The Evolution Championship Series, or “EVO” for short, has spent well over 20 years being the last stop on the calendar for professional fighting game tournaments. All competitors around the world, from the casual fan to the most diehard expert, fly in to Las Vegas during the summer for a chance to win it all at the biggest eSports event of the year.

But this isn’t an event just for the pros — there are several weekend-long live streams, three whole days of panels, interviews, access to free arcade machines, art galleries, game announcements, and even an arena to spectate the finals on the big stage. It’s like the Masters, Wimbledon, the Super Bowl, and Stanley Cup Finals all rolled up into one thing.

Every year, the biggest game is the most recent “Street Fighter” — that never fails to attract the most entrants. Thousands try, but only one person ends with the trophy, so let’s figure out who to root for, who I predict will win, and who you should be looking out for if you just want get deeply invested in the drama.

Just keep in mind that this is not real gambling advice. These are not real odds. This is all for the love of the game — not a way to make money.

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DCQ, Dual Kevin, JAK, Higuchi, Riddles, and Phenom +4000

I don’t think any of these men will win (unfortunately, all of the high-profile players are men, this list included). If you’re going to back a dark horse, go with Dual Kevin, who picks top tier characters and does quite well at big events.

Dual Kevin got 3rd at Combo Breaker 2024 and 2025, 2nd at Frosty Faustings XVII, 2nd at Blink Respawn 2024, 3rd at East Coast Throwdown 2024, 3rd at DreamHack Atlanta 2024, 2nd at Cream City Convergence 2024, and 1st at F2CON 2024.

NYC Heavyweights: Shine, iDom, and Chris G +3500

Anyone who comes from New York, my city, joins my list of all-time faves. Yipes, Justin Wong, Dieminion… I could go on and on. If any New Yorker has a chance at getting Top 8 for Sunday night, it’s iDom, but his glory days have not been in 2025; only placing high at smaller tournaments. The big wins coming from 2024 and before.

iDom got 2nd at LVL UP expo 2025, 1st at Genesis X2, 4th at Frosty Faustings XVII, 2nd at Cold Front 2024, 2nd at East Coast Throwdown 2024, 4th at DreamHack Atlanta 2024, 3rd at Defend the North x, and 4th at CEO 2024.

Former Capcom Cup Winners: Gachikun, NuckleDu, Kazunoko, UMA, and Kakeru +2500

These gentlemen have kicked ass in former years, but have had a difficult time dealing with the new meta of Season 3 and an influx of strong competitors. Not to say that the younger generation is better than these former Capcom Cup winners, but the results in the past six months alone speak volumes…

…unless you’re Kakeru. His main character got nerfed, but if you want to root for one of these guys, go with the JP guru from Japan. He got 5th at Red Bull Kumite 2025, won Capcom Cup 11, won Bald Head Cup #5 and #6, and came in 2nd at EVO Japan 2024.

Former EVO Winners: Xian, Problem X, and Kawano +2000

I cannot remember the last time I saw these guys in a Top 8 of a major. Xian, the best video game athlete to ever come out of Singapore, has knocked on the door recently, but no luck. If only he stopped picking Dee Jay! His lifelong credentials are impeccable, but within the last two years, he only got 9th at CEO 2025, 7th at Battle Arena Melbourne 15, 9th at EVO Japan 2025, 9th at Capcom Cup 11, and 4th at Battle Arena Melbourne 14.

The Old Guard from Japan: Daigo, Tokido, Momochi, Fuudo, Bonchan, Itabashi Zangief, Sako, GO1, and MOV +1500

The most famous fighting game players of all time are all in this tier. They can form a Mount Rushmore, the best of the best, and have both the longevity and wisdom to whip anybody’s ass on any day if they’re motivated. But I don’t think any of these Japanese GODS sniff Top 8 here.

Although, I will say, the man with the smallest résumé out of everyone listed above has been kicking butt recently. Itabashi Zangief has benefited from a buff to everybody’s favorite wrestleboy. He got 2nd at Combo Breaker 2025, 9th at EVO Japan 2025, 1st at World Challenge Cup 2024, 1st at East Coast Throwdown 2024, 5th at DreamHack Summer 2024, and 2nd at Bald Head Cup #6. I’d love to see him make it far — he’s so fun!

Random player from Asia you’ve never heard of before +1000

Every year, this will happen: A mystery man you’ve never heard of will make Top 8, and then become a name. But only after — not a moment before he walks out onto that grand stage.

Examples of yesteryear: Zhen in 2024, Fukimura in 2023, Kawano in 2022, Fujimura in 2019, and Dragunov in 2018.

The Young Guns: Blaz, Craime, Kilzyou, NotPedro, Nephew, and NoahTheProdigy +750

This block is by far the most exciting to see because I’m fascinated to know if the very recent results by these kids translates when the lights get 100X brighter. Craime is a 14-year-old from Chile, and he’s already good enough to be considered a Top 8 threat. Everyone in this group is scary young, and it makes me sad thinking about how old I am. Don’t get old, teens reading this. Stay young forever.

By far, the hottest star on the tour is Blaz, a 15-year-old, who got 9th at CEO 2025, 5th at Combo Breaker 2025, 33rd at EVO Japan 2025, 2nd at Capcom Cup 11, 1st at Festigame 2024, 7th at Blink Respawn 2024, and 1st at Never Give Up 2024.

Dominican Heavyweights MenaRD and Caba +650

I would love to be able to sit here at my computer and tell you North America wins a second straight EVO. Thankfully, that’s far from delusional thanks to the Dominican Republic. That lovely Caribbean nation has produced two of the best “SF6” players we’ve ever seen in MenaRD and Caba. But while 2023 and 2024 seemed like their dominance would never end, it sort of ended this year after Blanka and Luke got nerfed, and Guile remains still good but not like, crazy good.

If anyone is going to break through, it definitely has to be Mena, the back-to-back EVO Japan winner, who is coming off of a slump right now. He’s going back to placing 33rd at CEO 2025, 13th at Combo Breaker 2025, 9th at Asian Champions League 2025, 3rd at Red Bull Kumite 2025, 13th at Capcom Cup 11, 7th at Kings of the World, 7th at Blink Respawn 2024, 1st at First Attack 2024, 1st at Cream City Convergence 2024, 9th at CEO 2024, 5th at DreamHack Dallas 2024, 1st at Get on my Level X, 1st at Winter Clash 2024, and 1st at Red Bull Kumite 2024.

Middle Eastern Heavyweights Angry Bird and Big Bird +500

These two brothers are about as solid as you’ll ever find in modern day “Street Fighter.” Big Bird has placed twice at EVO Grand Finals, and Angry Bird won it a few years ago. Last year’s second place still stings for Big Bird though, and considering that Rashid is still a problem to deal with, I’m not counting him out.

Big Bird has some great placements mixed in with bad ones lately; he got 25th at CEO 2025, 17th at EVO Japan 2025, 1st at Red Bull Kumite 2025, 17th at Capcom Cup 11, 4th at East Coast Throwdown 2024, 2nd at Emirates Showdown 2024, 2nd at EVO 2024, 4th at The MIXUP 2024, 1st at DreamHack Summer 2024, and 5th at Red Bull Kumite 2024.

Asian Heavyweights Zhen, NL, and Ryukichi +350

These guys are brutal — straight-up threats to win this entire thing and make it look easy. These three hail from different countries (China, South Korea, and Japan, respectively), and they all inject new blood into the scene with their play style and attitude.

If you’re looking for a sneaky upset pick, go with NL, who got 2nd at CEO 2025, 7th at EVO Japan 2025, 9th at Capcom Cup 11, 9th at The MIXUP 2024, 5th at CEO 2024, 4th at Capcom Cup X, and 2nd at Bald Head Cup #3.

EndingWalker +250

The United Kingdom has been home to several EVO winners, like Problem X and Ryan Hart, but none have been as exciting as EndingWalker. This teenage phenom came out of nowhere with his Ed, and just rocked right out of the gate. He’s shy, quiet, has heavy metal hair, and is a beast behind the sticks. He came in third at EVO last year, and still places extremely high having switched to Ryu this year.

Major “SF6” Accomplishments: 2nd at Red Bull Kumite 2025, 1st at Saudi Fighting League Season 3 Major, 3rd at EVO 2024, 4th at Combo Breaker 2025, 9th at CEO 2025, 3rd at Cream City Convergence 2024, 1st at Brussels Challenge Major 2024, 1st at Hessen Crash XXI.

Leshar +200

Let us look at the facts of the case for Leshar winning EVO this year, something he hasn’t done yet, but very well could.

• iDom wins CEO 2022, comes in second at EVO 2022
• MenaRD wins CEO 2023, comes in second at EVO 2023
• Punk wins CEO 2024, wins EVO 2024

If the pattern continues, then the winner of the second (or third) biggest tournament of the year that takes place right before EVO tends to have a real shot a few weeks later. Leshar not only won CEO back in June, but he also won Combo Breaker in May.

And he doesn’t just play one character, he can play Mai or Terry at a top tier level, or whip out Ed when it suits him. He might be new to many fans, but he isn’t new to beating the shit out of everyone in front of him. His path is wide open to holding a trophy and a medal on Championship Sunday this August.

Major SF6 Accomplishments: 1st at CEO 2025, 1st at Combo Breaker 2025, 3rd at Capcom Cup 11, 2nd at CPT 2024 Japan Super Premier, 3rd at The MIXUP 2024, 3rd at Red Bull Kumite 2024, 5th at Capcom Cup X

Punk +100

He’s the champ! The first American EVO winner at a “Street Fighter” in the modern era. He’s smoked the competition for many years, going from young gun to master at his craft. And he does it all using Cammy, despite whatever nerfs or buffs she receives. I don’t care where he placed yesterday or ten years ago — the fact that he still has two arms and a brain stem means he is the favorite to win EVO and will until he becomes washed up. Which certainly isn’t right now — he still has the juice!

Major “SF6” Accomplishments: 1st at EVO 2024, 1st at DreamHack Atlanta 2024, 2nd at CEOtaku 2024, 1st at LVL UP EXPO 2025, 3rd at CEO 2025, 1st at CEO 2024, 1st at Arm the Rebels Cup Finale, 1st at Frost Faustings XVI

Image Credit: EVO Events on YouTube