GO1 Reveals He Nearly Retired Before Award-Winning 2025

Esports Player of the Year at the most recent Japan Esports Awards, Goichi Kishida, better known as GO1, stunned fans after revealing that he seriously considered retiring in early 2025, and only continued after heartfelt conversations with close friends and fellow professionals.

GO1 went on to have a remarkable 2025, particularly in Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves, where he captured titles at Evo 2025, Combo Breaker, and the Esports World Cup. His year was just as impressive in Street Fighter 6, winning the first Japan World Warrior tournament, placing top 8 at EWC after fighting through the Last Chance Qualifier, and also finishing top 8 at Combo Breaker.

In an interview with Japanese publication Esports World, GO1 admitted that receiving the Player of the Year award was an emotional moment, largely because of how close he came to stepping away from competition. He explained that struggles in Street Fighter 6, where results initially failed to materialize, had left him deeply discouraged.

Speaking candidly, GO1 said (translated from Japanese):

“As I mentioned briefly on stage, I was considering retiring in 2025. After consulting with close professional gamer friends like Dogura and KEI.B, I decided to continue as a professional.

I never expected to achieve results like this, and I certainly never imagined receiving such an honorable award. Even though I didn’t intend to cry at all, everything just came flooding in.”

His decision to keep competing proved to be career-defining, as he went on to produce one of the strongest years of his storied career. With Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves and Street Fighter 6 both set for major competitive moments in 2026, GO1 appears motivated to continue building on an already legendary FGC legacy.