Taut matches between top-level competitors are so rewarding to watch and so fascinating in their interplay, that it’s natural to wish they would never end. For Street Fighter fans, your wish is granted.
Team Blackeye recently held an exhibition match between its marquee Rolento player, Nemo, and Razer’s Kun Xian Ho, a Singaporean Gen player currently in the world top five. Fortunately for fans, this was more than just a routine best-of-five showdown.
Nemo and Xian played a staggering first-to-15 for Twitch viewers that lasted nearly one hour and 15 minutes. With both players showcasing their best fighters, the marathon exhibition is more than just a sideshow–it’s an hour-plus showcase of top-level play.
The action is tight, as you would expect from two of Street Fighter‘s best. Nemo continues to demonstrate his prowess with Rolento, going blow-for-blow with Xian’s Gen, despite the commonly held belief that Rolento is well below Gen’s tier as a character.
But Xian is every bit his equal, putting in copious comebacks and clutch ultras to turn supposedly won sets into miracle wins. Without giving away the ending, the players sit knotted at nine sets apiece after a grueling hour of play.
The set is both a tribute to fighting games fans’ passion and the parity that currently exists in the Street Fighter world. With Capcom Cup promising big payouts for the game’s finest this year, every chance to see top players becomes a fascinating showcase of a rapidly growing esport.
