E-sports

5 Street Fighter Pros To Watch Out For in The Capcom Pro Tour

By Ramon Domingo - May 31, 2023
The competition in Street Fighter 6 will be fierce, especially with these pros around.

If there’s one thing that can entice both Street Fighter pros and fans alike it’s an overall prize pool of over 2,000,000 dollars in the next Capcom Cup. With Street Fighter 6 right around the corner, Capcom has committed this outrageous sum as a way to welcome the next installment of the series to the Capcom Pro Tour.

Such a number is going to get the attention of new, aspiring players but make no mistake, the killers of the Street Fighter scene are watching as well. The high-level competition in Street Fighter 6 is going to be fierce and we’ve got five Street Fighter pros who everyone should keep an eye out for as they fight their way to the Capcom Cup.

Derek “iDom” Ruffin
Derek “iDom” Ruffin
Photo credit: Capcom Pro Tour

Hailing from the USA, iDom is part of the new generation of Street Fighter pros but is no less decorated than some of the vets.

He cut his teeth in New York’s Next Level Battle Circuit weekly tournaments, always placing high and crushing the region’s best. He made his big break winning Capcom Cup 2019 and since then he has consistently made top finishes in every major tournament he jumps in. Many even consider iDom to be the best professional player in the Street Fighter 5 era.

Benjamin “Problem X” Simon
Benjamin “Problem X” Simon
Photo credit: Liquipedia

One of the most successful Street Fighter pros in the United Kingdom, Problem X is looking to keep up his streak in Street Fighter 6.

He started his career playing Street Fighter 4 but really came into his own in Street Fighter 5, culminating in his legendary Evo 2018 victory. Problem X is also known for his unconventional character picks, having secondary or even tertiary characters ready to play depending on the opponent he’s facing.

Daigo Umehara
Daigo Umehara
Photo credit: Liquipedia

Of course, we can’t talk about Street Fighter pros without mentioning The Beast himself, Daigo Umehara.

This iconic Japanese player’s career spans more than two decades across most Street Fighter titles, which cements him as one of the greatest Street Fighter players in the world. Whenever Daigo enters a tournament, the crowd is there to cheer for him and the rest of the competition steels themselves to face him. 

Li-Wei “Oil King” Lin
Li-Wei “Oil King” Lin
Photo credit: Liquipedia

While Japanese pros are the kings of Street Fighter, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t other players from the East who can rise to the challenge.

Oil King is a professional player from Taiwan and he has been competing in Street Fighter 5 tournaments since its release. His dedication has paid off with his recent dominant win in Evo Japan 2023 and he’s looking to bring that momentum with him into Street Fighter 6.

Saul Leonardo “MenaRD” Mena II
Saul Leonardo “MenaRD” Mena II
Photo credit: Capcom Pro Tour

If there’s one player that you have to watch out for it’s MenaRD.

The hero of the new generation of Street Fighter pros and the face of the Dominican Republic Fighting Game Community; MenaRD set the scene ablaze when he became the first-ever two-time Capcom Cup champion, one in 2017 and another in 2023. Between competing and cultivating his home scene, he has had an inspiring career so far and it can only go higher from here with Street Fighter 6.

Banner photo from Capcom Fighters on Twitter.


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