“Long Island Joe” wins hearts and minds of U.S. fans

Korean player Infiltration is Evo’s first Street Fighter 5 champion. Infiltration, playing as Nash and FANG in Street Fighter 5, emerged victorious at today’s grand finals, besting Japanese player Fuudo’s R. Mika.

Infiltration fought his way through the losers bracket and handily defeated Fuudo, delivering three perfect rounds.

Infiltration had previously lost to Fuudo in the winners final bracket of Street Fighter 5’s top eight, but ultimately came back to win. When asked what adjustments he’d made to his strategy, Infiltration said simply, "Download complete" — meaning he’d identified the tricks and techniques Fuudo used on him previously and mentally "downloaded" his opponent.

Last year, Infiltration came in third in Ultra Street Fighter 4 behind players Gamerbee and Momochi.

More than 5,000 players competed in Street Fighter 5 at this year’s Evo. One of those, "Long Island Joe," tied for fifth in Street Fighter 5, but won hearts and minds with his performance as the sole American player in the top eight.

LI Joe, who also played as Nash, was a fan favorite at the Street Fighter 5 grand finals. He defeated Japanese player Eita in a thrilling Nash mirror match that whipped the Las Vegas crowd into a frenzy.

Joe was joined by his father at Evo — though Joe’s father’s attendance was a surprise to LI Joe until after his top eight win — and both were interviewed on ESPN to the sound of fans chanting "Daddy Joe! Daddy Joe!" Ultimately, though, Joe lost to another Nash player, Japanese player Yukadon.

Here are the top eight results for Street Fighter 5 at Evo 2016.

1. RZR Infiltration (Nash)
2. RZR Fuudo (R. Mika)
3. Yukadon (Nash)
4. HM Go1 (Chun-Li)
5. LI Joe (Nash)
6. MOV (Chun-Li)
7. HM Eita (Ken)
8. AW Nemo (Vega)

Source: Polygon – Full