7,168 Players Made SF6 at EVO Japan the Biggest FGC Tourname

Seven thousand, one hundred and sixty-eight players. That's how many people registered to compete in Street Fighter 6 at EVO Japan 2026, earning the tournament a Guinness World Record for the most participants in a single fighting game tournament. The previous record? Also Street Fighter 6, which drew 7,083 entrants at EVO Las Vegas 2023.

SF6 beating its own record is one thing. Doing it at a regional event with numbers that rival the main Las Vegas show is something else entirely. EVO Japan 2026 pulled in 10,231 total participants across all games, up from last year's 8,795, and SF6 accounted for the bulk of that growth. No other fighting game on the planet is pulling these numbers, and I don't think it's particularly close. Three years after launch, Capcom's fighter isn't just healthy; it's the undisputed centre of the FGC.

The tournament itself crowned a new champion. Eisuke "Yamaguchi" Yamaguchi took the title with his Mai, beating Victor "Punk" Woodley's Cammy in the grand final to claim just over $25,000 and his first EVO gold, as confirmed by EVO's official account. Kojiro Higuchi finished third, with Taiwanese player Lin "Hope" Jun-xi in fourth. Both Yamaguchi and Punk secured qualification slots for the Esports World Cup later this year.

Beyond the competition, EVO Japan doubled as a showcase for upcoming FGC content. SNK revealed Mr. Karate as a Season 2 DLC character for Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves, arriving in May 2026. Aniplex announced Melty Blood: Twi-Lumina, an updated version of the 2021 fighter coming to Switch, Switch 2, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and PC in 2027. SNK also shadowdropped World Heroes Perfect on Steam for $14.99 during a launch discount window running until May 8.

The next EVO takes place in Las Vegas on June 26-28, 2026. If SF6 just broke its own record at a Japan-only event, the Vegas numbers could be absurd.