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

Last weekend was nuts. The biggest non-EVO offline tournament, Combo Breaker 2026, reached its conclusion with Street Fighter 6 closing out the massively successful event. While Zeng “Xiao Hai” Zhuojun won the bracket and punched his ticket to both Capcom Cup 13 and the Esports World Cup, the kids of the FGC also showed up at the tournament to remind us that they are here to play.

I’m not just talking about the runner-up, Hinao. Another kid with the tag THEBABYS212 also showed up and completely smoked his opponent. In a world of “fighting games are hard,” we have these beacons of light showing us that it’s all a matter of mindset.

Not just that, but to also remind us that the “FGC kids are alright.”

If you were on Twitter during Combo Breaker 2026, you might’ve run into a tweet showcasing a 10-year-old kid playing classic Ken named THEBABYS212. His match was streamed to thousands of viewers, and boy, did he not disappoint.

This kid was whiff-punishing, doing Jinrai loops, and just overall playing the game at a very competitive level. He even won the set 2-0 over Modern Juri player PLASMADRAGON, which sparked debates about Modern versus Classic control schemes again. Now, I couldn’t care less about this argument because that’s not the point! The point is that a 10-year-old kid is going to tournaments and winning their sets.

Even the Japanese broadcast of the tournament was impressed with how THEBABYS212 played!

This means that fighting games still appeal to younger kids who mostly prefer games such as Roblox or Fortnite, and, in extension, that fighting games will continue to live on as they will eventually be the torchbearers of the community after some decades.

If I’m going to talk about the kids in the FGC, it’ll be weird if I don’t talk about the Street Fighter 6 Combo Breaker 2026 Runner-up, Hinao. This kid is a beast. I remember the first time I learned his name was when he won the FightClub Championship VI Chengdu in 2024, punching his ticket to Capcom Cup 12.

In that tournament, he used Ryu and beat Evo champions Victor “Punk” Woodley and Hajime “Tokido” Taniguchi. He didn’t just beat them, he blasted them both, 3-0’ing them on his way to the grand final.

Then, he won the whole thing after resetting the bracket and playing a nail-biting final set against Jojotaro. I remember watching the live coverage and seeing him win over $7,000 USD for his feats. When it came time to lift the trophy, he genuinely had problems lifting it because it was too heavy for him. This tournament was also his first international tournament.

Now, around half a year later, Hinao took on his second international tournament at Combo Breaker 2026 and ended up second only to quite possibly one of the best fighting game players alive, Xiao Hai.

If he’s able to consistently top eight in his international tournaments, what’s stopping him from being the next big thing in fighting games?

Hinao has insane potential. In his match against Xiao Hai in the grand finals, Hinao seemed to be a little too antsy and repeatedly put himself in a bad spot by burning out. Xiao Hai took advantage of this by playing a lot more patiently and punishing Hinao’s mistakes. Xiao Hai played like a real veteran, which threw Hinao off his rhythm, because Hinao usually won his sets through raw aggression.

Even though he lost, some of the veterans in the FGC still complimented Hinao’s run. In a tweet, Yusuke “Momochi” Momochi said he wished Hinao would hold his head high despite his loss, because his run was still outstanding. He adds that seeing the younger ones performing really well in tournaments has sparked his competitive drive to never fall behind.

The crowd also had Hinao’s back throughout the grand final. Everyone in Combo Breaker 2026 wanted Hinao to take the title. Now, this might just be because they’re tired of seeing Mai on the screen, or maybe they’re tired of seeing Xiao Hai win, but there was a loud “Aww” sound from the audience after Xiao Hai successfully whiff punishes Hinao for the win.

Don’t get it twisted, however: the audience still clapped for Xiao Hai and congratulated him.

Yup, you heard that right. Most fighting games nowadays feature a character representing the younger generation. In my opinion, this started post-COVID when players like Mashita “acola” Hayato and Miya exploded in the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate scene. They came out of nowhere and started winning super majors and taking names from legendary smash players like Leonardo “MkLeo” Lopez Perez and Tyler “Marss” Martins.

Then, in October 2025, Reject established its Youth Division, with Hinao as a member. That same month, the organization sent Hinao to Chengdu to participate in the FightClub Championship VI Chengdu. Well, we all know how that happened. Aside from him, I don’t think any younger-generation fighter has reached heights similar to Hinao’s in Street Fighter 6.

However, in 2XKO, there is one. Bleed. This kid, just like Hinao, won a major at a very young age. Earlier this year, Frosty Faustings XVIII hosted the largest number of entrants for 2XKO in a tournament with over 900 people registering for the game’s bracket. The one who reigned on top? None other than Bleed.

In an interview with Riot, he mentioned that he wants to be “the start of the new generation for the players in the FGC” and that by the end of his career, he wants to be a “pillar of the new generation.”

If you’re not familiar with the phrase “the kids are alright,” it basically means that the younger generation will do fine and will strive. In the FGC context, this means that the kids are still playing fighting games despite other options. To put an optimistic spin on the phrase, you can essentially say that the history and future of the FGC is in good hands, seeing that kids this young are taking the genre seriously and even winning.

These kids grew up at a time when fighting games were very accessible. They’re available on every console, and all they need is an internet connection to play against other people. It pains me to say this, but gone are the days of going to arcades where you line up your quarters in cabinets to show who’s next in line. Fighting games nowadays allow players to hone their skills anytime they want.

With how accessible the games are nowadays, this only increases the appeal of fighting games to the younger generation. With how Hinao and Bleed are performing, I would be surprised if we don’t see a huge surge of population in the FGC in the near future. Not to mention, Street Fighter 6’s popularity in Japan has reached levels that the FGC hasn’t heard of, and we know that’s where the beasts are.

The FGC kids are alright and will continue to be alright. As older members of the FGC, it’s our responsibility to welcome them with open arms.