Following an intense weekend of battles and Street Fighter 6 excitement, Saul Leonardo “MenaRD” Mena II emerged victorious as the Red Bull Kumite 2024 champion. Amidst the thrill of victory, MenaRD shared his thoughts on the triumph and the support of the fighting game community (FGC).
The Red Bull Kumite 2024 took place in New York between March 16 and 17, where top Street Fighter 6 players competed fiercely for the coveted trophy. With the Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ) and Play-In stage concluded, 16 players, including 14 invited guests, LCQ winner Kevin “Dual Kevin” Barrios, and Play-In winner Alan “Nephew” Sun, battled for supremacy.
MenaRD’s journey to victory began with a hard-fought 5-4 victory against Rob “Broski” Livingston in the opening round. He continued his dominance by defeating Tsunehiro “gachikun” Kanamori 5-1 in the quarterfinals and sweeping Victor “Punk” Woodley 5-0 in the semifinals.
In the grand final, MenaRD maintained his momentum, securing another flawless 5-0 victory over Du “NuckleDu” Dang, clinching the Street Fighter 6 trophy and the majority of the $50,000 USD prize pool.
Reflecting on his win in a post-match interview with Rob “RobTV” Burney, MenaRD acknowledged the collective effort behind such moments of triumph. He expressed gratitude to Red Bull, his team, and supporters who sacrificed to be present.
MenaRD highlighted the importance of each individual’s contribution to the FGC, emphasizing his role in providing memorable gameplay experiences. He expressed satisfaction in fulfilling his part and expressed gratitude for the community’s support.
