Here's how the weekend of Combo Breaker 2025 went

Combo Breaker 2025 has wrapped up, and what a spectacle it was! Held from May 23 to May 25 in Schaumburg, Illinois, this year’s event marked the 10th anniversary of the beloved fighting game tournament. With 24 games featured, including Street Fighter 6, Tekken 8, and Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves, the competition was fierce, and the surprises were plenty.

Major Tournament Results & Highlights

Street Fighter 6

Champion: Leshar (Ed, Mai, Terry) – Dominated the tournament, securing a 3-2 victory over Itabashi Zangief in the grand finals.
Runner-up: Itabashi Zangief (Zangief) – A veteran of the scene, fought hard but couldn’t overcome Leshar’s relentless offense.
Notable Moments: Blaz vs. DualKevin was a nail-biter, and Bonchan struggled against Leshar, proving how strong Ed has become in competitive play.

Tekken 8

Champion: Mulgold (Claudio) – Earned 560 points toward the Tekken World Cup after defeating ATIF and Knee in a thrilling final.
Runner-up: ATIF – Showed incredible skill but fell short against Mulgold’s calculated gameplay.
Big Reveal: Armor King was announced as the next Season 2 DLC character, alongside a July 10 release date for Fahkumram.

Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves

Champion: GO1 – Won 12 straight rounds, proving his mastery across multiple fighting games.
Runner-up: Reynald – A legendary SNK player, but couldn’t stop GO1’s momentum.
Esports Debut: This was the first major tournament for Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves, and it did not disappoint.

Mortal Kombat 1

Champion: SonicFox (Cyrax) – Finally broke their losing streak at Combo Breaker.
Notable Matches: Rewind vs. VideoGamezYo was a highlight, featuring fast-paced attacks and Kameo switches.
DLC Characters in Action: Homelander and T-1000 made appearances in the Top 8, adding an unexpected twist to the competition.

Other Major Tournament Results & Highlights

Guilty Gear Strive

Champion: UMISHO (Happy Chaos) – Secured victory with a 3-1 comeback in grand finals.
Runner-up: Jack (Sol Badguy) – Showed incredible skill but couldn’t hold off UMISHO’s relentless zoning.
Notable Moment: UMISHO’s win earned her a spot at the 2025/26 ARC World Tour Finals.

Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising

Champion: Xerom (Charlotta) – Dominated the finals with a clean sweep.
Runner-up: Zane – Struggled against Charlotta’s aggressive playstyle.
Esports Impact: This win secured Xerom a spot at the 2025/26 ARC World Tour Finals.

Under Night In-Birth II [Sys:Celes]

Champion: BigBlack – Defended his title with a 3-1 reset victory.
Runner-up: Knotts – Put up a strong fight but couldn’t stop BigBlack’s momentum.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Champion: ATATA – 3-1 victory.
Runner-up: Ikan.

Exciting Announcements

Tekken 8 DLC: Armor King joins the roster in Season 2, with Fahkumram arriving on July 10.
Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves: Andy Bogard was revealed as a playable character.
Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising: Galleon was confirmed as the next DLC character, with a showcase happening right after the event.
Guilty Gear Strive: Unika was revealed as a new playable character, with a gameplay trailer shown during the event

Combo Breaker 2025 was a thrilling celebration of fighting games, packed with intense matches, shocking upsets, and exciting reveals. Whether you’re a hardcore competitor or a casual fan, this year’s event had something for everyone. With new DLC characters, legendary players, and unforgettable moments, Combo Breaker continues to be a cornerstone of the fighting game community.