ProblemX (pictured left) is back at EVO; thanks to Ben ‘MetalQueerSolid‘ Rogan for the intel on EVO 2022 for this article
Huge competitive fighting game community (FGC) event, the Evolution Championship Series, is back this weekend with EVO 2022 in Las Vegas.
It’s the first physical EVO event in three years after 2019’s, following the pandemic, taking place from August 5th to 7th 2022. There are also new owners on board in Sony and RTS.
And there’s a host of UK talent taking part in the various fighting game tournaments over the three days.
There are tournaments in Dragon Ball FighterZ, Granblue: Fantasy Versus, Guilty Gear: Strive, King of Fighters XV, Melty Blood: Type Lumina, Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate, MultiVersus, Skullgirls: 2nd Encore, Street Fighter V: Champion Edition and Tekken 7.
British FGC player MetalQueerSolid, who represents UK esports org Reason Gaming and managed to crowdfund his trip to Vegas, filled Esports News UK in on some of his notable UK talent at the event.
On the player side of things, there’s:
- Street Fighter V: ProblemX (Mouz, who won EVO 2018), Ryan Hart (F/A) and MetalQueerSolid (Reason Gaming)
- Guilty Gear Strive: Mystic (Vexed)
- Mortal Kombat 11: a f0xy grampa (F/A), Videogamezyo (CGL)
- Tekken 7: Ayorichie (RIZE), Joka (Gosua Gaming), Ryan Hart (F/A), K-Wiss (F/A) and Fergus (BoB)
- Granblue and Multiverse: VirumSD
Then looking at casting talent, the UK has:
- Street Fighter V: Logan Sama, Jammerz, Damascus and Tyrant
- Tekken 7: Spag, SamDDing
- Dragon Ball FighterZ: Tyrant, Damascus
- Guilty Gear: C4IQ, Damascus
- Mortal Kombat 11: Ketchup and Mustard
- Multiversus: VirumSD
(did we miss any? please DM us!)
What are the UK’s chances at EVO 2022?
How will we do, and what is the general vibe of the event?
MetalQueerSolid told Esports News UK: “I think we have a good shot in multiple games, SFV and MK11 especially. ProblemX is one of the favourites to win for SFV, as is f0xy on MK.
“Mystic is a dark horse for Guilty Gear as he’s been putting time into other games – he’s still a ridiculous once-in-a-generation talent though.
“The general mood of the event is hard to call. EVO is under new management (Sony and RTS) and so far they’re doing a very good job, but like I said, first year. I feel like they’re going all out, and I like that. They’re showing they care more than the old owners.”
On the UK casting talent at EVO 2022, MQS added:
“Outside of a couple of exceptions, I always think the UK lot bring something nobody else does to the table. Most of them are so knowledgable about the games, multiple games in some cases, like they know so, so, so much because they live and breathe these titles. Not to say others don’t, but the passion shines through.”
MetalQueerSolid, Reason Gaming
“You can tell Logan loves this. You can tell Ketchup and Mustard love this.”
EVO is underway. We’ll be back with more coverage on how the UK guys get on out in Las Vegas.
You can also see more about the event and its schedule in this EVO 2022 Twitter thread:
Related article: UK players and casters react to new Street Fighter 6 features
Dom is an award-winning writer and finalist of the Esports Journalist of the Year 2023 award. He graduated from Bournemouth University with a 2:1 degree in Multi-Media Journalism in 2007.
As a long-time gamer having first picked up the NES controller in the late ’80s, he has written for a range of publications including GamesTM, Nintendo Official Magazine, industry publication MCV and others. He worked as head of content for the British Esports Federation up until February 2021, when he stepped back to work full-time on Esports News UK and offer esports consultancy and freelance services. Note: Dom still produces the British Esports newsletter on a freelance basis, so our coverage of British Esports is always kept simple – usually just covering the occasional press release – because of this conflict of interest.
