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GamingStreet Fighter 6 Pro Kakeru Retires in His Prime Due to Sudden Health Issues
Just months after winning the $1 million grand prize at Capcom Cup 11, Street Fighter 6 pro Kakeru “Kakeru” Watanabe is stepping away from pro play due to health issues with no clue if he’ll return.
Back in August 2025, Kakeru suddenly became sick and had to be hospitalized during the Esports World Cup, a tournament he was projected as a frontrunner to win. And, in the time since, he hasn’t said anything publicly or attended any events.
Now, two months later, he’s revealed that he’s retiring due to ongoing health issues and giving up his Street Fighter League spot due to “neurological dysfunction” that came as a result of his illness.
Kakeru had a bright career ahead as someone who’s still at the top of his game after 6 years of actively competing, but that career has unfortunately come to an abrupt end.
Street Fighter 6 Pros in Mourning as Kakeru Suddenly Retires
For Kakeru, winning Capcom Cup 11 made him a superstar. Street Fighter 6 is generally popular around the world, but it’s a cultural touchstone in Japan, making him the player to watch in SF6’s biggest region.
He’s known for calculated play and unbeatable pressure, using JP’s zoning tools to play at just the right range where his opponent can’t play. His airtight game plan and calculated approach made him revered even amongst other pro players, with the best of the best looking to practice with him whenever they could.
But, with the onset of his health issues, he’s been unable to compete at his best and has officially retired from pro play and will be leaving Zeta Division.
“The team and I have carefully discussed the possibilities for continuing my activities in the future, but I judged that it would be difficult to continue as a player any longer and submitted my retirement. The team prioritized my health and respected this decision,” Kakeru explained.
“I feel truly sorry for leaving the roster midway through the SFL season, to my teammates and to all the fans who believed in my return and waited for me.”
Outside of that, Kakeru didn’t give any additional detail on his condition and chose to keep information about his health private. However, he gave no timeline for when, or if, he’d return to pro play and is officially retiring.
Other pros were just as surprised by the news as fans were. 3-time Evo champion Saul “MenaRD” Leonardo Mena II gave his condolences and wished him the best.
“If only we could have played together for longer… We pray for your swift recovery. Please take care of yourself,” Mena lamented.
2024/2025 EWC winner Zeng “Xiaohai” Zhuojun also chimed in, saying that he hopes that retirement will only be a “temporary break” for Kakeru and that he’ll be able to compete again.
His announcement tweet hit 10 million views in a matter of hours, with dozens of other pros wishing him well and fans from around the world hoping that he’ll one day return.
For now, though, him choosing to bow out of the Street Fighter League gives Amjad “AngryBird” Al-Shalabi a spot in the league and a guaranteed qualification for Capcom Cup 12.
