This was my first evo so I wanted to make the most of it and my way of doing it was by arranging all the best money matches to go down in my hotel room. I had to keep the matches super secret since money matches were not allowed in the main evo tournament. I only invited my friends, people who could record, and top players that wanted to play vs Daigo. Room 1676 in the Ipanema tower at the Rio Hotel was legendary we had Combofiend (Akuma) -vs- Andre (EC Bison), Shady K -vs- LI Joe, Arturo Sanchez -vs- Ryan Hart, Ryan Hart -vs- Shady K, Chris Hu -vs- Shady K, Combofiend -vs- Flashmetroid, and more that I can’t remember. The biggest and most hype money matches were the Daigo ones though. I have to thank my friend Issei for helping me by speaking to Daigo since Daigo can’t speak English. Without Issei, there would have been no Daigo money matches. The rules for Daigo’s money matches were FT5 for $100 or more, FT3 for $50 or more, no console characters except for cammy and sakura, no matches with anyone that made top 8 in SF4. Here are the results:
I’m not 100% sure on the scores but win or loss I am sure.
Arturo “Sabin” Sanchez (Dhalsim) -vs- Daigo(ryu). Sabin wins 5-4
Peter “Combofiend” Rosas. Daigo wins 5-3.
Dr.Chaos(ken). Daigo wins 3-0
Philly-One(cammy). Daigo wins 3-0
Ryan Hart(sagat). Ryan Hart wins 3-2
** this match was FT3 for $20 but Daigo thought it was FT5, anyway though good job ryan hart, your sagat is really good **
Ari “fLoE” Weintraub(Sagat). Daigo wins 5-0
fLoE rematch(Sagat). Daigo wins 5-0
Martin “Marn” Phan(viper). Daigo wins 5-4 (marn loses by a pixel)
Marn rematch. Daigo wins 5-0
Joe “iloveu” Ciaramelli(Sagat). Daigo wins 5-0
iloveu rematch. Daigo wins 5-0
Ryan “Gootecks” Gutierrez(Balrog). Daigo wins 5-0
Philly One (cammy). Daigo wins 3-0
Sin (Rufus). Daigo wins 3-2
There may have been more matches but I was watching the door most of the time to prevent randoms from coming in. If anyone that was in the room and could confirm the match scores to me please do. Also, tell me if I forgot some matches so I can update this post.
Videos:
Daigo -vs- SiN, Dr.Chaos, Gootecks, Philly One, and Marn (courtesy of Dr.Chaos’ youtube channel)
http://www.youtube.com/user/thabiggerpicture
Pics:
Marn -vs- Daigo
http://s894.photobucket.com/albums/ac147/jav1ts/?action=view¤t=photo2.jpg
Marn -vs- iloveu Joe (Justin in the background literally sleeping on Daigo :D)
http://s894.photobucket.com/albums/ac147/jav1ts/?action=view¤t=photo.jpg
Daigo happy with his money
http://s894.photobucket.com/albums/ac147/jav1ts/?action=view¤t=photo3.jpg
Vid of crowd during Ryan Hart -vs- Daigo (courtesy of Carlos “morninstar”)
http://s894.photobucket.com/albums/ac147/jav1ts/?action=view¤t=Picture105.flv
overhead shot of LI Joe -vs- Daigo. Money on the PS3 lol
http://s894.photobucket.com/albums/ac147/jav1ts/?action=view¤t=Picture092.jpg
Dr.Chaos -vs- Daigo
http://s894.photobucket.com/albums/ac147/jav1ts/?action=view¤t=Picture094.jpg
Ryan Hart -vs- Daigo.
http://s894.photobucket.com/albums/ac147/jav1ts/?action=view¤t=Picture106.jpg
Daigo with East Coast crew after he won at the All-American Bar & Grill (pic thanks to Kara “eboNics” Leung)
http://s894.photobucket.com/albums/ac147/jav1ts/?action=view¤t=daigoeastcoast.jpg
More pictures of the money matches courtesy of Kara "eboNics"
http://karaface.smugmug.com/gallery/9005616_o6rZr/1/599020611_6GHaj#599019959_iEyhR
The matches were all recorded in HD by Ian Cofino (creator of “I Got Next”) so watch out for them soon.