SonicFox reclaims one title, loses another at Combo Breaker 2019

Everyone’s favorite black gay furry fighting game specialist, Dominique “SonicFox” McLean, took his talents to Chicago last weekend for Combo Breaker 2019, one of America’s top fighting game tournaments.

SonicFox entered as the defending Combo Breaker Dragon Ball Fighterz, but there were loftier goals than simply defending that title. He also set out to reclaim his Skullgirls: 2nd Encore title after falling in last year’s grand finals, ending his three year reign at the top.

Our one-on-one interview with SonicFox! Coming Friday to Outsports.com

But even more important was SonicFox’s desire to finally break his Mortal Kombat Combo Breaker curse. The reigning esports player of the year has never missed a Mortal Kombat top eight in Combo Breaker history but has also never been able to come out on top.

This fact is especially gnawing to SonicFox as he is recognized as one of the most successful athletes in tournaments featuring games developed by NetherRealm Studios, the makers of Mortal Kombat.

The quest for the three-peat got off to a hot start Saturday night as SonicFox blitzed through the Skullgirls: 2nd Encore loser’s bracket to meet Christopher “Rabbleflaggers” Perez in grand finals. A quick 3-0 SonicFox sweep reset the bracket before reclaiming his title in a close 3-1 final match. The two shared a post-match embrace before the medal ceremony.

SonicFox celebrates ahead of capturing Skullgirls titleTwitch

With one championship in tow, SonicFox readied to defend his Dragon Ball Fighterz title against a stacked field on Sunday. The current DBFZ EVO champion once again found himself in the loser’s bracket ahead of the top eight, but rode an offensive flurry into the final four. That’s as far as he would go, though.

His aggressive play style ran head on into the defensive stylings of Spain’s Joan “Shanks” Namay. SonicFox wasn’t able to figure out Shanks’ barrier defenses and fell to the underdog, finishing fourth and relinquishing his championship to long-time rival Goichi “GO1” Kishida.

But redemption, and a chance to break his MK curse, was still there for the taking Sunday night during Combo Breaker’s main event: Mortal Kombat 11. SonicFox made it three-for-three by falling to the loser’s bracket yet again. A few close battles later, he found himself matched up against Tommy “Tweedy” Tweedy, the man that sent him to the loser’s bracket, in the loser’s finals.

SonicFox had a chance for vengeance and he took it, dropping Tweedy in 3-0 sweep. The victory secured his spot against heated rival and MK training partner Brad “Scar” Vaughn. SonicFox jumped out to a 2-1 lead, but Scar’s stellar mix of ranged attacks and well-timed throws secured a 3-2 come from behind win and the Combo Breaker MK 11 championship.

The curse continues.

Everything might not have swung SonicFox’s way, but that didn’t sour the man known for his fun-loving, positive personality. The dude regularly competes in his fursuit, after all. He took to Twitter to reflect on the weekend and congratulate those that bested him.

He also expounded about the joy he finds in watching others beat a top level player like himself.

SonicFox left Chicago with one title and two top four finishes, but the grind never ends. It’s back to training ahead of the next major fighting game competition, Community Effort Orlando, meeting June 28-30 in Daytona, Fla. There’s no doubt he’ll be ready to step into the CEO ring while regaling everyone with his common refrain: “I’m gay.”

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