Daigo Saves REJECT as SFL Japan Playoff Teams Are Confirmed

With only one matchday remaining for the Division F side of Street Fighter League Japan, the playoff picture is finally locked in. Heading into week nine, ZETA Division and DetonatioN FocusMe still had a real shot at the postseason, which set the stage for a tense and emotional set of matches.

DetonatioN were up against league leaders REJECT, and things immediately looked bleak when Tokido took a clean 2–0 over Nauman. Up next was John Takeuchi against Fuudo, who has been one of the most reliable point earners in the entire league. On paper the odds were heavily against JT and his Jamie, but as the set went on it became clear that he came prepared. In one of the most impressive performances of his season, JT shut down Fuudo in convincing fashion and kept his team alive in the race.

Then came the anchor match with Go1 poised to carry DFM over the finish line. REJECT, however, threw a curveball and sent out Daigo Umehara. Up until this point, Daigo had not won a single match all season, which made the decision even more surprising given that LeShar was waiting on the bench. In his pre-game comments, Daigo said he was there to “save the day,” and in vintage Beast fashion he did exactly that. He defeated Go1 3–1 in a dramatic, momentum-swinging set that crushed DFM’s playoff hopes.

The spotlight then shifted to ZETA Division in their match against IBUSHIGIN. A heavy loss could have jeopardized their third-place position, so ZETA started with their most consistent performer, Momochi, against 2BASSA. As expected, Momochi handled business and secured ten crucial points. Hikaru, on the other hand, struggled against Torimeshi, which pushed the pressure squarely onto Higuchi in the anchor role.

Higuchi has had a mixed season, winning only about forty percent of his matches so far, and his opponent Yanai is arguably IBUSHIGIN’s strongest player. What followed was a tight back-and-forth that went to two games apiece. In the final round, Higuchi dug deep, found the composure he needed, and closed it out. His pop-off said everything about how important that win was for both him and his team.

That clutch finish sealed ZETA’s place in the playoffs. Considering everything they have endured this season, including the sudden retirement of Kakeru and the limitations of only being able to field three main players until Yamaguchi joined later as a tiebreaker option, their resilience has been remarkable. Their run is a testament to stability, preparation, and the steady leadership of Momochi.

With the top three now confirmed, the only question remaining in week ten is whether REJECT can hold on to first place. They sit twenty points ahead of Hiroshima Team iXA, and if iXA manage to defeat ZETA with a strong scoreline, and REJECT falter against IBUSHIGIN, we could witness a historic late-season turnaround. Finishing first is massive, since the top team automatically advances to the Playoff Final while the remaining two teams must battle each other for the right to challenge them.

Week ten is shaping up to be more than a formality. It is the final test before the postseason, and the stakes could not be higher.