Chinese veteran Xiaohai defends Street Fighter 6 crown at Esports World Cup

RIYADH, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese fighting game veteran Zeng Zhuojun, also known as Xiaohai, successfully defended his title at the 2025 Esports World Cup (EWC) in Riyadh on Sunday, edging Chilean teenager Derek Blaz 5-4 in the Street Fighter 6 final.

The 33-year-old, representing KuaiShou Gaming, pocketed 250,000 U.S. dollars with the victory, becoming only the third player in EWC history to claim back-to-back championships.

The grand final showcased a clash of generations. Zeng relied on his experience and adaptability to withstand the fearless challenge of 15-year-old Blaz, who had advanced to the title match after eliminating several world-class opponents.

The grand finals kicked off with the defending champion in control of M. Bison and the prodigy playing as Ryu. Blaz took an early lead in the set, winning three games, forcing Xiaohai to adjust his strategy. The Chinese earned his first point in the set by switching to Mai Shiranui and maintained pressure on Blaz, even as Blaz switched from Ryu to Ken over the next two games to tie the set.

Blaz then picked up the next win to reach match point first. With his back against the wall, Xiaohai managed to clinch a critical game, putting himself on match point. The final round came down to the wire, and despite being behind on HP, Xiaohai executed a combo into Critical Art that sealed the victory.

Zeng's success also earned 1,000 Club Championship points for KuaiShou Gaming. Combined with his runner-up finish in another title match earlier in the tournament, his contributions helped the club secure ninth place overall and 700,000 dollars in prize money.

The triumph adds another chapter to Zeng's career and underlines the growing presence of Chinese players on the global esports stage. ■