GeraldEVO, short for the Evolution Championship Series, is the premier annual event in the competitive fighting game community, bringing together top players from around the globe to compete in a thrilling showcase of skill, strategy, and sportsmanship across a variety of popular fighting game titles.
For many who do not follow the fighting game circuit, it’s an event that can easily fall under the radar. But, there’s a clip that has circulated the Internet for the past 20 years that any gamer would have seen at some point of their life –
What made EVO Moment #37 iconic was the feat that became famously known as the Daigo Parry. In the original clip, you’ll notice Daigo’s Ken is on the brink of defeat with no health remaining, facing Justin Wong’s Chun-Li’s devastating special move. Dodging isn’t an option, and blocking would still result in a loss because of chip damage. In a remarkable display of skill, Daigo chooses to parry, requiring him to flawlessly time his forward movements to counter each of the 17 hits in Chun-Li’s attack. At that moment, even the top players – including Daigo’s opponent, Wong – were unaware that such a precise maneuver was possible.
The sequence has been so iconic that players can practice and recreate the moment in Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike Online Edition in 2011.
Fast forward to 2024, and we have a moment that could top EVO Moment #37.
The subsequent EVO 2024 Street Fighter III losers’ quarterfinal saw HAYAO returning with Hugo to face FRANKIEBFG on his Ken. HAYAO was focused on his mission to fight back to the grand finals. The match culminated in a spectacular moment where HAYAO executed a flawless air parry against FRANKIEBFG’s assaults after baiting FRANKIEBFG into launching an air Tatsumaki (Hurricane Kick). In a desperate attempt, FRANKIEBFG whiffed his super after HAYAO executed one of Hugo’s worst attack normals to clear Ken’s attack by a hair. This then allowed HAYAO to seize the opportunity with an EX command grab, clinching the win.
Interestingly, it was a Ken who was on the receiving end of this spectacular win against a much weaker Hugo and Justin Wong (a key character in EVO Moment #37) was on the shoutcaster’s table as well commenting on the match.
It seems that history tends to repeat itself.
Despite Daigo’s best efforts, he ended up in second place at EVO 2004. In the same beat, HAYAO was unable to push his way through to the finals succumbing to CHI-RITHY’s Chun-Li in the next match, he would end the tournament in a respectable fourth place with an iconic clip to his name which could possibly be crowned as EVO Moment #38 in the years to come.
Gerald currently straddles between his love of video games and board gaming. There’s nothing that interests him more than trying out the newest and fanciest gadget in town as well. He dreams of publishing a board game sometime in the future!
Destro
Marcus
Trinity Sun
