EWC Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves – Champions to Watch

The Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves competition at the Esports World Cup will represent the foremost demonstration of the game’s ecosystem for the Fighting Game Community as of yet.

Following the release of the latest installment in the Fatal Fury series, the FGC has generally lauded the game’s mechanics, its approach to gameplay, and its prospective suitability for esports. However, opportunities to examine this hypothesis through significant tournaments have been limited.

At this juncture, several potentially influential figures are proceeding to the EWC with the ambition of becoming distinguished as among the initial Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves champions.

Earlier in the current year, SNK, the developer, made public the SNK World Championship 2025, which will feature a $2.5m (~£1.8m) tournament for Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves as its headline event.

However, this event is scheduled to occur in ‘late 2025.’ This circumstance has left Fatal Fury competitors without access to substantial tournaments until the Esports World Cup. Given the magnitude of the financial rewards available to those who dedicate themselves to the game, a selection of established fighting game professionals have resolved to embrace the challenge.

The lineup for the forthcoming Fatal Fury tournament includes multiple familiar personalities. A notable example is Naoki ‘Nemo’ Nemot, formerly associated with Team Liquid, a name typically linked to Street Fighter. During the Street Fighter 4 and 5 periods, Nemo distinguished himself as a high-caliber competitor, celebrated for his enigmatic and intensely offensive approach. He secured the runner-up position at Evo 2023.

Since the launch of Street Fighter 6, Nemo has encountered challenges in consistently reaching the Top 24, yet he has actively participated in online competitions and events worldwide — for instance, he achieved a 33rd-48th place finish at CEO 2025. Nemo has broadened his gaming repertoire to include additional fighting games, exemplified by Marvel vs. Capcom. He is presently aspiring to extend his competitive pursuits into Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves.

Fans may also identify Reynald Tacsuan, particularly those who follow The King of the Fighters. Throughout The King of Fighters XIV and XV seasons, Reynald established himself as a commanding figure, triumphing at Evo in 2013 and subsequently at DreamHack Dallas in 2023 — signifying a decade spent at the forefront of the game, interspersed with numerous victories.

Reynald has already devoted time to practicing Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves, achieving a third-place finish at LVL UP EXPO 2025, a second-place finish at Combo Breaker 2025, followed by a 5th-6th place finish at CEO 2025. He has been traversing the globe in pursuit of his aspiration to achieve preeminence.

Lee ‘Xyzzy’ Han-byul , a fighting game competitor from South Korea, has been acquired by Team Falcons after demonstrating robust performances in Fatal Fury early in its competitive lifespan. He secured a 9th-12th place finish at CEO 2025 and claimed first place at a Tier 2 tournament, Hessen Crash XXII. Additionally, he has exhibited consistent prowess in Street Fighter 6, Guilty Gear -STRIVE- and Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising, showcasing his adaptability and rapid proficiency in fighting games.

Christopher ‘NYChrisG’ Gonzalez holds the distinction of being a Marvel vs. Capcom champion, having secured victories in multiple Evo events for the title. Following his recognition as the foremost Morrigan player globally, NYChrisG elected to compete extensively in Street Fighter, a game he has rigorously pursued since Street Fighter Alpha II, achieving remarkably consistent outcomes.

Evo victor Shoji ‘Fenritti’ Sho represents another player warranting attention, recognized as a BlazBlue: Central Fiction expert who boasts numerous Tier 1 tournament triumphs, including Combo Breaker 2018 and CEO 2019. Furthermore, he has demonstrated high levels of accomplishment in Dragon Ball FighterZ, achieving victory at the 2022 DBFZ World Tour Finals, thus solidifying his status as a premier competitor in the scene. Currently, he is focusing his endeavors on Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves.

Here is the definitive compilation of Fatal Fury contestants advancing to the Esports World Cup on July 10th, having earned qualification through competitions held throughout the year: