The 2024 Evolution Championship Series (EVO) Las Vegas ran from July 19 to 21 at the Las Vegas Convention Hall West Hall. A combined field of 16,252 fighting players played eight games, setting a record for an esports tournament.
The excitement building up to this event was palpable, and every Final 6 drew crowds of thousands of cheering fans, many of whom competed in events.
What stood out as a casual onlooker was the sportsmanship and camaraderie among fans and competitors. It is easy to see why esports is so insanely popular. Let’s look at the winners from this series of championship events.
Key Highlights
- EVO 2024 Las Vegas sets an all-time record for an esports tournament with 16,252 participants.
- ARSLAN ASH becomes a 5-time champion with TEKKEN 8 victory.
- PUNK wins the epic grand final against BIGBIRD to win the Street Fighter 6 title.
SONICFOX Earned The Mortal Kombat 1 Title
This is Mortal Kombat 1’s first appearance at EVO, and the Final 6 did not disappoint. ZEEUS, DYLOCK, THEMIGHTYUNJUST, NICOLAS, SONICFOX, and MKJAVIERMK reached the grand stage.
NICOLAS was the first player to make the Grand Final after dispatching ZEEUS 3-0. NICOLAS emerged from the Loser’s Final after taking out THEMIGHTYUNJUST 2-1.
The Grand Final saw SONICFOX and NICOLAS choose Johnny Cage, and the match proved close. With a score of 2-2, the last game goes to the final round. With just a pixel left in his health meter, SONICFOX goes on an insane combo to claim the win and the first Mortal Kombat 1 EVO title.
XIAOHAI Won The King of Fighters XV Title for 3rd EVO Championship
The King of Fighters XV Final 6 had two EVO champions in the Final 6. Joining champions SCORE and XIAOHAI were TAMAGO, ET, KOFEROHONESTO, and VIOLENTKAIN.
Of the two former champions, XIAOHAI made the Grand Final against ET. The pair have battled each other over the years at various events and in multiple games.
However, this time around, XIAOHAI had the clear advantage. He easily dispatched ET, winning the Grand Final 3-0 to earn his fourth EVO Championship title.
Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising Title Went to AARONDAMAC
This is the first time Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising was featured at EVO Las Vegas. A field of 1,000 players was whittled down to the Final 6 consisting of KOJICOCO, SHINKU, TORORO, VERMILLION, ARTORIAS, and AARONDAMAC.
AARONDAMAC had the first “upset” of the tournament after defeating TORORO in the Winner’s Final. TORORO had yet to lose to that point. TORORO would get a chance at revenge as he progressed to and won the Loser’s Final, defeating KOJICOCO 3-2.
The Grand Final between TORORO and AARONDAMAC proved a spirited one. TORORO stuck with Percival as AARONDAMAC used Belial. TORORO won the first two games, and it looked like a Reset Match was inevitable.
However, AARONDAMAC came storming back to tie the match 2-2. In the final game, with each player winning a round a piece, AARONDAMAC found an insane combo to stave off a Reset Match and win the EVO title.
SENARU Took The Under Night In-Birth II Sys: Celes Title
Another first-time game featured at EVO Las Vegas was Under Night In-Birth II Sys: Celes. MARIO, MO.SIN, SENARU, NOTES, OUSHUU-HITTOU, and DEFIANT, made the Final 6 and looked to take the title.
SENARU and MO.SIN were destined to battle each other for the title. MO.SIN lost the Winner’s Final to SENARU but won the Loser’s Final against NOTES to earn a rematch.
The Grand Final between these two proved competitive until the set’s final game. Both players took 2 games each, and it appeared that MO.SIN might earn the Reset Match.
However, SENARU went insane with ELTNUM in the final game, pulling off an insane 45-hit combo against MO. SIN’s KUON took the final match and the title.
MOV Won The Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike Title
25 years after the game’s release, over 1,000 players came to EVO 2024 to play Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike. The final six of this event ultimately came down to MOV vs. ISSEI. ISSEI went to the Grand Final from the Loser’s Final, being previously dispatched by MOV in the Winner’s Final.
The rematch between the two proved competitive. ISSEI pulled out the first Reset Match of EVO 2024, taking the first set 3-0. At the end of the first set, MOV switched his character from Elena to Chun-Li. ISEEI continued playing with Yun.
MOV may have needed the switch, as he performed skillfully in the Reset Match. Up by 2-1, MOV pulled off two supers in a row to win the battle and the Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike title.
The Guilty Gear Strive Winner Was NITRO
It is hard to win an EVO title from the loser’s bracket, but it does happen. TATUMA and NITRO faced off in the Guilty Gear – Strive Grand Final, with NITRO emerging from the losers bracket.
NITRO was on fire with Jack-o’ and quickly dispatched TATUMA and Sol Badguy 3-0 to earn a Reset Match. The Reset proved epic as the pair forced a 5th game at 2-2.
In the final round of the final match, NITRO went ballistic, quickly dispatching TATUMA for his victory, and leaped into the arms of his supporters in the crowd.
TheTekken 8 Final Six
Tekken 8 is a new event at EVO, which crowned the first-ever champion for the game. The Final 6 for this event were as follows:
- KEISUKE
- ATIF BUTT
- ARSLAN ASH
- RAEF
- NOBI
- ULSAN
ARSLAN ASH Won The Tekken 8 Title
ARSLAN ASH was the biggest name in this Final 6. He came into this final with four EVO titles and looked to make it five. Two titles were in TEKKEN 7, so it was no surprise that he quickly made his way to the Grand Final at this event.
ATIF won nine straight rounds against NOBI in the Loser’s Final to make his way to the Grand Final.
ATIF used Dragunov, while ARSLAN ASH used NINA. ATIF quickly jumped to a 2-0 lead and looked ready to earn a Reset Match.
However, ARSLAN ASH found his footing and pulled the match even at 2-2. In the final round, ARSLAN ASH proved too much for ATIF and secured the victory and his fifth EVO championship title.
Final Six of The Street Fighter 6
The last Final 6 of EVO 2024 was for Street Fighter 6. A field of 5,265 players was reduced to the final six.
- ENDINGWALKER
- BIG BIRD
- PUNK
- MOMOCHI
- NEMO
- ZHEN
Favorite Moments of Final Six
There were three notable stories in this final six. The 17-year-old ENDINGWALKER is an up-and-coming player who made a name for himself in this event. Despite falling to BIG BIRD in the winner’s Semifinal, he clawed his way to the Loser’s Final.
Ironically, he had to face BIG BIRD again, who fell to PUNK in the Winner’s Final. Unfortunately, this was not his day, and BIG BIRD went on to take on PUNK in the Grand Final.
PUNK was simply on fire in this event, defeating the legendary MOMOCHI in the Winner Semifinals and dispatching BIG BIRD in the Winner’s Final.
The Grand Final saw a rematch between PUNK and BIG BIRD, and it was one of the most epic finals of the series. Both players were runner-up in EVO in the past, so one would go on to win it all.
And the Crowd Got Punked
BIG BIRD was on fire at the start and managed to earn a Reset Match for a chance to win the title. The Reset Match was everything you’d like, as both players managed to win two games each. This brought on a final game that literally went to the final point.
However, in the final battle, PUNK proved too much for BIG BIRD, who finally won his first EVO title.
The crowd chanted PUNK DA GOD as he and BIG BIRD embraced to conclude a star-studded EVO 2024. The series ended with PUNK hoisting the trophy and organizers thanking fans for supporting this year’s record-setting event.
Resources
https://www.evo.gg/news/
https://twitch.tv/evo
