Last Updated: February 20, 11:21 a.m. (GMT+8): Increased relevancy.
Since its beginnings in grassroots competitions hosted by the Fighting Game Community, the Street Fighter competitive scene has grown exponentially, now featuring in major events organised by top esports companies in the largest stadiums worldwide.
The game’s multiple evolutions align with its growth; however, the one constant remains – Street Fighter consistently delivers enthralling matches year after year.
As we look back, we recall the top 10 most memorable matches throughout the Street Fighter history. Let’s revisit these unforgettable moments.
Street Fighter’s Top 10 matches
10. The Capcom Fight Club 2010 showdown between Daigo Umehara and Justin Wong
The launch of Super Street Fighter IV was marked with a five-match exhibition between two giants of the FGC, Justin Wong and Daigo Umehara.
Despite being an exhibition match, the competitive spirit was evident. With the score tied at 2-2, the contest came down to the final round, concluding with one of the most unexpected endings ever. You have to watch it to believe it:
9. The Evo 2013 duel between Infiltration and PR Balrog
The Evo 2013 stage hosted some of the world’s best talents. Yet, the Losers semifinals match between Seonwoo “Infiltration” Lee and Eduardo “PR Balrog” Perez has etched itself in history.
Infiltration claimed the first game, but PR Balrog bounced back with four straight victories, gaining a 2-1 lead and positioning himself one game away from advancing to the Losers Final.
However, Infiltration had other plans. With his options seemingly running out, he made a bold move by swapping to Hakan, considered one of the lowest-tier characters by most professionals. Still, the risky change paid off, and Infiltration won the next two consecutive games, propelling himself to the Losers Finals.
8. The 2014 Canada Cup face-off between Pepeday and Poongko
At the 2014 Canada Cup, the Ultimate Street Fighter IV grand finale saw Yudai “Pepeday” Furushima and Lee “Poongko” Chung Gon, both renowned for their technical expertise and aggressive playing style, competing to prove who was the better player.
Both players started with their respective signature characters, Poongko chose Seth while Pepeday selected El Fuerte. Poongko started strong, achieving a sweep in the first game which led to reset the bracket.
Coming from the high, Poongko kept the momentum in the following round, quickly garnering a 2-0 lead. Even after winning five games in a row and seemingly on the edge of ending the match, Pepeday pulled up quite a fight.
With his tournament life on the line, Pepeday stunned everyone with three outstanding games showcasing brilliant strategy, incredible comebacks, and multiple clutch moments.
7. The 2014 Evo Top 32 contest between Snake Eyez and Xian
The anticipated match between Kun “Xian” Ho and Darryl “Snake Eyez” Lewis at Evo 2014 showcased exemplary defense, neutral game, spacial control, and life lead management.
The final round was an edge-of-the-seat thriller. Xian tried to take the match by getting the upper hand and running down the clock, but Snake Eyez had other ideas and flung an ex-Green Hand, clinching the victory at the last moment.
6. The 2015 Canada Cup Championship clash between Fuudo and Tokido
Hajime “Tokido” Taniguchi and Keita “Fuudo” Ai engaged in one of the toughest Ultra Street Fighter IV matches for the championship at the 2015 Canada Cup.
The aLL-or-nothing battle carried even the last round of the secondary set. Despite having a substantial life lead, Tokido missed a Dragon Punch, which gave Fuudo a comeback opportunity. Nonetheless, the chance passed Fuudo, and Tokido seized the game with a final chip fireball.
5. Daigo Umehara’s thrilling match with Infiltration at Capcom Cup 2015
While Ryota “Kazunoko” Inoue won the Capcom Cup 2015, the match that went down in history books was a quarterfinal match between Daigo Umehara and Seonwoo “Infiltration” Lee.
With Daigo nailing a 2-1 lead, Infiltration had to step up his game, which he did with magnificence. However, Daigo turned the tables with an extraordinary zero-pixel comeback, finally penetrating Infiltration’s defenses.
4. The Evo 2016 grand finale between Infiltration and Fuudo
The Street Fighter V’s launch in 2016 contributed to plumbing new heights, culminating at Evo 2016 which saw an unprecedented 5,107 contenders participating in the competition.
In the grand finale, the game’s stalwarts, Infiltration, and Fuudo went head to head. Infiltration set the tone for the match with double perfect in the second game, followed by the first set’s closure, resetting the bracket. His exhilarating spree continued in the second set, winning another five rounds consecutively to get a commanding 2-0 lead.
Fuudo, however, refused to give in without a fight, clawing back the next three rounds. Infiltration proved his mettle by blocking Fuudo’s “unblockable” setups, displaying an incredible understanding of the game, thereby, winning the competition.
3. MenaRD’s victorious fight against Tokido at Capcom Cup 2017
The grand finale of the Capcom Cup 2017 was a true underdog story. Saul Leonardo “MenaRD” Mena II, representing the Dominican Republic, confronted one of the Street Fighter’s Japanese Gods, Tokido, in a nail-biting faceoff.
Tokido started strong, swiftly securing the initial two games. MenaRD, at the precipice of elimination, found his rhythm and managed to win the next three games, resulting in a bracket reset.
While Tokido won the opening game of the second set, he couldn’t withstand MenaRD’s newfound energy, who won the next three straight games, ultimately winning the tournament.
2. The 2018 Capcom Cup final contest between Gachikun and Itabashi Zangief
The Capcom Cup 2018 grand final set the stage ablaze as fan-favorites Tsunehiro “Gachikun” Kanamori and Hiromiki “Itabashi Zangief” Kumada went head-to-head.
Itabashi dominated the initial rounds and swept the first set 3-0, resetting the bracket. Gachikun composed himself during a short break and responded in the second set by winning the first two games. Itabashi put up stern resistance, equalizing the score at 2-2, but Gachikun clung on, pulling off a grueling victory in the final two rounds.
1. The iDom’s unbelievable victory against Punk at Capcom Cup 2019
One of the most stunning upsets in recent years unfolded at the Capcom Cup Grand Finals when Derek “iDom” Ruffin, an unsponsored player, defeated Victor “Punk” Woodley, the highest-ranked player globally.
Punk seemed in control early on, attaining a 2-0 lead but iDom pulled himself together and resoundingly won the next three games, thereby resetting the bracket.
Maintaining momentum, iDom bagged the opening two games of the next set, and astonishingly found himself at tournament point. Punk won the third game, to which iDom responded by audaciously swapping from his main, Laura, to Poison – a recently released DLC character whose best rank was mid-tier. iDom’s gambit paid off, and he won the final game, becoming the first unsponsored Capcom Cup champion ever.
READ MORE: In an official CPT match, RB flawlessly executes the Dan infinite combo
