Capcom Cup 12 Ends with Sahara’s Victory and Major CPT Announcements

Capcom Cup 12 has concluded, and for the second year in a row a Japanese player has lifted the trophy. Sahara of Good 8 Squad secured the championship after a dominant run through the bracket.

On his way to the title, Sahara defeated Xerna, Dual Kevin, Blaz, and Kilzyou, keeping the trophy in Japan and claiming the coveted $1,000,000 grand prize.

Because of the tournament’s pay-per-view broadcast model, many fans were unable to follow the results in real time. Eventually, it was revealed that Sahara had taken the championship, while Team REJECT secured the Street Fighter League World Championship title after defeating Bandits in the Grand Final.

The result means that for the second consecutive year, both the individual Capcom Cup champion and the Street Fighter League world champions have come from Japan.

Five Players Already Qualified for Capcom Cup 13

Alongside the tournament results, Capcom announced several changes to the competitive structure for next season.

Five players have already secured qualification for Capcom Cup 13. Sahara earns an automatic berth as the reigning champion. The remaining four spots go to members of the Street Fighter League World Championship–winning team:

• Tokido

• Fuudo

• Daigo Umehara

• LeShar

The qualification is particularly notable for Daigo, who had not appeared at a Capcom Cup since the release of Street Fighter 6. Meanwhile, Tokido has made the last two tournaments but only entered this year after Punk withdrew due to passport issues.

Capcom Cup Returning to Ryogoku Kokugikan

Capcom also confirmed that Capcom Cup 13 will once again take place at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo, Japan, with the $1,000,000 grand prize returning for the third consecutive year.

It remains unclear whether the prize distribution will change following criticism from fans and players. In the last two tournaments, the Grand Final effectively became a $900,000 match, with the winner taking almost the entire prize pool while the runner-up received significantly less.

Street Fighter League Prize Pool Increased

The Street Fighter League will also receive a significant financial boost. The overall prize pool will increase from $500,000 to $700,000.

Previously, the three regional leagues: Japan, USA, and Europe, each featured $100,000 prize pools, with another $200,000 reserved for the world championship. Under the new structure, an additional $200,000 will be added, though Capcom has yet to reveal how the new distribution will be split.

Capcom Pro Tour Premier Events Announced

Capcom also confirmed several major tournaments as official stops on the Capcom Pro Tour. The currently announced events include:

• EVO Japan

• EVO USA

• EVO France

• Blink Respawn

• CEO Fighting Game Championships

• Combo Breaker

It remains unclear whether the global leaderboard qualification system will return. Capcom stated that more details regarding qualification methods will be revealed in early April.

Interestingly, the Esports World Cup has not yet been announced as a premier event despite Capcom previously confirming that its partnership with the tournament will continue.

Chile Becomes Its Own CPT Region

Another notable change is that Chile will now operate as its own region within the Capcom Pro Tour, separating it from the broader South America region.

The move reflects the growing strength of the country’s fighting game scene. Much of the spotlight has fallen on Blaz, who finished second at Capcom Cup 11 and third at Capcom Cup 12. Other strong Chilean players include Craime, Younghou, and Deiver, all of whom have shown impressive results internationally.

Chile has also produced top competitors in other fighting games such as Mortal Kombat, including standout players Scorpionprocs and Nicolas.

A Spectacle Despite the Controversy

While the pay-per-view format proved divisive and prevented many fans from following the entire event live, the early stages of Capcom Cup 12 still delivered an exciting spectacle for viewers.

Whether Capcom decides to maintain or revise the PPV model remains to be seen, but with Capcom Cup 13 already confirmed and major structural changes announced, the next competitive season of Street Fighter 6 is shaping up to be another pivotal year for the scene.