UO Student Wins 2nd Global Gaming Title at Age 20

At just 20 years old, University of Oregon student Matthieu "Kojicoco" Fardet has already accomplished what most gamers only dream about: winning not one, but two international gaming championships.

Fardet claimed victory at Evo 2026 in Las Vegas, battling through 450 competitors to win the Granblue Fantasy Versus Rising tournament. The win earned him more than $16,000 and a spot in next year's circuit finale, where the grand prize is $100,000.

The linguistics major only entered his first tournament in 2024, making his rapid rise even more remarkable. He credits an online community of strong players who helped him improve quickly, including his Japanese practice partner who he faced in the finals for the first time.

More than 5,700 competitors gathered at the Las Vegas Convention Center from June 26-28 for Evo 2026, one of the world's premier fighting game events. Fardet competed on stage in front of cheering fans and thousands watching the livestream from home.

Why This Inspires

Fardet's journey shows how modern success stories can look different than previous generations might expect. He's balancing his academic studies with competitive gaming, navigating attendance requirements while traveling to tournaments.

He's putting most of his winnings into savings and plans to finish his degree next year because his family considers it the safe choice. But he's also exploring content creation and streaming, keeping his options open.

"I'd ideally end up with a flexible job that allows me to continue doing what I do here," Fardet said. He's not abandoning traditional paths, just refusing to choose between them.

Heading into next year's $100,000 finale, Fardet is considered the favorite. He feels a sense of obligation to win, viewing it almost like a job responsibility.

His story proves that pursuing your passion doesn't mean abandoning stability, and finding success early doesn't mean you have to pick just one path forward.