"I have that moment to thank" - Daigo Umehara on EVO moment 37, Street Fighter 6, and more

sportskeeda.com:

When talking about the greatest fighting game players of all time, Daigo Umehara will always be in the conversation. He’s been an active fighting game pro since 1995, when he entered GAMEST Cup’s national Vampire Hunter tournament. Though he did not come out on top, that did not dull his love for the competitive scene, and he would come back in 1997, defeating Nuki in the finals.

There are too many fighting game players to name who were inspired by Evo Moment #37, where Daigo Umehara went down to the wire with Justin Wong, claiming victory from the jaws of defeat. I’m one of those people, and though I had already casually been playing fighting games for years at that point, it was such an inspirational moment.

I recently sat down and chatted with Daigo Umehara about his time in fighting games, EVO Moment #37, and what the future holds for one of the greatest fighting game players. He also discussed the usefulness of the Hit Box, writing a book, and being the star of a manga series.

Daigo: It was my first Evo Top 8 finish for Street Fighter V, and I’m glad I ended on a high note in SFV’s final year.

Daigo: With the state of the pandemic, I couldn’t travel anywhere, even domestically, let alone compete overseas. Thus, I had more time to practice at home. I think the benefits of that extra training are plain to see. It’s been a good reminder that, in the end, strong results come from solid training.

Daigo: Each player gets to choose whichever character they like. Some people like choosing “joke” characters, and I think that’s just fine.

Daigo: As a fan, I’d love to see a new one, but realistically, I’m not sure it’s very likely.

Daigo: I like Ryu, so I tried my best to stick it out with him. I’m not a fan of choosing characters