The legendary Japanese esports player Goichi "GO1" Kishida claimed the title of the first champion of Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves at the Esports World Cup 2025, defeating China's Zeng "Xiaohai" Zhoujun with a score of 5-3 in the grand final.

Road to the Final: Tournament Results and Winner

The Fatal Fury: CotW tournament featured 16 participants, including GO1, Xiaohai, DarkAngel, Mok, Fenritti, ET, XYZZY, RB, KOG, Poongko, Nemo, Reynald, ZJZ, NYChrisG, Kindevu, and TheGio. They were divided into four groups with a double-elimination format.

Only eight advanced to the playoffs based on group stage results. GO1 showcased his skills, securing victories in the quarterfinals and semifinals with scores of 5-1 against ET and Mok, respectively.

Despite losing the first two rounds of the grand final, GO1 managed to turn the game around and defeated Xiaohai with a score of 5-3. In the final, he effectively utilized characters Kain and Billy.

Prize Places and Payouts

The Fatal Fury competition at the Esports World Cup 2025 featured 16 world-class players competing for a total prize pool of $1 million. Even participants eliminated in the group stage received no less than $20,000.

The tournament's absolute winner was GO1, earning $300,000 in prize money and 1000 club points. Xiaohai took second place, earning $155,000, while DarkAngel secured "bronze" by defeating Mok in the match for third place.

Here's how the prize places and amounts were distributed:

Importance of This Tournament

The Fatal Fury tournament marked the first competition in the game series in over 25 years. GO1's victory not only cemented his status as one of the world's top fighting game players (he previously dominated in Dragon Ball FighterZ) but also guarantees him participation in the SNK World Championship, set to take place in August at Evo in Las Vegas.

GO1's victory at the Fatal Fury EWC 2025 sets a new standard for players at the upcoming Evo and other competitions. With his brilliant play and strategic flexibility, he becomes the first champion of the revamped Fatal Fury series—bringing the classic fighting franchise back to the modern esports level.

SNK World Championship 2025 — The Next Big Stage

Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves will headline the SNK World Championship 2025, a global tournament with a total prize pool of $2.5 million. The winner will receive $1.5 million, and qualifying competitions will be held in various regions worldwide. The next major event is EVO Las Vegas, scheduled for August 1-3, 2025.