If any teams want to make a splash in fighting games with a big free agent signing, a golden opportunity just presented itself.
Tempo Storm will not re-sign Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3 legend Christopher “ChrisG” Gonzalez. Gonzalez won six Marvel titles during his stint with the team, which began in early March of last year. The organization made the announcement late Tuesday night on its website, and ChrisG confirmed the news via Twitter.
ChrisG is among the best multi-game players in the United States. He has won titles in Super Street Fighter IV, Skullgirls, and Injustice. He also has made deep runs in tournaments for Killer Instinct, Mortal Kombat X, King of Fighters XIII, and several others. His play in Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3, however, has been his calling card for the past few years.
ChrisG is generally considered one of the game’s three gods alongside Justin Wong and Ryan “Filipino Champ” Ramirez, and for good reason. He has won over 35 major championships, including five over the past six months. Many of those titles have come thanks to his MorriDoom play, where he fills the screen with Morrigan’s fireballs and Doctor Doom’s “Hidden Missile” assist. This turns the screen into a virtual minefield which is nearly impossible to cross. While the strategy was used before ChrisG’s rise to dominance, the style is now synonymous with him because no player before or since has implemented it with his level of precision and effectiveness.
ChrisG may not have to wait long to find a new sponsor—an idea he teased shortly after becoming a free agent—as a growing number of eyes are turning towards Marvel. The game has experienced a bit of a renaissance thanks to tremendous community efforts and a series of high-profile exhibition matches, including the memorable match between Evo champions Filipino Champ and Nicolas “Kane BlueRiver” Gonzalez at last weekend’s Winter Brawl. ChrisG’s Marvel prowess means that he’s a near-lock to make a deep run at every tournament he enters for the game, which means he’s a near-lock to bring visibility to his sponsor at every tournament.
With ChrisG’s exit, Tempo Storm’s fighting game team consists Super Smash Bros. Melee players Jeffrey “Axe” Williamson and Weston “Westballz” Dennis. The organization still has a strong presence in other esports, including Hearthstone, Heroes of the Storm, Counter Strike: Global Offensive, and World of Warcraft: Arena.
