By Sagar V. Mankar Lim “Ulsan” Soo-hoon clinched the title at the Red Bull Golden Letters 2024, dominating the competition, including Alexandre “AK” Laverez, in an all-star Grand Final after a weekend of exhilarating Tekken 8 action at the Red Bull Gaming Sphere in London.
Ulsan’s tournament run was a masterclass, going undefeated throughout the event and defeating AK 3-1 in the Grand Finals to secure the championship title.
This year’s Red Bull Golden Letters tournament was historic, marking the first time it featured four global qualifier rounds across North America, Europe, Japan, and the UK. The competition was fierce, with a new 20-player group stage showcasing top-tier talent, including Red Bull players Hoa “Anakin” Luu, Arslan “Arslan Ash” Siddique, and inaugural champion Richie “Ayorichie” Olusanya.
The group stage saw British pro Kane “KaneAndTrench” Heartfield, South Korean legends Jae-hyun “CherryBerryMango” Kim and Ulsan, along with European qualifier Nino “Nino” Schwarz, dominate with clean sweeps. UK Open qualifier winner Akhil “Tetsu” Kakar barely secured his top-12 spot after a nail-biting tiebreaker.
On Sunday’s elimination bracket, Ulsan and CherryBerryMango extended their winning streaks, sending KaneAndTrench and AK to the loser’s bracket. In an intense face-off between Korean Tekken legends, Ulsan bested CherryBerryMango 3-1 to book his spot in the Grand Finals.
Meanwhile, AK fought valiantly through the loser’s bracket, defeating Jodd and KaneAndTrench before eliminating CherryBerryMango with a 3-0 win, setting up a rematch with Ulsan in the Grand Finals. Despite AK’s impressive comeback, Ulsan’s dominance proved too strong, claiming a decisive 3-1 victory to become the Red Bull Golden Letters 2024 champion.
Reflecting on his victory, Ulsan said, “I’m really happy to have won Red Bull Golden Letters. This is my fourth tournament win this year, and competing in this format was both exciting and challenging. The UK competitive scene has been amazing, and I hope I’ll be invited to compete again!”
The tournament also introduced a new format, encouraging players to make high-risk moves for greater rewards. Competitors who achieved three ‘PERFECT’ or ‘GREAT’ victories would instantly win the set. This format ensured that players always had an opportunity for a comeback at any moment and a shot at the Grand Finals.