There were many opponents this time, and the America representative team wasn't confirmed yet, so...
I just focused on improving my Juri skills.
―You did it Kawano!
Kawano: I was too focused, I don't remember anything at all (lol).
At the end, Gachikun said, "Let's pass it to Kawano," and I thought if I didn't win here, I wouldn't be Kawano, so Kawano just did what Kawano does.
Gachikun: We won!
Post-Victory Interview
― What is the fun and appeal of team battles?
Gachikun: Even if I lose, there are still three others, and even if someone loses, it's fine if we win.
You can't experience that kind of all-out battle individually.
Representing 12 teams gives it a different weight, and it was very fun.
YHC-Mochi: The fun is four times, the happiness is four times, and the frustration is four times.
This victory was also four times happier than a personal victory.
I didn't get to play at the end, but I had decided to play against ChrisCCH.
Maybe ChrisCCH avoided me because he dislikes Dhalsim.
Maybe I was a deterrent? Let's just say that (lol).
Pugera: Compared to individual matches, the cheers from the audience felt like a single mass and were amazing.
Winning a personal match feels good, and that's it, but in a team match, there might be parts where you still feel frustrated, so I think that's the difference from a team battle.
― Are there any advantages unique to holding it in Japan?
Kawano: When I'm playing against someone, I often look at their demeanor in a meta way beyond just the gameplay, but with this much cheering, when I thought about it that way, I could even think things like "This choice would probably be better given the atmosphere," which was helpful.
Honestly, while I thought it must be tough for the opposing team with this much cheering, I also know how it feels to be the away team when playing overseas, so I understand how they felt.
I think that's the home advantage.
