Punk Sparks US vs EU Street Fighter V Debate, Proposes 10v10 Money Match Between Regions


by in Fighting Game News | Nov, 19th 2021

This past weekend in Las Vegas, Red Bull Kumite came to the United States for the first time. The event featured tournaments for three games and invited players from across the globe to compete. Street Fighter V (SFV) was still the main attraction, as 16 of the world’s top players fought for international supremacy. In the end, the UK’s Benjamin “Problem X” Simon took first place over South Korea’s Sim “NL” Gun. After the win, other players from Europe showed support for their champion and some proclaimed EU as the best region in SFV. This didn’t sit right with one of America’s superstar players, Victor “Punk” Woodley.

Punk Calls Out European Street Fighter Scene


Rally the Troops


Who Has the Upper Hand?


It’s tough to determine who wins the tale of the tape between EU and the US in Street Fighter. Since the release of Street Fighter V, players from the US team (including MenaRD) have won two out of four Capcom Cups that have taken place. Retired American player Du “NuckleDu” Dang also was champion in 2016, meaning the region holds all but one Capcom Cup trophy for SFV. On the other hand, European players have won the last two Red Bull Kumite events while there has never been an American champion. Problem X is also the only player from either region to win EVO for SFV, a feat he accomplished in 2018. On paper, the two teams might be as evenly matched as can be.

Lost in all the commotion is how Japan stacks up against EU and the US in SFV. Japan has historically been the premier region for Street Fighter, with legends like Daigo “The Beast” Umehara and Hajime “Tokido” Taniguchi at the forefront. They have won two of the four EVOs for SFV, and four of the first five Red Bull Kumite events. They also have the only non-American Capcom Cup champion in Tsunehiro “gachikun” Kanamori. It will be interesting to see if Japanese players offer their input on what the best region is, or if they will let EU and the US have their moment in the sun.

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