FGC pros are calling out EWC for its terrible first-to-two rules

The Esports World Cup has continued to boast about being the top esports event in history, and this could be possible if we count prize money and the number of titles competing at once. But can it really be one of the “top” or “best” if it does not properly showcase the top talent? All the prize money in the world won’t make up for the tournament format being terrible when it comes to prestige and respect.

Tekken 8, Street Fighter 6, and Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves all feature first-to-two (FT2) matches rather than the usual FT3. Even the Top 8 is FT2 until you get to the Grand Final, which is the expected best-of-five format. This may not sound like a huge deal, but it’s actually a massive game-changer, and not really in a good way.

Tekken 8’s top player, Arslan Ash, took to X to complain about the FT2 structure. He wrote: “For events like EWC or Tekken World Tour Finals, these are pre-planned, organized months in advance. They have the time and structure to make matches FT3.

“Fans want to see more of their favorite players. Players want to play real mind games and adapt, not just gamble on quick 50/50s. FT2 feels rushed and luck-based compared to FT3.”

Added Street Fighter 6 Capcom Cup and Evo champion Saul “MenaRD” Leonardo Mena: “I am shouting to the sky, screaming, begging. Please. Street Fighter 6 is NOT a first-to-two game.”

Basically, FT2 feels rushed, not just to watch, but to play. And that’s the real issue. Fighting games are all about mind games, adaptation, reading your opponents — some of the best moments come from pros seeing how their opponent plays and then coming back in the next fight with a different fighter or playstyle as a response. FT2 takes away from this highly entertaining and intense back-and-forth dynamic.

In a lot of FT2 tournaments, you will see surprising names in the Top 8. That’s likely due to these “50/50” match styles not relying as much on skills — that adaptation, those mind games. Without giving the top pros that extra time to study opponents and switch up on them, players with less experience can sometimes get a surprise win. One random dude on X even admitted to this.

Some tournament organizers have switched to FT2 anyway, likely hoping to save time if there’s a tight schedule. But Arslan Ash tweeted that players don’t mind starting earlier, finishing later, or using extra setups that are being unused.

“Players train countless hours and travel across the world, often spending more than we earn, just to compete,” he pleaded. “To then play FT2 feels too short, especially in modern fighting games. Tekken, Street Fighter, City of the Wolves — every modern fighter should be FT3. It’s better for fans, better for players, and better for the game. “

While most of the top fighting game pros were in agreement, some fans and casuals had differing opinions. Many felt that “times have changed” and larger tournaments call for shorter matches. Maybe the FT2 could be used in pools, but then Top 16 could switch to FT3, one fan suggested.

I guess this may be shocking, but I’m going to have to side with the pros here. You know, the ones who actually compete consistently in all these tournaments. Not sure why, but seems to make sense to me.

Either way, this has continued the sentiment that the Esports World Cup is just not very in tune with the esports community itself. If you want to be considered the be-all end-all of esports competitions, you should probably talk to the top pros in the scene to see what format is considered the best for a high-tier tournament. It’s not just about hyping up mainstream audiences with rappers and millions of dollars, it’s about staying true to the spirit of esports as it continues to grow. It’s about showcasing the best-of-the-best in a fair, competitive environment.

As I said, let’s listen to the top pros here.