MenaRD on the Importance of Evolving the Capcom Pro Tour to Support Street Fighter’s Future

MenaRD, a professional Street Fighter 6 player, shared his perspective on the current state of the Capcom Pro Tour and expressed his belief that it is ultimately harmful to the game’s competitive community.

The Capcom Pro Tour has undergone significant changes since its days during the Street Fighter V era.

In the past, the CPT allocated points to players according to their performance during the competitive season, motivating fighters to tap into their inner World Warrior and participate in numerous in-person events. The top point earners would secure a spot in Capcom Cup, along with the previous year’s champion and the winner of a final chance qualifying tournament.

Previously, securing a spot at Capcom Cup relied heavily on grinding through the year and winning multiple major tournaments. However, the rules have now changed. Winning Offline Premier Events and Online World Warrior tournaments ensures a guaranteed position at Capcom Cup, giving more importance to individual winners rather than those who consistently compete but do not achieve a major victory.

The current Capcom Pro Tour is a drastically different beast now that Street Fighter 6 is here.

Despite the pros and cons associated with both formats, there has been ongoing discussion within the community regarding whether this newer style of competition is beneficial for professional players attempting to make a living and display their skills. At EVO 2024, we had the opportunity to speak with MenaRD, a two-time winner of Capcom Cup and the 2024 EVO Japan champion, and get his thoughts on the current state of the CPT in an exclusive interview.

Despite acknowledging the advantages of the current structure, Mena asserts that the CPT, in its present form, is not ideal for competitive players. He advocates for a system that guarantees the most skilled players reach the top, rather than being eliminated early on in pools.

During our conversation, he explained that the situation had both positive and negative aspects. He emphasized the importance of representation, as he has experienced both sides of the spectrum. On one hand, he was once a rising player from an underrepresented region, striving for an opportunity. On the other hand, he has also been a top player seeking the best platform to showcase his abilities. As such, he believes it is vital to have diverse representation and provide opportunities for smaller regions.

Despite this, Mena believes that the disadvantages far exceed the advantages in several aspects. Many of the top competitions on the CPT occur in the beginning, resulting in top professionals being eliminated due to their initial rankings.

Despite not hating it, I do have some concerns about the tournament. While I enjoy it, I feel that the focus is more on entertainment rather than showcasing the world’s best players. This was evident last year and it greatly affected our team. We have players who need to prove themselves on a global level and they have a guaranteed spot in the Cup, but the addition of the lottery factor adds an element of uncertainty.

“There is no seeding involved, it’s completely random. In the previous year, I was placed in a pool with Caba, AngryBird, and EndingWalker for my matches. This experience makes me believe that there should be a greater level of seriousness and responsibility placed on the World Finals, rather than just being for entertainment purposes.”

evo-2024-details-confirmed (1) — Robert Paul, EVO

We spoke with MenaRD at EVO 2024, a hotspot for competition among the world’s best fighting game players.

Mena is correct in saying that the 2024 CPT presents more opportunities for players who are unable to travel outside of their regions. As seen in last year’s Pro Tour, this format allows lesser-known fighters to make a name for themselves and have a significant impact on the scene. In addition, this year’s CPT offers extra spots in Capcom Cup for second-place players in the Super Premier and Super World Warrior tournaments, although there will not be a Last Chance Qualifier. While accumulating points is important in the World Warrior tournaments, ultimately, it is the winner who earns the ultimate reward – a ticket to Capcom Cup.

However, Mena believes that events such as Red Bull Kumite are much more focused on showmanship, which is a priority for the current Tour. He also thinks that the CPT should prioritize pure competition.

Additionally, Mena expresses concern that the uncertain state of the CPT could potentially jeopardize the future of competitive Street Fighter. He points to the controversial format of the Tour and the divisive distribution of the $1 million 2023 Capcom Cup prize pool, which has sparked controversy within the community.

“I believe that there are certain events, such as Red Bull Kumite, that are designed to showcase skills and abilities. However, the Capcom Pro Tour World Finals is a prestigious event and therefore, I feel that the format should be more consistent and reliable. Despite this, I do not dislike it overall.”

menard-evo-2024-interview-capcom-pro-tour — Daniel Weiss / Red Bull Content Pool

MenaRD says there’s pros and cons to the current CPT, but ultimately worries it might be detrimental to pro players.

“There is a challenge in garnering support for players, as some may view playing Street Fighter professionally as a privilege. However, without stable conditions, this profession cannot be sustained for long. Another issue is the uneven distribution of the prize pool, with first place receiving one million dollars while second place only earns 75,000 points.”

“Next, let’s consider the format of the tournament itself. Additionally, we must acknowledge that even the best players in the world may not qualify. This instability can greatly affect competitive players, and it’s a problem that needs to be addressed. While the current situation is not necessarily bad, there is definitely room for improvement.”

Last year, the CPT only included three Offline Premier events, which came as a surprise to many members of the fighting game community. This was unexpected, as in-person tournaments are crucial for maintaining a vibrant and thriving scene.

This year’s Tour will showcase eight Offline Premiers and various online World Warrior events, including Super Premiers and Super World Warrior tournaments. While this marks a positive change from the previous year’s Tour, professional players like Mena remain optimistic that further improvements can be made to maintain a competitive and sustainable environment that supports the participation of more full-time professionals in the circuit.