As I’m sure many of you know by now, the United States will be represented at this year’s ARC REVOLUTION CUP by a pretty unlikely trio of competitors. While, without a doubt, strong in their own right, Marvelous Customs’ GCYoshi13, Lord Knight of Team Spooky, and 2GB Combo are each known for their skills in fairly different titles.
So what did it look like when they qualified for the world’s most stacked Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN- competition over the odds-on favorites? Fortunately, Hold Back to Block was on the scene to capture this special moment.
If you’re not sure what’s going on in the above video, here’s a little background.
GCYoshi is a player perhaps best known for his Chris play in Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3. The last few years have seen him ride the STARS member to decent placings at the two most recent Evolution Championship Series events as well as an impressive fifth-place title at Northwest Majors 7 alongside players like PG|Filipino Champ, BE|Kane Blueriver, NYChrisG, and more.
Lord Knight, on the other hand, has been a dominant force in pretty much every airdasher he’s set his sights on. From Melty Blood to Persona and everything in-between, you can always count on him to at least be competent in these anime-inspired fighters. Those skills haven’t immediately translated to success in Guilty Gear, but it’s only a matter of time before he proves himself among the best.
And finally, 2GB Combo. While he broke into the larger fighting game community as one of NorCal’s best Persona players, he’s really made a name for himself in Under Night In-Birth. Over the past year, 2GB has placed first at events in his neck of the woods like Northwest Majors 7 and NorCal Regionals 2015 and even east coast affairs such as Final Round 18 and Northeast Championship 15.
Now, it goes without saying that these players are fantastic competitors in their own rights. But when they came up against a Midwestern team comprised of Elvenshadow, Blacksnake, and AKA, their fates looked all but sealed. How could this motley group compare to some of the strongest players from one of the strongest regions?
The answers, it turned out, were GCYoshi and his competent Bedman. This Marvel player from Northern California would go on an absolute tear, taking out each of his opponents one by one as he secured the OCV and subsequent ArcRevo qualification for his team. A stunning win, no doubt, and one that should definitely be witnessed in its entirety. Do yourself a favor and check out the replays below if you missed out on watching this competition live.
Sources: Hold Back to Block, Offcast, Dustloop