Capcom Cup Champ Kakeru Exits Esports World Cup Due To Illness

Capcom Cup winner Kakeru has been forced to withdraw from the Esports World Cup after suffering from suspected food poisoning.

The Gamers8 champion was placed in Group E alongside Punk, Tachikawa, and Xiao Hai. On Day 1 of group play, Kakeru opened strong with a win over Tachikawa, but later fell to Xiao Hai, sending him to the losers’ side.

He was set to face the winner of Punk vs. Tachikawa in an elimination match. However, just before the set was scheduled to begin, it was announced that Kakeru had dropped out of the tournament.

Kakeru’s wife released a statement on his X account, apologizing for the sudden withdrawal and explaining that he began to feel unwell during the event, even requiring medical attention on-site. She assured fans that he is recovering well and will undergo further tests once he returns to Japan.

The FGC quickly rallied behind Kakeru, a player known for his exciting playstyle and high-level talent. His scheduled opponent, Punk, advanced automatically to the next phase.

Punk later posted that he wasn’t happy about moving forward this way, but wished Kakeru a speedy recovery. He added that if he manages to win the tournament, he would dedicate the victory to the Japanese star.

Still, Punk has his work cut out for him. He’ll have to get through a stacked group that includes Moke and Matsu56, two of Japan’s strongest players.