Adel "Big Bird" Anouche Interview - The mind of a Street Fighter esports pro

Ahead of Red Bull Kumite 2024 this weekend, where 16 of the best Street Fighter 6 players from all over the world compete in the prestigious tournament, I had the opportunity to chat with last year’s winner in South Africa, Adel “Big Bird” Anouche.

We spoke of how he’s preparing to defend his title, what he thinks of the opposition and what it means to him to help nurture the next generation of Street Fighter pro gaming talent.

Check out the Red Bull Kumite 2024 trailer below!

Hi Adel, how are you feeling ahead of the Red Bull Kumite tournament taking place in New York this weekend?

New York has been great. It’s probably my favourite place to visit in the U.S. It feels great to come back as an invited player and as a defending champion as well.

Winning Red Bull Kumite 2023 in South Africa must have been an amazing moment. How does it feel going into Red Bull Kumite 2024 as the defending champion?

I feel like the pressure has been taken off because I’ve already won it. So I’m just chilling right now. Obviously, I want to win it again. But that pressure of trying to win has been lifted off my back.

I often see esports tournaments as kind of like an old-school gathering in an arcade. Only you’re competing professionally, playing in front of a large live crowd and those watching via a stream worldwide. How do you deal with the pressure and excitement of such an event?

Tournaments are meant to be enjoyed but there’s going to be some stress because you’re trying to perform. But if you're not enjoying it, you're missing out, you're missing out on why tournaments exist. I always go in with the plan of enjoying tournaments. And obviously, it's not easy, it’s easier said than done, because I also want to win. Going into tournaments and trying to win, trying to find a balance between the two is the best and most challenging part of it.

Red Bull/Mpumelelo Macu

Looking ahead at what opponents you may face at the Red Bull Kumite, other than yourself, what other pro gamers should spectators look out for and why?

To be honest, literally all of them with no exception. The quality of the players this year is so much higher than last year, not because of the names, but also because of how much everyone has improved. Last year, we didn't have Mena. We didn't have Punk. We didn't have NuckleDu. I felt like only one or two fighters were missing, and it would have been a perfect lineup with AngryBird and Kakeru.

But other than that, I feel like we have a superstar lineup. And whoever wins it, I guarantee you, they won't dominate. They will struggle to win it, and they will have to work really hard to win. So it's very difficult, much more difficult to win it this year compared to last year.

You like to help nurture the next generation of pro gamers such as being part of the ‘Red Bull Raise Your Game’. What does it mean to you to help the younger generation?

When Redbull called me to be part of Raise Your Game, I felt like I was speaking to myself when I first started competing. Because when I first started it would have been great to have someone share their experience with me. Whether it’s attending tournaments, winning tournaments or playing at the highest level, it would have been great to have someone by my side to ask questions. I can put myself in their shoes because I've been there before. I was able to give back what I couldn't have when I was younger. I’m able to give back to the community and what I’ve learned.

Outside of Raise Your Game, I also went to Saudi Arabia for the esports Federation. I stayed there for a week and I was able to coach up-and-comers. Answer questions, and give tips. How to play at a tournament and how to improve. It’s great to give back to the community instead of just taking.

Red Bull/Tyrone Bradley

If there are any budding, young up-and-comers reading this article, what advice would you give them?

Luckily, you don't need to travel to enter tournaments. There's an abundance of online tournaments, especially if you live in the US or Europe, at least two or three online tournaments are happening every week. There never used to be a lot of online tournaments but that’s changed now.

Capcom’s Street Fighter 6 has a bunch of online tournaments, they’re all free you can play from the comfort of your own home and that’s a great way to level up. It’s a great way to see what level you're at. Tournaments are brutally honest, tournaments do not sugarcoat your performance. Your results will determine how good you are. And if you're not good, or if you need to improve, then a tournament will help you with that.

Capcom

Finally, Akuma has just been revealed as the next upcoming Street Fighter 6 character. With that in mind, would characters not currently included would you like to see in the game?

I would love to see C. Viper back from Street Fighter IV. I feel like C. Viper is one of the coolest-designed characters ever created. She’s unique looking, has a varied playstyle, and a very unique set of moves. Nobody would complain if she came back in Street Fighter 6. I would love to see her back more than anything. She’s a fan-favourite and even appeared in Marvel vs. Capcom 3. I would also like to see Guy from Street Fighter IV. Guy might be difficult though because Kimberly from Street Fighter 6 kinda plays the same way. So if they brought Guy back, Capcom might have to alter him to be different.

Thank you for taking the time to chat with me today. Good luck at the Red Bull Kumite this weekend, I hope that you knock it out of the park.

The Red Bull Kumite 2024 will be streamed live on twitch.tv/redbull and youtube.com/@redbullgaming and will take place this weekend from Saturday 16 March to Sunday 17 March.