The Fighting Game community’s own enduring legend, no one has shaped the landscape of the fighting game genre quite like “The Beast” himself.
The fighting game community is smaller when compared to many other esports communities but is dense and fiercely competitive. Much like professional sports, there’s plenty of exciting mythology that’s grown over the years. Legends that have come to define the scene have risen over the years and have cemented the legitimacy of the FGC. However there is always one name that comes to mind when thinking of fighting games: Daigo Umehara.
Passionate from the start
As a child, Daigo developed his love of fighting games by spending lots of time at the local arcades, where he would challenge other kids to bouts of Street Fighter II. He didn’t compete until he was 17, when he entered his first tournament for the game Vampire Hunter in 1995. While he wouldn’t win his first tournament until 1997, the seeds of Daigo’s legend were planted and it grew every time he competed. His talents as a professional gamer were notable in his early days, especially during the 1998 International Street Fighter Alpha 3 tournament, where he won against another notable player, Alex Valle. While his talents were nothing to scoff at, he wouldn’t achieve legendary status until one fateful match.
The Beast’s Quickening
Evolution 2004. Daigo Umehara and Justin Wong are competing against each other in Street Fighter III: Third Strike, with their match being watched intently by every audience member. They reach the third and final round, where Justin seemingly had Daigo on the ropes. His health had reached the mythical “magic pixel,” and the pressure from Justin only increased as time went on. All Justin had to do was hit him once and would’ve proceeded to the Grand Finals. In a stunning display, Justin’s final attack, Chun-Li’s second Super Art was parried in full and countered spectacularly by Daigo. While hanging onto a sliver of health and with calculated execution, Daigo was able to best Justin and win in an incredible upset. A legend was born. The man who would be known as “The Beast,” had arrived.
Burning bright
Despite losing Evo 2004 to Kenji Obata in the Grand Finals, Daigo cemented his status and demonstrated the passion involved in the fighting game scene. His prowess has been immortalized in uploads of the well-known “Evo Moment # 37” video, where his masterful parry has been watched by millions of players worldwide. The famous moment in the FGC has been referenced in many ways, most notably in Street Fighter III: Online Edition, where its challenge mode asks players to perform the parry under the exact same conditions.
His popularity in the fighting game scene has only been furthered by his consistent participation in yearly tournaments, and by his camaraderie with fellow professionals like Justin Wong. It’s moments like his exhibition match with Justin Wong in 2014 that demonstrate the passion he has for the community and the amount of love he’s returned in kind. Along with his numerous wins, Daigo’s passion for the art of fighting games had earned him the title as the best Street Fighter player of all time.
A Legend for the Ages
Daigo’s career has been built on the amount of passion and effort he has put into furthering his skill as a player. His legend status has never waned despite not winning every single tournament he’s entered, and has only intensified as time has gone on, furthered by other avenues, such as books, manga, and documentaries. Even outside of fighting games, Daigo has made his influence known, receiving a total of three Guinness World Records for his various achievements over the course of his career.
Ignoring broken bone and streaming #SFV.https://t.co/MpXCx95FJr
— Daigo Umehara (@daigothebeast) February 22, 2021
At 39 years of age, Daigo currently continues to participate in tournaments as part of Red Bull’s team and Team Beast; he streams regularly on Twitch where he plays various games. His career as of late has not changed drastically, and has only continued on the same trajectory as always, reminding everyone of his prowess when he competes. Recently, he competed in the 2020 Capcom Pro Tour, winning first place for the first time in two years and qualifying for the 2021 Capcom Cup in the spring. Even though there are plenty of younger voices in the community these days, Daigo shows that he can keep up with the best of them, even if he happens to break a bone.
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