UFA Champion Sahara Wins #WW3 Japan, Opens Door for New CC Qualifier

Japan’s third World Warrior tournament of the season wrapped up over the weekend with more than a thousand players fighting for that crucial first place finish. In the end, it was Good 8 Squad’s Sahara who rose above the rest. His stock continues to skyrocket after his incredible Ultimate Fighting Arena victory earlier this year.

In the Grand Final, Sahara defeated Dhalsim specialist Torimeshi to take the title and climb to first place on the World Warrior Japan leaderboard with only two events remaining. His place at Capcom Cup is already secure because of his UFA win, which means the qualification spot from this event now opens up an opportunity for the players behind him.

Sahara joined the reigning Street Fighter League World Championship roster of Good 8 Squad at the start of this season. Because he joined after their championship run, he did not receive the auto qualification granted to the rest of the lineup. Earning his own Capcom Cup ticket on top of joining such a legendary squad proves just how world-class he has become.

With Sahara already locked in, attention turns to the chasing pack. Hibiki holds second place with 57 points after his top 48 finish added two more points to his tally. He sits seven points ahead of GO1 in third. With only two stops left in the circuit, a single strong finish, possibly just a top eight, could be enough to secure Hibiki’s qualification. Even if he falls short, he looks safely positioned to reach the regional finals, where other heavy hitters like GO1, Dogura, Daigo, Seiya, Torimeshi, Yanai, Take-take piano and Sautamu remain firmly in the race.

Japan’s fourth World Warrior tournament is scheduled for November 30, 2025. The leaderboard is heating up, and every point matters from this moment on.