We have a few more days of downtime before our next Capcom Pro Tour event, so we thought we’d try something a bit different. The idea is to spotlight something exciting or interesting that happened during a Pro Tour Event. Looking back at FFM-Rumble #8, one of those spotlight moments was definitely the play of Rize|Infexious.
It’s always a treat to see someone play a character that is rarely seen, but it is so much more exciting when we see it being done at such a high level. Rize|Infexious plays Hugo, and I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that he shocked and thrilled many in the crowd and those watching the stream at home as he fought his way to Top 16. When he eliminated MCZ|Tokido, you could feel the energy even if you weren’t there.
So with this post we thought it would be fun to find out more about Rize|Infexious and get his thoughts on a few of his matches.
Meet Rize|Infexious
When did you start playing competitively and what made you decide to do so?
I started playing SFIV when it first came out on console. I used to play purely online, but after a few months, I decided to travel to some of the local and national events within the UK. Following a hiatus from the competitive scene, USFIV was announced and I decided to start competing again, this time with the aim of traveling outside of the UK.
You created quite a stir at FFM-Rumble #8 with your amazing Hugo play. What drew you to play Hugo in Ultra Street Fighter 4?
Before the release of USFIV I was playing as T Hawk, a character that was widely regarded as one of the worst in the game. Despite his short comings, I felt the character had some strengths which were being overlooked. This made me curious about Hugo, as he was viewed in a similar way. Funnily enough, Hugo turned out to be one of the most enjoyable characters I have ever played.
What do you think of the Capcom Pro Tour and how it has impacted the competitive fighting game community?
I think the Capcom Pro Tour has been brilliant, not only due to the amazing $500,000 prize pool, but also because it has established a worldwide tournament structure, with something to look forward to at the end of the year. It is very exciting and has only helped extend the longevity of the competitive USFIV scene.
Do you have any plans to attend more events this year? I’m quite sure there are a lot of fans out there that want to see you play.
I hope to attend as many European Capcom Pro Tour events as my work holidays and wallet can handle. Hopefully I’ll be able to get some valuable points too!
FFM-Rumble #8
FFM-Rumble #8: vs Demulant: You would think Demulant’s Sagat would be a bad matchup for Hugo. Can you give us your thoughts on this match?
By default Sagat is a hard match because he can control the space which Hugo wants to enter so well. However, I don’t think he does too badly fighting Sagat within this range, because Hugo has some strong pokes to keep him honest. If Hugo can establish a good neutral game and take advantage of Sagat’s mistakes, this match can become manageable.
FFM-Rumble #8: vs Tokido: This match against Tokido was amazing. Here you eliminated Tokido, one of the world’s best players. The commentator said during the match that you won the hearts of the crowd in this match, and I’m sure you won yourself new fans around the world. You made so many clutch plays. Can you share what you were thinking during the match and how did it feel once you got that final hit for the win?
Thank you. It just so happens that me and Tokido played a casual set early in the day, which won 3-2. Testing my skills against the best in the world and managing to hold my own was very encouraging, but I knew that a match on the main stage would be different.
Things started off ok, but in the first few rounds I missed a few things which ultimately left me facing elimination from the tournament. After clutching out Tokido’s match point game, I was able to compose myself and started to believe that with some solid play and a little bit of luck I would be able to win. I managed to build some powerful momentum in the final round, which I thankfully was able to ride to victory.
It actually didn’t sink in that I’d won until a few moments after! Naturally, the feeling of winning was amazing as was all the support from the crowd and online.
Tokido is as amazing player and I hope to be able to face him again.
We would like to extend a huge thanks to Rize|Infexious! If you would like to know more about FFM-Rumble #8, you can see the results here and view the video playlist here. If you would like to give feedback on this type of post, please share it with us on Twitter at @CapcomFighters.