Final weekend was nuts. The largest non-EVO offline event, Combo Breaker 2026, reached its conclusion with Road Fighter 6 closing out the massively profitable occasion. Whereas Zeng “Xiao Hai” Zhuojun received the bracket and punched his ticket to each Capcom Cup 13 and the Esports World Cup, the children of the FGC additionally confirmed up on the event to remind us that they’re right here to play.
I’m not simply speaking concerning the runner-up, Hinao. One other child with the tag THEBABYS212 additionally confirmed up and utterly smoked his opponent. In a world of “preventing video games are onerous,” we now have these beacons of sunshine displaying us that it’s all a matter of mindset.
Not simply that, however to additionally remind us that the “FGC youngsters are alright.”
THEBABYS212’s Efficiency is a Reminder That Preventing Video games Aren’t Going Anyplace
For those who had been on Twitter throughout Combo Breaker 2026, you would possibly’ve run right into a tweet showcasing a 10-year-old child enjoying traditional Ken named THEBABYS212. His match was streamed to 1000’s of viewers, and boy, did he not disappoint.
This child was whiff-punishing, doing Jinrai loops, and simply total enjoying the sport at a really aggressive degree. He even received the set 2-0 over Trendy Juri participant PLASMADRAGON, which sparked debates about Trendy versus Basic management schemes once more. Now, I couldn’t care much less about this argument as a result of that’s not the purpose! The purpose is {that a} 10-year-old child goes to tournaments and successful their units.
Even the Japanese broadcast of the event was impressed with how THEBABYS212 performed!
Because of this preventing video games nonetheless attraction to youthful youngsters who largely want video games resembling Roblox or Fortnite, and, in extension, that preventing video games will proceed to reside on as they’ll ultimately be the torchbearers of the neighborhood after some many years.
Hinao’s Run Reveals That He’s Destined to be a Champion
If I’m going to speak concerning the youngsters within the FGC, it’ll be bizarre if I don’t discuss concerning the Road Fighter 6 Combo Breaker 2026 Runner-up, Hinao. This child is a beast. I keep in mind the primary time I realized his identify was when he received the FightClub Championship VI Chengdu in 2024, punching his ticket to Capcom Cup 12.
In that event, he used Ryu and beat Evo champions Victor “Punk” Woodley and Hajime “Tokido” Taniguchi. He didn’t simply beat them, he blasted them each, 3-0’ing them on his approach to the grand ultimate.
Then, he received the entire thing after resetting the bracket and enjoying a nail-biting ultimate set in opposition to Jojotaro. I keep in mind watching the reside protection and seeing him win over $7,000 USD for his feats. When it got here time to elevate the trophy, he genuinely had issues lifting it as a result of it was too heavy for him. This event was additionally his first worldwide event.
Now, round half a yr later, Hinao took on his second worldwide event at Combo Breaker 2026 and ended up second solely to fairly probably among the best preventing recreation gamers alive, Xiao Hai.
If he’s in a position to constantly high eight in his worldwide tournaments, what’s stopping him from being the following large factor in preventing video games?
Hinao has insane potential. In his match in opposition to Xiao Hai within the grand finals, Hinao gave the impression to be a bit too antsy and repeatedly put himself in a foul spot by burning out. Xiao Hai took benefit of this by enjoying much more patiently and punishing Hinao’s errors. Xiao Hai performed like an actual veteran, which threw Hinao off his rhythm, as a result of Hinao normally received his units via uncooked aggression.
Although he misplaced, among the veterans within the FGC nonetheless complimented Hinao’s run. In a tweet, Yusuke “Momochi” Momochi mentioned he wished Hinao would maintain his head excessive regardless of his loss, as a result of his run was nonetheless excellent. He provides that seeing the youthful ones performing rather well in tournaments has sparked his aggressive drive to by no means fall behind.
The gang additionally had Hinao’s again all through the grand ultimate. Everybody in Combo Breaker 2026 wished Hinao to take the title. Now, this would possibly simply be as a result of they’re uninterested in seeing Mai on the display screen, or possibly they’re uninterested in seeing Xiao Hai win, however there was a loud “Aww” sound from the viewers after Xiao Hai efficiently whiff punishes Hinao for the win.
Don’t get it twisted, nevertheless: the viewers nonetheless clapped for Xiao Hai and congratulated him.
Most Preventing Video games Now Have a Consultant From the Youthful Era
Yup, you heard that proper. Most preventing video games these days function a personality representing the youthful technology. For my part, this began post-COVID when gamers like Mashita “acola” Hayato and Miya exploded within the Tremendous Smash Bros. Final scene. They got here out of nowhere and began successful tremendous majors and taking names from legendary smash gamers like Leonardo “MkLeo” Lopez Perez and Tyler “Marss” Martins.
Then, in October 2025, Reject established its Youth Division, with Hinao as a member. That very same month, the group despatched Hinao to Chengdu to take part within the FightClub Championship VI Chengdu. Nicely, everyone knows how that occurred. Except for him, I don’t suppose any younger-generation fighter has reached heights just like Hinao’s in Road Fighter 6.
Nonetheless, in 2XKO, there’s one. Bleed. This child, identical to Hinao, received a significant at a really younger age. Earlier this yr, Frosty Faustings XVIII hosted the biggest variety of entrants for 2XKO in a event with over 900 folks registering for the sport’s bracket. The one who reigned on high? None aside from Bleed.
In an interview with Riot, he talked about that he needs to be “the beginning of the brand new technology for the gamers within the FGC” and that by the tip of his profession, he needs to be a “pillar of the brand new technology.”
The FGC Children Are Alright, And They’ll Proceed To Be Alright
For those who’re not accustomed to the phrase “the children are alright,” it principally implies that the youthful technology will do superb and can try. Within the FGC context, which means the children are nonetheless enjoying preventing video games regardless of different choices. To place an optimistic spin on the phrase, you’ll be able to primarily say that the historical past and way forward for the FGC is in good fingers, seeing that children this younger are taking the style critically and even successful.
These youngsters grew up at a time when preventing video games had been very accessible. They’re accessible on each console, and all they want is an web connection to play in opposition to different folks. It pains me to say this, however gone are the times of going to arcades the place you line up your quarters in cupboards to point out who’s subsequent in line. Preventing video games these days enable gamers to hone their abilities anytime they need.
With how accessible the video games are these days, this solely will increase the attraction of preventing video games to the youthful technology. With how Hinao and Bleed are performing, I might be shocked if we don’t see an enormous surge of inhabitants within the FGC within the close to future. To not point out, Road Fighter 6’s reputation in Japan has reached ranges that the FGC hasn’t heard of, and we all know that’s the place the beasts are.
The FGC youngsters are alright and can proceed to be alright. As older members of the FGC, it’s our accountability to welcome them with open arms.
