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Fujimura will defend his title at Red Bull Kumite 2019
The current champion will certainly have his work cut out, as we can exclusively reveal the other big names set to appear in the Street Fighter V tournament in October.
Fujimura will not only be defending his 2018 Kumite title on home soil when the event takes place in Japan on December 22, but he'll also be seeking revenge after his defeat at the hands of Big Bird at EVO earlier this year, who's also set to take part. However, after a tough defeat in the Kumite championship in 2016 and having grown exponentially as a player in recent years, you can bet that Big Bird will be intent on claiming the trophy for himself.
Also joining the fray is American player 801 Strider, who travels to Red Bull Kumite 2019 with one goal in mind: to punch other characters in the face and have fun doing it.
Without further ado, here's a closer look at the latest batch of player looking to conquer Red Bull Kumite 2019.
Fujimura
Can Fujimura claim successive titles in Japan?
© Red Bull Kumite
Country: Japan
Age: 33
Real Name: 藤村/ Fujimura Atsushi
Title for RBK: The Machine
Character: Ibuki
Japan's Fujimura was the 2018 winner of Red Bull Kumite
© RedBull.com
Fujimura Atsushi was crowned Red Bull Kumite champion in 2018 and is arguably one of the most consistent Street Fighter V players on the planet.
What truly stands out when watching Fujimura playing is how everything he does is optimised and carefully thought out. He trains by recreating situations he encountered previously and then finds ways to use them to his advantage. Much like Daniel's training under Mr. Miyagi in Karate Kid, Fujimura repeats the same moves again and again, so that they become second nature to him, even under heavy pressure from his opponent.
He plays Ibuki, a high school ninja girl who excels in scramble situations. Armed with projectiles to control space, good poking tools and able to teleport and confuse her opponents, Ibuki is an aggressive character and fits Fujimura's mindset perfectly.
Nicknamed 'The Machine', he might seize the opportunity of attending Red Bull Kumite 2019 to seek vengeance against Big Bird, the Emirati prodigy who defeated him during EVO 2019, effectively barring him from reaching the podium.
Big Bird
Big Bird shows that with enough talent and work you can reach the top
© Li Hoang Red Bull Content Pool
Country: United Arab Emirates
Age: 22
Real Name: Adel Anouche
Title for RBK: The Rising Star
Character: Rashid
Big Bird plays with Rashid, a nimble fighter with acrobatic kicks
© RedBull.com
Anel 'Big Bird' Anouche has been soaring in the Street Fighter V scene for the last four years. He first came to international attention at Red Bull Kumite 2016, when he entered the open qualifier tournament and beat several top players during the final day. At 18, his journey was only beginning and then, aged 21, he officially became a Red Bull athlete. This year, he placed second at EVO 2019, where he fell to Bonchan's Karin.
His character of choice is Rashid, a nimble fighter who uses acrobatic kicks and tornadoes to close gaps and maintain pressure.
The fighting game realm is one of the few esports communities where players keep competing even as they get older, accumulating years of experience, but Big Bird proved that with enough talent and work, you can mix it with the most seasoned players. By living in the Emirates and succeeding internationally, he's also demonstrated that talent can shine even from smaller local scenes.
801 Strider
801 Strider plays with such a carefree style that he's a joy to watch
© Drew Gurian/Red Bull Content Pool
Country: USA
Age: 28
Real Name: Gustavo Romero
Title for RBK: The Amateur
Character: G, Lucia
801 Strider proves that even amateur players can beat the pros
© RedBull.com
As Red Bull Kumite is often stacked with professional players and prestige, it is easy to forget that Street Fighter V is, well, a game. One man who appreciates this more than most is Gustavo '801 Strider' Romero, an amateur player who appears as if he's just at tournaments to have fun. Unfortunately for his opponents right now, he's having a blast. Armed with his beloved character G, a comical but explosive fighter dressed like Abraham Lincoln, 801 Strider has placed high in every tournament he's entered this year.
He takes pride in being a regular guy with a normal job, as opposed to being a professional player. He separates his professional life from Street Fighter and despite doing so, still manages to beat some of the best players in the world. To him, tournaments are vacations and Street Fighter V is a hobby that you can be good at by training smarter, instead of spending countless hours simply bashing buttons. An advocate of work-life balance, 801 Strider thinks a player's wellbeing shouldn't be tied to a game that can change every year or so, but instead to more certain things.
His invitation to Red Bull Kumite 2019 is proof that the roads leading to success are varied and that the fun, amateur path is just as valid as another.
