Female pro gamer Kayane has last laugh at critics after strong EVO 2019 finish
07
Aug 19
The pro player sent a pretty blatant message to doubters after the 2019 championship
The game industry still has a rather annoying, toxic stigma surrounding female gamers and their ability to compete with men - whether it's casual or professional competitions.
But one female pro gamer silenced her online critics, and those being negative towards woman competing at major gaming tournaments in general, after making the top eight of a major fighting tournament in the USA. Marie-Laure Norindr, better known as Kayane, fought her way into the top eight spot at this year's EVO 2019 SOULCALIBUR VI tournament, hosted at the Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The French esports player, who also featured in the Guinness World Records for 'First Female Super Street Fighter IV World Champion', took to social media after the event to celebrate finishing joint seventh with Joshua 'Saiyne' Vernon, while also giving a stern message to the not so supportive fans.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Who said Women can’t make Top 8 at EVO ? 😘<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EVO2019?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EVO2019</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SoulCaliburVI?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SoulCaliburVI</a> <a href="https://t.co/zTsDrHbgR1">pic.twitter.com/zTsDrHbgR1</a></p>— Kayane (@Kayane) <a href="https://twitter.com/Kayane/status/1157803745583009792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 4, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Kayane posted "I often read comments: women can’t make TOP 8 at majors. Recently there were some stupid comments about the women FGC panel at EVO, and I read people saying we can’t have the level to compete.
"So my tweets is directed to those players!
"No offense, its not the majority!"
She later added "I don’t know why some feel offended whereas you didn’t say it, only those who say it should feel hurt by my tweet! I want them to never say it again!
"It’s a few people saying that all the time that are really toxic, but of course most of the competitors I meet are respectful!"
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Kayane with the ring out and win over Student qualifies for Top 8! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SCVI?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SCVI</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SOULCALIBURVI?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SOULCALIBURVI</a> <br><br>We'll see you on the main stage of history: <a href="https://t.co/ZoDAbanZaz">https://t.co/ZoDAbanZaz</a> <a href="https://t.co/sut9ImfraN">pic.twitter.com/sut9ImfraN</a></p>— BANDAI NAMCO ESPORTS (@BNEesports) <a href="https://twitter.com/BNEesports/status/1157485482952888322?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 3, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Kayane made the main stage after an impressive performance over fellow competitor 'Student' ending the battle in style with an aggressive combo and Ring Out using DLC character 2B, originally from the action RPG Nier: Automata. We're hoping to see more female esports players breaking onto the scene and appearing in major tournament finals just like Kayane has - as well as saying farewell to the toxic views on female gamers in general.
