The Evolution Championship Series (EVO) 2025 in Nice, France has concluded, with various champions crowned across multiple FGC titles, including Tekken 8, Street Fighter 6, and more.
The esports event took place from October 10th to 12th, 2025, and saw several players, including previous EVO champions, rise above the rest in their respective games.
Street Fighter 6
Street Fighter 6 was ultimately won by Shin ‘Leshar‘ Moon-sup representing DRX, who fought against 2Game Esports’ Derek ‘Blaz‘ in the Grand Finals. Blaz won the first set after clinching a 3-2 comeback victory. However, as he qualified through the Lower Brackets, a second set was played to decide the overall winner of the tournament.
Leshar ultimately came out on top after winning the second set with a landslide 3-1 win, taking home €9,200 (~$10,790/£7,990). Since Leshar already qualified for Capcom Cup 12 through one of the 2025 Capcom Pro Tour Premier Tournaments, Blaz received the qualification spot as the runner-up.
Tekken 8
Tekken 8’s tournament was won by seven-time EVO champion, Arslan ‘Arslan Ash‘ Siddique, representing Twisted Minds. Arslan Ash began the Final Brackets in the Lower Brackets, defeating Mirage Esports’ Fergus McGee to reach the Grand Finals.
He played two sets against Team Vitality’s Jeon ‘Jeondding‘ Sang-hyun, winning both 3-1 and 3-2 to be crowned the tournament’s champion. He scored 800 Tekken World Points and took home €7,400 (~$8,670/£6,440) in winnings.
Guilty Gear -STRIVE-
Guilty Gear -STRIVE- saw ‘Tiger_Pop‘ representing ONi Global take the champion title. Beating out 95 other competitors, he has successfully qualified for the ARC World Tour 2025/2026 Finals. For his efforts, he took home €6,600 (~$7,740/£5,710).
Tiger_Pop climbed through the Lower Bracket’s to face VICE’s ‘PataChu, winning the first set 3-0 followed by a landslide 3-1 win to seize the champion title.
FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves
Five-time EVO champion, Zeng ‘Xiao Hai‘ Zhuojun, won FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves while representing KuaiShou Gaming. Climbing to the Grand Finals through the Lower Brackets, he won both sets with a landslide 3-1 score each against Team Falcons’ Yosuke ‘Kindevu‘ Ito.
The SNK World Championship 2025 Finals spot was awarded to third-place, ‘AbuOmar‘ of Team Falcons.
Dragon Ball FighterZ
Dragon Ball FighterZ was won by BMS ESPORTS’ Jo’siah ‘Hikari‘ Miller, considered to be one of the best FighterZ players of all time.
The two-time EVO champion made it to the Grand Finals through the Lower Brackets, playing against Daniel ‘Gropis‘ Gras Llopis. Hikari was awarded €2,800 (~$3,280/£2,440) in winnings, and Gropis was awarded the qualification to the Masters Showdown 2025 event.
Other Tournaments
Various other FGC tournaments were also held during EVO France 2025.
Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising was won by Lucy ‘Usagi‘ Aramburu representing Freesias of Eden, who defeated Italian FGC player ‘Pixi’ 3-0 in the Grand Finals.
HUNTERxHUNTER NENxIMPACT saw ‘Shinanochan‘, otherwise known as ‘Heiho‘, win the event at EVO France 2025. He qualified through the Upper Brackets to the Grand Finals to play against ‘ROW1‘, where he lost the first set 2-3, but bounced back with a one-sided 3-0 victory in the final set.
There were also a variety of other side tournaments held, including EVO’s first official 2XKO tournament, alongside other titles such as Vampire Saviour, Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike, and more.
