GO1 defeats Xiaohai to win first-ever Fatal Fury EWC Championship

Japanese fighting game star Goichi “GO1” Kishida etched his name into esports history on Saturday, claiming the inaugural Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves crown at the 2025 Esports World Cup in Riyadh.

Despite entering the tournament as a top seed but not the outright favourite with the top online betting sites, GO1 surged through a high-class field of 16 global competitors before toppling China’s Zeng “Xiaohai” Zhuojun 5-3 in a tense grand final.

GO1’s title run added another chapter to an already decorated career, with the veteran player previously tasting glory in games like Dragon Ball FighterZ and Tougeki – Super Battle Opera. His trademark defensive style and strategic reads were on full display in Riyadh, where he overturned an early 0-2 deficit in the final to secure the $300,000 winner’s cheque.

“It’s like a dream. Thank you so much. It’s amazing,” GO1 said after his emotional victory. “I’ve been through a lot, but I was given an opportunity to work with DetonatioN FocusMe, and I’d like to extend my gratitude to everyone who made it possible.”

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The win also netted 1,000 Club Championship points for DetonatioN FocusMe, pushing the team up the standings as the EWC festival rolls on.

The Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves competition marked a major comeback for the classic SNK franchise after a long hiatus. It drew notable crossovers from the broader fighting game scene, with stars from Street Fighter 6 and TEKKEN 8 also taking part.

While GO1 now looks towards the SNK World Championship at EVO Las Vegas in August, his EWC triumph has firmly established Fatal Fury as a legitimate player in the modern esports landscape — and proved that this veteran still has plenty of fight left in him.

2025 Fatal Fury Esports World Cup standings