The FGC kids are alright: Combo Breaker 2026 proves that the next generation of pros are here

Final weekend was nuts. The largest non-EVO offline event, Combo Breaker 2026, reached its conclusion with Avenue 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 youngsters of the FGC additionally confirmed up on the event to remind us that they’re right here to play.

I’m not simply speaking in regards to the runner-up, Hinao. One other child with the tag THEBABYS212 additionally confirmed up and fully smoked his opponent. In a world of “combating video games are exhausting,” we have now 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 children are alright.”

In case you have been on Twitter throughout Combo Breaker 2026, you may’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 general 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 profitable their units.

Even the Japanese broadcast of the event was impressed with how THEBABYS212 performed!

Which means combating video games nonetheless enchantment to youthful children who principally choose video games comparable to Roblox or Fortnite, and, in extension, that combating video games will proceed to dwell on as they’ll ultimately be the torchbearers of the neighborhood after some many years.

If I’m going to speak in regards to the children within the FGC, it’ll be bizarre if I don’t speak in regards to the Avenue Fighter 6 Combo Breaker 2026 Runner-up, Hinao. This child is a beast. I keep in mind the primary time I realized his title 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 technique to the grand last.

Then, he received the entire thing after resetting the bracket and enjoying a nail-biting last set in opposition to Jojotaro. I keep in mind watching the dwell protection and seeing him win over $7,000 USD for his feats. When it got here time to raise 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 presumably the most effective combating recreation gamers alive, Xiao Hai.

If he’s capable of constantly prime eight in his worldwide tournaments, what’s stopping him from being the subsequent huge factor in combating video games?

Hinao has insane potential. In his match in opposition to Xiao Hai within the grand finals, Hinao appeared to be just a little 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 often received his units by way of uncooked aggression.

Despite the fact that he misplaced, among the veterans within the FGC nonetheless complimented Hinao’s run. In a tweet, Yusuke “Momochi” Momochi stated 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 last. Everybody in Combo Breaker 2026 needed Hinao to take the title. Now, this may simply be as a result of they’re bored with seeing Mai on the display, or perhaps they’re bored with 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, nonetheless: the viewers nonetheless clapped for Xiao Hai and congratulated him.

Yup, you heard that proper. Most combating video games these days characteristic 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 profitable 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. Properly, everyone knows how that occurred. Apart from him, I don’t assume any younger-generation fighter has reached heights much like Hinao’s in Avenue Fighter 6.

Nevertheless, in 2XKO, there’s one. Bleed. This child, identical to Hinao, won a major at a very young 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 prime? 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 top of his profession, he needs to be a “pillar of the brand new technology.”

In case you’re not conversant in the phrase “the youngsters are alright,” it principally implies that the youthful technology will do wonderful and can attempt. Within the FGC context, because of this the youngsters are nonetheless enjoying combating video games regardless of different choices. To place an optimistic spin on the phrase, you possibly can primarily say that the historical past and way forward for the FGC is in good arms, seeing that children this younger are taking the style significantly and even profitable.

These children grew up at a time when combating video games have been very accessible. They’re out there 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 indicate who’s subsequent in line. Preventing video games these days permit gamers to hone their expertise anytime they need.

With how accessible the video games are these days, this solely will increase the enchantment of combating video games to the youthful technology. With how Hinao and Bleed are performing, I might be stunned if we don’t see an enormous surge of inhabitants within the FGC within the close to future. To not point out, Avenue Fighter 6’s recognition 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 children are alright and can proceed to be alright. As older members of the FGC, it’s our duty to welcome them with open arms.