Canada Cup 2011, North America’s second largest fighting game event, goes live this weekend with more than the usual tournament fare. This year, teams from different countries around the world are convening for a 5-on-5 exhibition in Super Street Fighter 4 Arcade Edition, and Singapore has sent a team.
Comprising of HZY (C.Viper), Zhi (Zangief), Xian (Gen), RealDeal (Ryu) and Leslie (Sagat), this vanguard of local fighting players will be going up against some of the best in the scene. Team Singapore will be facing Europe, the USA, Korea, Canada, and not surprisingly, two teams from Japan.
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Japan is expected to take one of the top slots in the tournament. Local fighting game player Jeremy ‘Airconman’ Strav has even wagered that he would eat his computer, should Japan not get first or second. Their prowess is a stark contrast to Singapore’s.
It is a well known fact that the team currently en route to Canada is not the best we could have sent. Of the five, only Xian and Leslie have attained international recognition. They are best known as the men who got Singapore into the Top 32 seeds at this year’s EVO2k11, held in Las Vegas, USA. EVO, otherwise known as the Evolution Championship series, is considered to be the largest and most renowned fighting game tournament, and has been running since 2002. This is often regarded as the “World Cup” of Fighting Games.
The other three players – HZY, Zhi and RealDeal – are all great players in their own right, but were chosen to represent more because the better players have been tied down with work commitments, or by a lack of financial support. Team Singapore has kept mum about their sponsorship (or lack of), though word has it that their airfare has been partially paid for by an unnamed sponsor.
The belief held by most of the international fighting game community – that Singapore is a sleeper country with no real achievements – looks to continue past Canada Cup 2011.
But as with all fighting games, the chance of an underdog win is always possible. Game knowledge only gets one so far in the world of Street Fighter. When it truly comes down to it, yomi, or knowing your opponent’s mind, can bring a player back from his last pixel of health.
Team Singapore captain Xian, who is playing the character Gen, has been proving his mettle in fighting game tournaments worldwide since coming back from EVO. His most recent win was at the Philippines’ Oktoberfist 2011 tournament, where he took first place. Xian’s exposure on the international stage, to a myriad of opponents, will hopefully give Team Singapore the boost it needs to hold its own in Canada Cup.
No numbers have been projected for this year’s Canada Cup’s attendance, but if last year’s numbers of 360 onsite competitors and 15,000 stream viewers are anything to go by, then one can expect one huge fighting game fest this weekend.
On top of the international 5-on-5 exhibition, there will also be singles tournaments for Marvel vs Capcom 3, Super Street Fighter 4 Arcade Edition, BlazBlue CS2, Mortal Kombat 9, Tekken 6 and Super Street Fighter 2: HDR. Xian will also be participating in the Marvel vs Capcom 3 singles tournament, on top of leading Team Singapore for the 5-on- exhibition.
Singapore may only stand an underdog’s chance in beating powerhouses like the USA and Japan, but it’s safe to say that the local fighting game community will convene around their computers all around the island this weekend to watch the stream, and to show their support. Because win or lose, it’s still Team Singapore out there, representing our sunny island nation. Yes, there’s national pride on the line!
Canada Cup starts this weekend at 0800 MDT, but the really good stuff starts streaming from 1200 SGT on Sunday, 6th November. Tune in for the live stream at http://canada-cup.ca, because win or lose, Team Singapore is still very much loved and supported!
