Esports World Cup: Xiao Hai Stuns Punk in Dramatic Group E Clash

Match Summary:
Xiao Hai defeats Punk – 3–2 (Group E, Day 1)

The Esports World Cup officially kicked off yesterday, with all 48 competitors taking the stage. By the end of the day, 12 players had punched their tickets to the third phase of the tournament.

While there were plenty of memorable moments, the biggest story came from Group E, where rivals Punk and Xiao Hai delivered a match for the ages.

The two have history dating back to Street Fighter League USA, when Xiao Hai coined the infamous taunt, “Are you nervous?” Although their rivalry has since cooled into mutual respect, every encounter between them still carries extra weight.

And this one more than lived up to the hype. Punk came out strong, racing to a 2–0 lead and looking set to close out the match. But Xiao Hai battled back, clawing his way round by round until the set reached a decisive final game.

In the last round, Xiao Hai landed a Level 3 Super that put him within striking distance of victory. Punk answered back with a clutch combo into his own Level 3, believing it was the game-winner. He leapt from his seat, celebrating as the crowd roared, only to realize, in horror, that Xiao Hai’s character had survived with a sliver of health.

Disoriented from the premature pop-off, Punk attempted a risky jump-in. Xiao Hai stayed composed, anti-aired cleanly, and sealed the set in dramatic fashion.

The moment instantly went viral across the FGC, equal parts entertaining and agonizing for fans of the American star. Punk later admitted on social media that he was frustrated by his reaction.

The good news for Punk is that the loss doesn’t end his tournament run. He still has a chance to qualify for the top 16, but he’ll need to defeat both Tachikawa and Kakeru in his remaining Group E matches.