Picture Credit score: Natalia Martinez / Pink Bull Content material Pool
Let’s be uncomfortably sincere for a minute. There’s positively a form of person who pops into your head if you hear “high Tekken participant.” And that particular person could not appear like Jeannail “Cuddle_Core” Carter. However that’s okay, she isn’t right here to cater to anyone nor search their validation.
And stream. And host. And coach. And who is aware of what else? For Cuddle_Core, being within the FGC scene is extra than simply competing. It’s a way of life for her, however it’s taken lots to get there. She began competing in 2015 in small native tournaments, however she has since achieved 60 High 8 placements throughout enormous Tekken tourneys, together with Evo, Combo Breaker, and Final FightingArena.
Esports Insider spoke with Cuddle_Core in regards to the adjustments she’s seen within the FGC all through the previous decade, from grassroots and gatekeeping to a mainstream esports scene. A few of it’s good, a few of it’s unhealthy, however nothing appears to actually convey her down. In actual fact, she’s solely wanting ahead.
Overcoming the old-school lawlessness of the FGC
ESI: My colleague lately wrote in regards to the sexism and creepiness at Combo Breaker 2026, which appears to nonetheless be a giant concern for the FGC. Do you are feeling it’s nonetheless an even bigger concern within the FGC than different mainstream esports scenes even after the “Me Too” motion just a few years in the past?
Cuddle_Core: Sure, nonetheless struggles. It does. Typically it feels that, as a result of there isn’t any full regulation in these areas, you’re form of simply left to take care of a number of it by yourself and your help group. There’s no official approach that issues are handled, like creeps and sexist issues at tournaments. It’s considerably higher by way of safety, however it generally nonetheless feels such as you’re left to take care of it by yourself or along with your group.
ESI: Why do you assume it’s nonetheless so outstanding within the FGC?
Cuddle_Core: I’m not precisely positive why it’s an issue that’s persevering with. I all the time thought that there needs to be extra guidelines put in place – like a code of conduct. It needs to be a no brainer, I assumed… In the event you’re assaulted, individuals ought to have the ability to go to some entity that helps you deal with that. As a result of it occurs in all probability lots. I do know it occurs lots. In the event you’re at a conference or occasion, that ought to all the time exist, however it doesn’t. I’m not precisely positive why.
ESI: We beforehand talked in regards to the old-school mentality that also runs deep within the FGC. Do you assume that causes a little bit of gatekeeping within the scene, particularly in direction of girls?
Cuddle_Core: Sexism exists within the house, it does. A few of these mentalities are old-school. It’s an echo chamber with their very own group since they haven’t actually been round different teams, together with girls.
It’s a bit higher now, due to the best way the world is. I’m very grateful for that. A few of the older views on issues have molded how issues at the moment are, however they’re being unlearned and pushed out… The mindset of the youthful gamers coming in; they’re from a world that’s extra numerous, inclusive, and welcoming.
ESI: Have you ever skilled any sexism your self? Is there something that you just’ve encountered that you just assume individuals wouldn’t actually anticipate?
Cuddle_Core: I don’t need to spend so much of time speaking about that. I might be speaking about all of my accomplishments as an alternative. I’ve handled issues, although, after all, however I’ve spent a lot time on interviews talking on these issues. I hope you perceive.
ESI: No, I completely get that! It’s like shining a highlight on what makes you totally different, what units you aside within the FGC, quite than speaking about what you may have really achieved. It might be decreasing you to those situations.
Cuddle_Core: I couldn’t management these issues that occurred. Regardless, I turned among the finest gamers on the planet. I created my very own house. That’s what issues to me. I’ve the proof of all of it. Individuals mentioned I wasn’t that good. I handled all of that. However I encompass myself with individuals who know my price and worth. I used to be protected, I used to be protected. That’s what retains me going. That’s what issues to me.
🚨 MINDSET MATTERS 🚨🧠 Excited to share that I’ve introduced on @MommaToaster as my full-time esports mentality coach! 💪We’ll be working collectively on a weekly foundation to strengthen my psychological sport, construct wholesome aggressive habits, and proceed evolving as a participant. I am excited to… pic.twitter.com/b1p8kr8ROc— RB | Cuddle_Core 🦋🌻🦀 (@tkcuddle.bsky.social) (@cuddle_core) July 18, 2026
ESI: And actually, that’s the message individuals needs to be getting as an alternative. Like hey, you shouldn’t care about these random weirdos. You must concentrate on your self, your objectives, and the individuals who actually have your again, who help your objectives. Who cares about these freaks?
Cuddle_Core: It’s essential to face up for what you consider in and to make use of your voice. However there’s a high quality line between serving to others after which defending your self mentally by taking up that weight for everyone else. Particularly as a public determine representing a minority in esports.
Grassroots beginnings, mainstream goals
ESI: There was a number of speak in regards to the FGC scene altering, going from grassroots to mainstream. Do you are feeling it is a good change for the scene? Is that this the expansion it wants?
Cuddle_Core: Grassroots was nice for what it was. I skilled a number of grassroots occasions, and I liked them. However I do assume that, for there to be extra discoverability for preventing video games and profession constructing, there must be a shift, a pivot, to precise esports.
We’re making an attempt to create one thing long-term and extra skilled. In that sense, it’s crucial. It’s unlucky it has to occur this fashion. There’s a battle that occurs [with this kind of change]: a part of the scene desires grassroots, however some say they want the alternatives… It’s an enormous wrestle. It was inevitable.
It’s unlucky, as a result of grassroots must exist. These occasions I really like are gone. Match organizers needed to drop out. They’ve actual lives. There’s additionally cash. Affordability.
There at the moment are seven Evos. and it’s owned by a brand new firm. Now it has cash. However the place’s the house for grassroots occasions when that occurs? This alteration barely removes locals, too, and that’s scary. Lots of people bought in due to these grassroots occasions.
ESI: You mentioned that it’s unlucky how the change occurred. What do you assume is the difficulty with how the FGC goes about rising?
Cuddle_Core: It seems like not all people’s on the identical web page. It turns into an ongoing, recycled dialog about “we would like grassroots, however we’d like…” However that’s the factor. It’s transferring this route, so how will we protect it? What are we going to do? This dialog has been had for years. What are we going to do?
I don’t need to preserve having conversations over once more, debating this. I need to give you an answer. Let’s really do it. I’ve already embraced it, however the change is right here. What will we do now?
From what I perceive, Evo is offering help to native occasions. That’s good. That’s good! It doesn’t must be this unhealthy factor. It’s serving to.
Picture Credit score: Mark Roe / Pink Bull Content material Pool
ESI: I feel one argument is that the eagerness, the grit of the grassroots FGC scene is in jeopardy. Some really feel it’s disappearing. Do you are feeling that transferring to mainstream harms the authenticity of the FGC?
Cuddle_Core: A few of the authenticity, by way of locals, grassroots occasions… A few of that authenticity is in peril. I used to be developing at a time after I noticed a number of grassroots occasions not exist… Widespread ones I’d see on a regular basis.
However authenticity continues to be there. Grassroots occasions might not be there, however the spirit of preventing sport lovers continues to be current. Locals nonetheless do exist. New tournaments nonetheless get created. It’s nonetheless there. However maneuvering this new panorama. The spirit of it’s nonetheless there. The group continues to be there. It’s simply being redirected.
ESI: I really like that approach of it. Like sure, the grassroots occasions are gone, however the identical group is right here. The identical passionate gamers are right here. Talking of that, there was some drama with Evo inviting content material creators into the house who weren’t essentially hardcore FGC gamers.
Cuddle_Core: I like it! I really like that massive streamers who aren’t essentially within the house got here to our occasion. I personally love that. They convey new eyes to it. A few of them have a love for preventing video games, however they’re not deep into the preventing sport house. Some aren’t into it in any respect, however they discover out they like it as soon as they attend the occasion.
It helps with discoverability for preventing video games. It creates a wider viewers for it. That’s essential for the longevity of the house. I like it!
It’s been attention-grabbing as a result of it creates alternatives for networking. Not simply with the streamers. Simply extra individuals seeing it. They see the expertise, who’s behind it, the gamers… You community your entire house with a wider viewers and extra corporations, past simply preventing video games. It creates long-term careers for individuals as a result of there’s no blueprint for learn how to construct a profession right here.
New video games are good, however they gained’t exchange Tekken
ESI: There are a number of new preventing video games popping out. Do you assume this can be good for the FGC or unfold the playerbase too skinny?
Cuddle_Core: New titles popping out sometimes is nice. In the event that they need to play it, they’ll play it. There’s a preventing sport for everyone. You don’t must restrict your self to the highest three 3D fighters… it’s an issue if there are solely two current general. That’s it!?
And the video games popping out, they give the impression of being nice. I feel it’s good. I hope that they’re round for a very long time. Combating video games that are available, generally they don’t reside as much as the hype with the group and die rapidly. However I would like longevity with new titles – not simply iconic three – so preventing video games can proceed.
ESI: With all these new video games, do you see Tekken nonetheless having an area within the FGC? What makes it stand out?
Cuddle_Core: Tekken nonetheless has its place due to the fanbase. It’s the fanbase. They’re so devoted. Tekken is a kind of video games the place it’s exhausting, the barrier to entry is excessive… You commit all that point – that’s a wedding! Individuals are locked into Tekken. They don’t seem to be gonna give that up, regardless of how a lot they hate it.
And the brand new gamers that exist, they proceed to like it. They create their very own legacy. So, there are the older followers who nonetheless will help it, even when it’s not their favourite Tekken. And newer gen… It’s nonetheless standing up.
ESI: Tekken has seen fewer registrations at the previous few majors, and there was controversy with the current updates. Do you assume Tekken is in place proper now?
Cuddle_Core: Tekken is in an excellent place proper now. Okay, in all transparency, Season 1 had a number of aggressive adjustments. However I play any Tekken. I like it, I like it. I maneuver by means of something. I really like problem-solving. Nevertheless it had lots that wanted to be labored by means of.
Season 2, they began balancing components of it, however it was bloated. I nonetheless competed in it, however it nonetheless wanted some work. Season 3, after the followers had been like, “Hey, no, you must change this.” There was a number of backlash. As there ought to have been. They added a bit an excessive amount of. However for Season 3, they took the recommendation to coronary heart, adjusted a lot of it, and a few patches have already been launched…
Individuals are much more glad. Not totally. However much more glad. We really feel it as we play it. It’s in place. I like it.
Cuddle_Core’s profession past the stage
Picture Credit score: Juan Valero / Pink Bull Content material Pool
ESI: What are your objectives with Tekken proper now?
Cuddle_Core: Proceed to be a brilliant constant professional participant. Proceed to push previous the objectives I’ve had previously. Proceed to get High 8 placements. Medals and trophies, proceed to get them. I would like much more. I’ve psychological objectives with competing as nicely. That’s an enormous a part of the sport.
And I need to pour into my crafts – content material creation, internet hosting, collaborating, sharing my love of preventing video games. Feeding all these components of my model as a result of they’re all me. That’s what I’ve been specializing in. That’s what I would like.
ESI: That’s superb that you just have been capable of finding different avenues within the FGC house. I really feel there’s a number of wrestle within the FGC because of the lack of cash, and it’s exhausting to make a full-time profession out of it. However you probably did it.
Cuddle_Core: There’s a wrestle constructing a profession within the preventing sport house. I observed that early on, after I first bought signed to Equinox. I spotted, after I labored with them, I had a number of alternatives to do various things, not simply concentrate on enjoying.
Enjoying will not be sufficient. I really like enjoying, however how can I diversify my model? I generally is a phenomenal participant, however what else?
I turned actually good at commentating, public talking, teaching… Letting these components of my character out. Exhibiting these components. You solely get a sure a part of me after I’m on the stage. You’ll see the hearth, mm, the eagerness. However that’s not the one factor I need to be proven. I would like that to exist outdoors of enjoying.
I’ve documented every part I’ve achieved – each a part of it – on social media. I’ve constructed it up for eight years. Over time, I stored getting alternatives. I couldn’t depend on this house to do it for me. They’ve their very own narrative about girls, black girls… I simply need to create my very own story of who I’m and what that is. I’m an expert. Why wouldn’t you need to work with me? I constructed that narrative for myself.
You may’t anticipate the house to do this, to construct me up, to hype you up. That’s how I discovered as a businesswoman. Don’t restrict your self. Don’t pigeonhole your self to at least one ability, one house.
ESI: It’s nice to listen to you discuss public talking and different life-long expertise you bought from esports, since so many individuals are fast to dismiss it as not an actual profession, nothing greater than an informal pastime.
Cuddle_Core: Sure, precisely. You get a number of long-term expertise. We have been speaking about grassroots earlier, and, as nice because it was, I needed extra professionalism. I recognize grassroots for what it’s and help grassroots, however as an expert, I needed to pivot my profession in direction of esports. I needed a profession that sustained me.
ESI: Esports World Cup has been a little bit of a controversial subject within the FGC. Extra titles are heading there and there are massive prizes at stake. How do you are feeling about that being a brand new a part of the scene?
Cuddle_Core: I by no means competed at EWC. But when I did, if the chance introduced itself, I don’t know. I don’t know what that appears like. As a competitor, I’d compete. I’m doing it for me. However I don’t know if that’s easy. I don’t have a full reply for you.
ESI: Yeah, it’s powerful. Like, the place do you draw the road? As a result of Evo is owned by a Saudi Arabian firm, too. The place are you able to compete?
What do you must say about your profession, your objectives, and the rest that’s in your thoughts after discussing the state of the FGC?
Cuddle_Core: My largest recommendation to anyone making an attempt to construct a profession in gaming, particularly a distinct segment class like preventing video games: Don’t await the validation of others. Know your self-worth. It’s what you consider your self.
It’s not in regards to the final win or loss you had. These don’t outline you. In the event you can respect your self outdoors the sport, I actually assume it carries you very far as an expert and as an individual. Enjoying is nice, however it’s not nearly enjoying. It’s the way you communicate, carry your self, deal with others, and pour your passions into different issues.
It makes you a well-rounded particular person, and also you’ll be stunned by the doorways that open for you if you exist past the realm of being on stage.
