Gaming guru `Filipino Champ' in Manila for Addicted 2 Gamez Tournament

The first weekend of December 2012 ushered in a rare opportunity for the fighting game community to gather and celebrate what they do best: brawling for fun and supremacy! 

 

Held at, and sponsored by, Addicted 2 Gamez from November 30th-December 2nd, the stage was set for a series of tournaments that saw players from all walks of life compete in well known titles. Games in competition included “Super Street Fighter IV AE”, “Ultimate Marvel Vs Capcom 3”, “Tekken Tag Tournament 2”, and “The King Of Fighters XIII” 

 

The organizers even brought in special participants from overseas to join in, namely CJ and Filipino Champ. Both are revered competitors in the professional tournament circuit, most especially the annual Evolution Fighting Championship series.

 

A2G organizers Jerry Domingo and Nelson Ngan were on hand to promote and keep things under control. “Our aim is to promote the Fighting Game Community” Ngan remarked. “Bringing F. Champ and CJ to the Philippines is our way of attracting others players to compete and develop their skills in fighting games, to develop the community and bring out potential players who can represent our country in international tournaments”. 

 

Indeed, the fighting game community has a lot of potential that's yet to be tapped. With E-Games titles like “Ragnarok”, “Ran Online”, and “League of Legends” promoted to an international degree, it’s only fair to say that Fighting Games can match up to that success. It’s a genre that has only recently gained an attraction again with the release of next generation titles and systems, and many good players hail from outside the United States, which includes countries like Japan, Singapore, and the Philippines.

 

As a fighting game player myself, I joined in the A2G tournament thanks to the invitation of some friends from the fighting game community. It was the second day of the long weekend event and the first day of December, with participants engaging in tournaments for two of Capcom's newest and best titles to date: “Ultimate Marvel Vs Capcom 3” and “Super Street Fighter IV Arcade Edition.” 

 

Elimination matches then took place, winners and Losers brackets were soon formed, and ultimately the one who came out on top was none other than the Evo 2012 Champion himself: Filipino Champ. 

 

He faced stiff competition however in the finals against Andrew “Dru” Martinez, another good SFIV player who competed in Singapore once and matched up against Champ’s Dhalsim with his own M. Bison. Ultimately, Champ’s skills pulled him through.

 

F. Champ (real name Ryan Ramirez) also goes by the alias “col. CC Filipino Champ” in the fighting game tournament world. He is a Filipino-American known for his proficiency and skill at Capcom games. 

 

Ramirez/F. Champ visits the Philippines on occasion to participate in local tournaments and to visit his family. 

 

“The FGC is still in its infancy, but has a lot of potential to grow,” he said, and went on to say that “There are a lot of good players in the Philippines, and I come here to help promote Fighting Games professionally and give these players a chance to find success in playing them.” 

 

Meanwhile, as this year’s Evolution 2012 World Champion, Ryan “Filipino Champ” Ramirez has found success in something that started out as a hobby. Being very passionate about fighting games, his love for the genre started with “Street Fighter II”, and since then he has built himself up to become the respectable force to be reckoned with in professional tournaments held the world over. 

 

Thanks to his dedication, Ryan is now sponsored by several promotions and advertisers who bank on his skills and potential as a fighting game guru. He once working for jobs that paid below minimum wage, but now he plays professionally and earns by being a marketable presence in the community. Filipino Champ continues to hone his skills and compete at official tournaments the world over. 

 

Follow the fighting game community in places like Pinoy2DFighters  or the international boards at Shoryuken.com--KDM, GMA News

 

A2G is located at University Mall, Taft at the 3rd Floor.