Japan - Tokyo Area

U-Rasia / Uラシア

Considered the greatest player of all time. Passed away in 2025.
twitter
Main-Team:

Kula
Oswald (S+A)
K'(L)

Lunatic Ryoji / リョージ

Famous KOF-cosplayer & character specialist. twitter
Main-Team:

Gai(E+C)
Silber(E+D)
Ash(C)(L)

Other Teams & Characters:

Oswald

Ryumi / りゅーみ

Extremely strong Yuri. twitter
Main-Team:

Yuri(E+A)
Terry(E+A)
Ryo(L)(E+B)

Other Teams & Characters:

King
Elisabeth

Zakuroman / ざくろまん

twitter
Main-Team:

Kula(E+C)
Gato(E+C) (Leader as of 2024 makai touitsu)
Ryo (start+D) (L)

Other Characters

Kim
Ralf(start+C)
Vanessa(start+D)
Oswald(start+B)
Maxima(start+D) (in main team as of 2024 makai touitsu)
K'(E+A) (in main team as of 2024 makai touitsu)

Hiroshi / Tobidogu-san / Yatterukara

Famous for his Fireball-Zoning-Teams
twitter
Main-Team:

King(C)
Kensou(C)
Jazu(C) (L)

Other Characters

Ralf
Silber

ケンタッキー / kenta/kentucky

Strongest Whip & Athena player in the world.
Characters:

Yuri
Whip
Athena (L)

沖縄カズ / Okinawa Kaz

One of the strongest Ioris & Adelheids in the world. Occasionally play, last seen @ big1 (january 2025).
Main Team

Oswald
Kula
Adelheid(L)

Other Teams & Characters:

Iori (black/red)
Oswald (L)

Operaza / おぺら座

twitter
Main-Team:

Whip
Adelheid
Elisabeth (L)

Other Characters

Gai

akio / アキオ

Characters:

Iori(A)
Terry(A)
Kasumi(A)
Momoko(A)
Shen(A)(L)
Ash(A)(L)
Vanessa(L)
Griffon(L)

Kodsuka / 狐塚

One of the "Three Gods in Shinjuku" (San-Shin). Plays at Game in Good Day 21 lately. Likes to call himself "Rule" and alternatively "Kaioh" lately.

Main-Team & Characters:

Oswald
Eiji
Terry
K'(A)L
Kula
Gato

Yanjirou

Arguably the strongest player in the world currently. Famous for his incredibly fast reaction speed. Is often called "Maoh" (demon king).
Main Team

Kula (E+A)
K' (E+D)
Gato(L) (E+B)

Other Characters

Maxima

Sea Color / シーカラー

Strong player that plays at good day 21, uses all blue colors.
Main-Team & Characters:

Oswald (E+B)
K' (B)
Kula(L) (S+A)

Other Characters

Gato(L)

Makotsu / 馬骨

Rarely plays at Game in Good Day 21, twitter

Eiji
Oswald
Ash(L)
Gato(L)

Sonshi

As of 2023, plays the ranking battles at game spot big1.

Kula
Oswald
K'

Zorbon

As of 2023, plays the ranking battles at game spot big1.

Clark
Kula
Kasumi(L)

Shou / ショウ

Plays at big1 and good day, Leader Oswald expert. Likes to play the white colors.

Kula
Terry
Gato
King
Oswald (L)

Tennkawa / 天河

Famous KOF-player. Occasionally plays at game spot big1 and attends Sawakoro Festival. twitter link

Shen
Oswald
Ash(L)

Machapiro

Played in big-1 on 2024/02/24.
Quote from u-rasia: "He is one of the heroes who played an active role in the East-West XI battle that took place around 2015."

Eiji
Clark
K'
Oswald(L)

KMT

plays at game in good day 21, known as a KOFXIII & 02UM player. See here
Main Team

Kula
Oswald
Vanessa(L)

Tayo / たよ

Plays at good day. Is a 98 player that used to play XI and is now active again since about 2021.
Main Team

Kula
K'
Gato(L)

Maru

Plays at good day, new player as of 2025, skilled in Vanessa's neutral. Played 2 ft10s against ATG in 2025.
Main Team

Gato
Oswald
Vanessa(L)

Otokusan

Plays at shinjuku sports land, fan of Terry. Twitter
Main Team

Kyo
Ryo
Terry(L)

Tokyo, 生交代推進委員会委員長 Group

Sagawa / 佐川

Sagawa's twitter
Main-Team:

K'(E+B)
Kula
Gato (L)

Other Teams & Characters:

Terry (E+B)
King
Oswald
Elisabeth(L)
Silber(L)
Athena(L)(retired)

Yamate / 山手

twitter
Main-Team (played @ Sawakoro festival 2018):

Vanessa(E+A)
Oswald(E+A)
K'(B) (L)

TORI

Very strong Vanessa player, currently somewhat inactive but made an appearance at Sawakoro Festival 2023
Main Team:

Oswald(D)
Kula(E+D)
Vanessa(C)(L)

Japan - Saitama

kyuntakuya / きゅんTA9YA

Strongest Eiji of the world & very strong player overall.
twitter
Main-Team(2024)

Oswald(start+D)
Kula
Gato(L)

Main-Team (~2023):

Kim
Kula
Gato(L)

Main-Team (old):

Kula
Gato
Ryo(L)

Other Teams & Characters:

Eiji(B)
Oswald

Toshian / トシやん

twitter
Main Team:

Duck(start+D)
Malin(E+D)
Athena(E+A) (L)

Hiro / ひろ

twitter
Main Team:

Oswald
Gato
K'(L)(start+A)

Yoshi / よっしー

Main Team:

Jenet
K'
Kasumi(L)

Shishoh / ししょー

One of the strongest Ralfs in the world.

Main Team:

Ralf
Gai
Gato

uguu

Characters:

Ralf
Gato
Malin (L)

Nishikawaguchi Terry / 西川口テリー

Terry expert that regularly uploads combo clips. youtube
Main-Team:

Tery
Kyo
Gato

Other Characters:

Duck
Oswald
K'
Iori

Nishikawaguchi Ryo / 西川口リョウ

Main-Team:
?

bakudaniwa / ばくだんいわ

Main-Team:
?

Japan - Aichi (Nagoya) & Mie Prefecture

Sawakoro / サワコロ

One of the strongest Japanese players. Famous for his unique team. Griffon is A/B-tier just because of him.
twitter
Main-Team:

Griffon(A)
Mary(C)
Silber(E+B) (L)

Sub-Teams:

Griffon/Mary/Kim(L) (if Silber isn't unlocked)

Shingo Jukucho/ しんご塾長

AKA Shingo. One of the world's strongest players. Often hosts the after-party of Sawakoro Festival and is very involved in the community.
twitter
Main-Team:

Kula
Ryo(start+B)
Gato(start+D) (L)

Other Characters

Kim(start+C)
K'

Rock / ロック

Tougeki participant in KOF98UM. Helps this wiki find out frame data. Has moved to the Kansai / Chiba area as of 2024, will still be listed under Aichi Prefecture for legacy reasons.
twitter
Main-Team:

Ralf
Clark
Gato(L)

Other Teams:

K', Ralf, Gato(L)

Sana

Often does English commentary for port24.

Kula
Oswald
Gato(L)

Other Teams:

Gai(B),Gato(E+C),Oswald(Start+B(L)
Kim(A), Gato(A), Oswald(A) (L): played vs BZR, 2019, port-24
Kula, Oswald, Gato(L), played @ port24

Arthur-P / あーさーP

twitter
Teams:

Jazu/Kim/Clark(L), played @ sawakoro festival 2018
Kim/Kensou/Kasumi(L), played @ sawakoro festival 2018
K'/Kyo/Ash (L), played @ sawakoro festival 2018

Ｋ＠Ｚ / Miekazu

Character specialist that can play many complicated characters at high level. Has one of the best oswalds.
twitter
Main-Team:

K'
Kula
Oswald (L)

Other Characters:

Vanessa
Duolon

Roger / ロジャー

twitter
Main-Team:

Maxima(E+A)
Kyo(E+A)
Ryo(E+C)(L)

TORU / 中川TORU

Plays Tori's old Team with Vanessa as Leader. twitter
Main-Team:

Kula(D)
Oswald(D)
Vanessa (L)

Other Teams & Characters:

Gato(D) (L and non-L)
K'(red)

SPOOKIE

twitter
Main-Team:

Ralf(A)
Ryo(E+A)
Gato(E+B) (L)

Other Characters:

Kensou

everest / エベレスト

Now lives in Tokyo, but is from the Nagoya area. Main-Team:

Oswald
Kula
K'(L)

Other Characters:

Kim

jaian (Gian) / ジャイアン

One of the very strongest players & famous multi-game player & tougeki participant, works at port24 Nagoya.
twitter
Main-Team:

Kula(C)
Ryo
Gato(L)

Other Teams & Characters:

Maxima, Ryo, Adelheid (L) played vs Sawakoro

hokuto / ホクト

Former KOF98-player, started playing XI in the late 2010s and is very strong.
Main-Team:

Kula
Kim
Gato(L)

Other Characters:

Eiji

Zone

twitter
Main-Team:

Kim
Ryo
K'

arata

Garou player (Gato)
Main-Team:

Ryo
Kyo
Griffon

Tetsu

Participated in the Sawakoro Festival 2023

Gai
Gato
Ryo(L)

ryotsu / 両津

From Matsusaka, Mie Precture, same city as Yassan. Famous for being the best console version player, can even beat u-rasia and shingo in ft10s with pad. Also plays in arcades.
Main-Team: at sawakoro cup 2018

Kula
Ryo
Gato(L)

Yassan

From Matsusaka, Mie prefecture. Incredibly strong console only player & friend of Sawakoro. Can beat top players with pad easily.

Kula
Ryo
Gato(L)

税金泥棒 / Seikindorobo / Tax Thief

KOFXI player that recently (2021) moved to Nagoya
Main Characters.

Gato
Oswald
Maxima
Adelheid

kani / かに / 蟹

Not to be confused with K2.
Main-Team:

Gato(E+A)
Kula(E+A)
Adelheid(E+A) (L)

Kurocha/クロちゃ

Duck
Kula
Adelheid(L)

焼き飯/Yakimeshi

Kula
Ryo
Gato(L)

Nagoshi / なごし

Main-Team:

Kula
Ryo
Gato(L)

Other Characters:

Duck (2P only)

Mr. Y / Waishi / Y氏

Employee of port24, plays XI casually

Kula
Ryo
Gato(L)

MAVEN

Malin
Duck
Terry
Agent Team (Ramon,Mary,Vanessa)

Senchoh / せんちょー

One of the strongest Aquapazza players in the world, recently started playing XI.

Kula
Yuri
Jazu(L)

Other Characters:

Eiji
Iori
King

Sengoku / 千国

Mary
Ryo
K'(L)

Other Characters:

Kyo
Shingo

Rukkora / るっこら

The famous Yagoto gourmet, no. 1 advice giver for restaurants. Known for his aggressive playstyle.

Gato
Kula
Ryo

gori / ゴリ

twitter
Main-Team:

Kula(B)
Ryo(E+A)
Gato(L)(E+B)

Other Characters:

Maxima(B)
Adelheid(E+D) (L)

Ozuma / オズマ

Frequently visits port24 in Nagoya.
Main Team, played @ port 24 29.06.2020:

Gai
Oswald
Ash(L)

AOI

Newer player.

Kula
K'
Gato

Yuki

Famous 98 & 2002 player that has started playing a little XI in early 2026 and is already winning matches here and there against top players.

Kula
K'
Gato(L)

Japan - Osaka / Kobe

Nori / ノリ

Strongest player in Osaka and one of the strongers players in general. Also has the strongest Ralf.
twitter
Main-Team:

Ralf(D)
Kula(D)
Gato(D) (L)

GRID

Strongest Akatsuki Blitzkampf En-Eins player and very strong XI player.
twitter
Main-Team:

Maxima(E+C)
Ryo(start+B)
Kula(E+C)
Gato(E+C) (L)

Kazuyuki

Player from Kobe, visited port24 on 2021/07/18.

Oswald
Kula
Malin(L)

Naera

Old KOFXI player & togeki 06 participant who returned to port24 on 2020/12/19+20.

Gai
Eiji
K(L)

Togeki 06 team:

Duolon
Maxima
Gato

Japan - Kyushu Area

Saginomiya

Incredibly strong Iori player with great fundamentals

Iori
Kim
Griffon
Kula
K'

Dokukeshisou / 毒消し草

As of 2025, retired.

Terry
Jenet
Kim
Gato

Kaicho

2022/12/16 tourney winner @ g-stage, see here at around 2h30m for the tournament

Kula
Gato
K'(L)

Higashi

Gai
Ralf
Kula
Malin(L)

Aware / あわれ

Kula
Maxima
Malin(L)

Oochinokata

Whip
King
Ash(L)

Japan - Others / Unknown

k-tani / けーたに

Lives in Niigata. Famous Combomaster & strong player.
twitter, youtube
Main-Team:

Kula(E+A)
Gato(E+B)
K'(A) (L)

imokkuma / いもっくま

Training partner of k-tani.
twitter
Main-Team:

Ryo
Maxima
K'(L)

Other Teams & Characters:

Jazu

BZR

Expert on technical characters. Strongest Vanessa player and possibly the strongest Oswald currently. Lives in Nigata.
twitter
Characters:

Oswald(E+D)(point & L)
Duck(E+C)(point & L)
Vanessa (D)(Point & L)
K'(B)(point & L)
Kyo
Terry
Duolon(L)

ketsumureo / K2

Geeks/WellPlayed Pro Gamer & cosplayer. Geeks account, twitter
Main-Team:

Kula(E+D)
Gato(D)
Oswald(A)(L)

Zerio / ゼリオ

Based in Sapporo, Hokkaido. twitter
Main-Team:

Duck
Ryo
Gato (L)

Yaeba / やえば

Main Team, Sawakoro Festival 2019

Ralf
Kula
Gato (L)

Other Teams:

Ralf(A)
Clark(A)
Gato(A) (L)

KT

Old friend of Sawakoro & KOFXI-Player from Nara, visited Port24 on 2020/11/14

Jazu
King
Gato / Shen(L)

tacchi / たっちー

twitter account

Momoko
Shen
Malin

Ayuri

Participated in Sawakoro Festival 2023

Kula
Ryo
Gato(L)

TSR

Maxima
Kula
Gato(L)

Nagano

Astro / あすとろ

Player at game center okinaya, Nagano.

Griffon + others

Korea

Pie / Pi / 파이

Strongest Korean Player, twitter
Main Team:

Oswald
Kim
Gato(L)

Kong

Daegu-based player, very strong Iori.
Main Team:

Iori
Gato
Oswald(L)

BBoy / 뽀이

Daegu-based player, see eg. here: here.
Main Team:

Ryo
K'
Oswald(L)

Hens / 헨스

Daegu-based player.

Choding / 초딩

Seoul-based player.

Baeng / 뱅

Seoul-based player.

Red Six / 레드식스

Very strong Seoul-based player.

Poongko

Famous e-sports player. Has recently (January 2026) visited Japan and challenged the strongest players.

Iori
Kyo
Gato(L)

Taiwan

Yukito / ユキト

Strong Taiwanese player who visits Japan regularly. Tougeki 2006 Top-8.
twitter
Main-Team:

Duck King(start+C)
Ralf(D)
Kyo (E+B) (L)

Other Teams & Characters:

Griffon
Iori

Ken-oh / 権王

Located in Kaohsiung (高雄), is frequently in Japan. Is also an extremely strong Hokuto no Ken player (Raoh), first place seikimatsu butoukai 2025
Characters:

Kyo
Terry
Maxima
Duck
Oswald
Kensou
Ryo(L)

Chile

Tortita

twitter
Team 1:

Ash
Shen
Oswald(L)

Team 2:

Kyo
K'
Ash(L)

Brazil

Chip

twitter
Characters & Teams:

Kula
Gato
Ash(L)

Trema

Characters & Teams:

Eiji
Duck
Oswald(L)

Bola385

twitter

France