T8
MK1
SF6
GBVSR
2XKO
SSBU
T7
DBFZ
BH
GGST
SC6
SG2E
KI
MVS
KoFXV
MBTL
SF5
MK11
The curtains have closed on Street Fighter League Europe (SFL EU), and in truly breathtaking fashion, Ninjas In Pyjamas (NIP) were crowned champions, securing a historic back-to-back victory in the league.In a pulsating Grand Final showdown, NIP managed to snatch victory from the grasp of league leaders, Mouz. The narrative revolved entirely around AngryBird who came up absolutely clutch, handing EndingWalker his first two defeats of the entire season to secure the championship for his squad.
The Grand Finals employed the demanding first-to-70 format, adhering to the regular league rules: 10 points for the first two matches and a whopping 20 points for the anchor match. As the top seed, Mouz started with the crucial home advantage, granting them the power to counterpick their opponents in the opening set, a massive advantage.
The matches were finely balanced and highly contested. By the conclusion of the second set, the scoreboard was already tense. EndingWalker’s critical victory over Big Bird in the second set’s anchor match propelled Mouz to a formidable 50 points, meaning they needed just 20 more points to secure the title.
The pressure mounted in the next set. Garnet stepped up first, but ultimately fell to Juicy Joe. However, Lexx’s subsequent win in the second match pushed Mouz to 60 points. This provided them with a crucial cushion: they could afford to lose the anchor match, but still force a deciding final set for the victory.
This is exactly where the narrative turned into a legendary comeback story. AngryBird showcased his considerable experience over the younger, less exposed EndingWalker. He dominated the anchor match, winning 3-1 to even up the scores at 60-60 and send the whole series to a thrilling, one-off final match for 10 points and a first-to-2 set.
In the winner-take-all decider, EndingWalker stepped up again. AngryBird, sticking to his strategy, once again counterpicked his opponent and was able to secure the set 2-0 to seal the victory for NIP.
It was a devastating defeat for Mouz and EndingWalker in particular. He had maintained an immaculate record coming into the Grand Finals, winning 10 straight sets during the league campaign, and even securing his first two anchor spot victories in the finals themselves. Yet, he was ultimately unable to close it out for the team. NIP will now take the mantle as Europe's representatives at the SFL World Championships next year.
For NIP, this win is a significant milestone. Despite a somewhat lackluster league campaign that saw them finish third, they delivered when it mattered most—the mark of true champions. For EndingWalker, it’s a familiar, crushing story involving the 'Birds' of the FGC. It was Big Bird who ended his run at Evo 2024 (the year Punk took the title), and now it is another Bird, AngryBird, who has swooped in to end his SFL dream. The FGC loves a narrative, and this rivalry has just been written into the history books. Despite the setback, EndingWalker is already qualified for Capcom Cup, a goal he narrowly missed last year. He will undoubtedly be looking to bounce back from this immense disappointment on the biggest stage of all. In the aftermath, the community had nothing but kind words for the Mouz player. EndingWalker’s own statement on social media was brief and heartfelt:
“I still don't really know what to say or how to say it, regarding SFL, but. Thank you everyone for the kind words, and for the support throughout the league. And thank you to my amazing team mates, @FgcGarnet, @LexxFGC, and the greatest captain anyone could ask for @MrProblemX.”