Filipino players dominated the winner’s bracket and sent top international competitors scrambling through losers in a stunning display of homegrown talent. Manila Madness 4 just wrapped up this past weekend, and if there was any doubt about Philippine Tekken being world-class, this tournament absolutely demolished it. While South Korea’s kkokkoma ultimately took home the championship, the road to victory was anything but easy—and it was paved by Filipino players who proved they can stand toe-to-toe with the best in the world.
The Madness Returns Bigger Than Ever
Held on November 8-9, 2025, Manila Madness 4 drew a staggering 275 entrants, making it one of the most competitive Tekken World Tour Challenger events of the season. Founded by Yuven “Brownman” Vincent in collaboration with Kevin “Rakenrol” Mando, Manila Madness was originally intended as a one-time event to uplift the local Tekken community. The overwhelming support from the Filipino Fighting Game Community (FGC) turned it into an annual tradition that continues to grow stronger each year—and this year’s turnout proved the vision was more than worth it.
With $2,000 USD on the line and crucial TWT points up for grabs, the stakes couldn’t have been higher. International heavyweights like kkokkoma (South Korea), QAD|Yagami (Australia), Talon|Book (Thailand), and TM|Hafiz Tanveer (Pakistan) all made the trip to Manila, looking to secure easy points on their way to the TWT Finals.
They didn’t count on running into a buzzsaw of Filipino talent.
Filipino Dominance: KIMO and Melos Own Winner’s Side
Here’s where things get spicy. In the Top 8, two Filipino players—K-Swag|KIMO and Melos—absolutely dominated the winner’s bracket, systematically dismantling the international competition.
K-Swag KIMO, piloting the grappler King with devastating precision, was an unstoppable force. In the winner’s semifinals, he went up against the tournament favorite kkokkoma and his feared Feng Wei. The result? A clean 2-0 victory that sent the Korean star tumbling into the losers bracket. KIMO then marched into the winner’s finals, earning himself a spot in grand finals and a guaranteed Top 2 finish.
eightmethods Melos, meanwhile, was putting on a clinic with Lee Chaolan—one of Tekken 8’s most technical and execution-heavy characters. Lee requires near-perfect timing and just-frame inputs to truly shine, and Melos made it look effortless. He took on Australia’s QAD|Yagami in the other winner’s semifinal and dispatched him 2-0, sending another international threat to the losers side.
The winner’s finals was an all-Filipino affair: KIMO vs. Melos. KIMO’s King proved too much for Melos’ Lee, winning 3-1, but the damage was done. Both Filipino players had guaranteed themselves Top 3 finishes, and they’d done it by beating some of the best players in the world along the way.
The Losers Gauntlet: International Stars Fight for Survival
While KIMO and Melos were cruising through winner’s side, the losers bracket became an absolute warzone of international talent desperately trying to claw their way back.
Kkokkoma, after his shocking loss to KIMO, had to fight through multiple rounds. He eliminated N4K|Zaskieee (Philippines, 2-0), then faced TM|Hafiz Tanveer in a losers semifinal and won 3-0. His next opponent? Melos, fresh from his losers finals match. Kkokkoma’s Feng Wei finally found his rhythm, eliminating Melos 3-0 to set up a grand finals rematch against KIMO.
QAD|Yagami, Talon|Book, and Doujin (Philippines) all found themselves in similar positions—fighting tooth and nail through the losers bracket after being sent there by Filipino players. It’s a testament to how deep the talent pool runs in the Philippines when international competitors who are used to dominating their home regions suddenly find themselves in survival mode.
Grand Finals: Kkokkoma’s Redemption
The grand finals was the rematch everyone wanted to see: KIMO vs. kkokkoma. Having already beaten the Korean once, KIMO had proven he could take down the favorite. Unfortunately for the hometown crowd, kkokkoma had learned from his earlier mistakes.
The Korean adjusted his gameplan, and it showed. He reset the bracket with a 3-0 victory, then closed out the tournament with another 3-0 to claim the championship. It was a masterclass in adaptation and mental fortitude—exactly what you’d expect from a player of kkokkoma’s caliber.
But here’s the thing: even in defeat, KIMO proved something incredibly important. He showed that Filipino players aren’t just competitive—they’re legitimate threats to win major tournaments. He beat kkokkoma once, and on a different day, he could absolutely do it again.
What This Means for PH Tekken
- kkokkoma (South Korea) – $1,000 + 300 TWT points
- K-Swag|KIMO (Philippines) – $500 + 220 TWT points
- eightmethods | Melos (Philippines) – $300 + 180 TWT points
- TM|Hafiz Tanveer (Pakistan) – $200 + 150 TWT points
- QAD|Yagami (Australia) – 120 TWT points
- N4K|Zaskieee (Philippines) – 120 TWT points
- Book (Thailand)
- Doujin (Philippines)
Two Filipinos in the Top 3. Multiple international stars sent to losers bracket by PH players. A winner’s bracket dominated by hometown heroes. Manila Madness 4 proved what the local community has known for years: Philippine Tekken is world-class. Players like KIMO, Melos, Zaskieee, Doujin, and the rest of the deep Filipino talent pool aren’t just keeping up with international competition—they’re actively pushing them to their limits.
The Future is Bright
What started as Brownman and Rakenrol’s dream to uplift the local community has evolved into something special. Manila Madness has become a proving ground where Filipino players can test themselves against the world’s best, and increasingly, they’re winning those tests.
With the Tekken World Tour Finals approaching, don’t be surprised if we see more Filipino names making waves on the international stage. After all, if you can survive the gauntlet that is Manila Madness, you can compete anywhere.
Manila Madness 4 was held on November 8-9, 2025, as a Tekken World Tour Challenger event. Full bracket results are available at start.gg.
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