Kumachom
Profile and Career
Kumachom (くまちょむ, born 1981) is a veteran professional player who boasted an undefeated rating in AC Puyo Puyo Tsu from 2005 to 2009, and was ranked as one of the ``Big four (四強, Yon-kyo)'' along with ALF, Kamestry, and kuroro. He is still active on the front lines in official tournaments and Hisha leagues.
In old days, he used a semi-regular chain derived from a fixed form such as keys, and was good at tactics that shortened the chains by simultaneously erasing the tails. He even wrote a book on Puyo Puyo, so his play was called a ``Textbook for Puyo Puyo.'' However, since his play style is actually quite unique, it may be questionable whether the metaphor "textbook" is appropriate in that sense.
He does not stick to one method or strategy, and always has the attitude of innovating his playing style. These changes are different from just the trends of the times, and he is a researcher-like player who tries out what he wants to try in his own research.
Even now, he doesn't use the left-turning GTR, which is the mainstream for high-ranking players, and instead uses various forms such as the Fukigen GTR, a bottom-up type of Chain (called a new kuma-style), and slug-turning. He also sometimes employs an unusual tactic (known as the ``Kumachom tactics''), in which he immediately sends one Garbage puyo on his opponent by a single chain of four erasers as soon as the game begins. He has a variety of tactics, but generally his weapons are his bold plays and the competitive strength he has cultivated over his career.
In addition, his own YouTube channel has been broadcasting a quiz show called "Quiz Puyolinaire"(Parody of "Quiz Millionaire(Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?)" since 2021. In this broadcast, he invites various players to challenge him and poses maniac quizzes about Puyo Puyo.
He does not stick to one method or strategy, and always has the attitude of innovating his playing style. These changes are different from just the trends of the times, and he is a researcher-like player who tries out what he wants to try in his own research.
Even now, he doesn't use the left-turning GTR, which is the mainstream for high-ranking players, and instead uses various forms such as the Fukigen GTR, a bottom-up type of Chain (called a new kuma-style), and slug-turning. He also sometimes employs an unusual tactic (known as the ``Kumachom tactics''), in which he immediately sends one Garbage puyo on his opponent by a single chain of four erasers as soon as the game begins. He has a variety of tactics, but generally his weapons are his bold plays and the competitive strength he has cultivated over his career.
In addition, his own YouTube channel has been broadcasting a quiz show called "Quiz Puyolinaire"(Parody of "Quiz Millionaire(Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?)" since 2021. In this broadcast, he invites various players to challenge him and poses maniac quizzes about Puyo Puyo.
He is from Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture. His career dates back to the early 1990s, when Puyo Puyo was in its infancy.
In March 1996, he participated in the ``2nd All Japan Puyo Masters Tournament'' held at Makuhari Messe, which attracted over 10,000 participants. He won the Sega AM Cup at just 14 years old. He made it to the semifinals of the main tournament, but lost to Teruhisa Matsukane (Puyomatsu, ぷよまつ).
In January 1997, he was one of the four finalists in the ``1st Puyo Puyo Meijin Tournament''. In the round-robin final league, he lost to Hiroo Tanaka(田中浩生) and Kentaro Takahashi(高橋健太郎), but Tanaka won the title of master.
In the same year, at the Tokyo tournament of ``Bayoen Tour '97'', he faced Misuken(ミスケン) for the first time in the final and lost.
Afterwards, at the game center Meidaimae Namiki, which was one of the sacred places of AC Puyo Puyo Street, at kuroro's recommendation, he began to watch Misuken’s play up close and followed him.
In March 1996, he participated in the ``2nd All Japan Puyo Masters Tournament'' held at Makuhari Messe, which attracted over 10,000 participants. He won the Sega AM Cup at just 14 years old. He made it to the semifinals of the main tournament, but lost to Teruhisa Matsukane (Puyomatsu, ぷよまつ).
In January 1997, he was one of the four finalists in the ``1st Puyo Puyo Meijin Tournament''. In the round-robin final league, he lost to Hiroo Tanaka(田中浩生) and Kentaro Takahashi(高橋健太郎), but Tanaka won the title of master.
In the same year, at the Tokyo tournament of ``Bayoen Tour '97'', he faced Misuken(ミスケン) for the first time in the final and lost.
Afterwards, at the game center Meidaimae Namiki, which was one of the sacred places of AC Puyo Puyo Street, at kuroro's recommendation, he began to watch Misuken’s play up close and followed him.
In March 2003, he succeeded in scoring 70 points for the first time against Misuken, 77-100.
In May 2004, he played Misuken's retirement match at Meidaimae Namiki, and he lost in a close 95-100 match. In the Puyo Puyo world without Misuken, he did not lose a ranking battle for about five years after that.
However, his unbeaten run ended in January 2009 with a 90-100 loss to fellow rival Kamestry. The following year, in April 2010, he lost 76-100 to momoken, who was considered one of the top three young players at the time. However, in December 2010, he defeated ALF 100-73.
In 2011, he participated in the ``1st AC Puyo Puyo Tsu S-Rank League'' and finished in 3rd place with 2 wins and 2 losses (-40), winning against ALF and Tom and losing to momoken and Kamestry. The match against Tom is known as such a heated battle that it is always mentioned when talking about the famous Puyo Puyo matches in history, and he won this match 100-99.
In May 2004, he played Misuken's retirement match at Meidaimae Namiki, and he lost in a close 95-100 match. In the Puyo Puyo world without Misuken, he did not lose a ranking battle for about five years after that.
However, his unbeaten run ended in January 2009 with a 90-100 loss to fellow rival Kamestry. The following year, in April 2010, he lost 76-100 to momoken, who was considered one of the top three young players at the time. However, in December 2010, he defeated ALF 100-73.
In 2011, he participated in the ``1st AC Puyo Puyo Tsu S-Rank League'' and finished in 3rd place with 2 wins and 2 losses (-40), winning against ALF and Tom and losing to momoken and Kamestry. The match against Tom is known as such a heated battle that it is always mentioned when talking about the famous Puyo Puyo matches in history, and he won this match 100-99.
In December 2012, he participated as the captain of the East national team in the Redbull 5G 2012 Finals, which began in 2012 and featured a competition between the East and West teams in five games in five genres. In the fifth event, a ``PUZZLE genre (Puyo Puyo!!)'' showdown was held, with East and West tied 2-2, and he defeated his old rival Kamestry 3-1, giving the East team the victory.
The following year, in December 2013, he participated in the "Redbull 5G 2013 Finals" as a representative player of the East team, just like the previous year. Coincidentally, things went the same as the previous year, with both the East and West teams having 2 points in the fifth event, the "Free Genre (Puyo Puyo!!)" showdown, where he once again faced off against Kamestry, the West representative. Once again, he outperformed his opponents with his competitiveness on the big stage, scoring a decisive 3-0 victory and leading the East team to victory for the second year in a row.
The following year, in December 2013, he participated in the "Redbull 5G 2013 Finals" as a representative player of the East team, just like the previous year. Coincidentally, things went the same as the previous year, with both the East and West teams having 2 points in the fifth event, the "Free Genre (Puyo Puyo!!)" showdown, where he once again faced off against Kamestry, the West representative. Once again, he outperformed his opponents with his competitiveness on the big stage, scoring a decisive 3-0 victory and leading the East team to victory for the second year in a row.
In December 2016, he participated in the Redbull 5G 2016 Finals for the third time in three years. Unlike the past two times, he was one of the players representing the West, and after the East team won two consecutive games, the third event was a ``PUZZLE genre (Puyo Puyo Tetris)'' match. This time, in a 2on2 tag battle format, he teamed up with HBM from Tetris and faced off against Tom and Taiyo Amemiya, the East representatives. However, he and HBM were defeated because the opposing team's combination was strong.
At the end of March 2018, with the establishment of the Puyo Puyo professional system, he was granted a JeSU official professional license and became a professional player.
When he participated in the first official tournament for professional players, "Puyo Puyo Championship in Sega Fest 2018", held in April 2018, he defeated Tema, kuroro, and live, and faced his rival Kamestry again in the final. The fact that the first professional tournaments’ final was a showdown between old rivals attracted the attention of many people. As a result, he won and became the first champion.
In October 2018, at the "Puyo Puyo Championship 2018 October Tournament", he defeated live in the first round, selva in the second round, and also won the semi-final against Xyro(ざいろ) to advance to the finals for the second time. The final was a showdown with meta, a young high school professional. Both players battled for one set, and in the end, he showed off his veteran presence and won, his second championship.
In SEASON2 (2019), he defeated MGR and fron in June 2019 at the "Puyo Puyo Championship SEASON2 June Tournament" to advance to the top four. He also won against Mackey(マッキー) in the semi-finals to advance to the finals where delta awaits him. It was his third time reaching the finals, where he lost and finished second.
When he participated in the first official tournament for professional players, "Puyo Puyo Championship in Sega Fest 2018", held in April 2018, he defeated Tema, kuroro, and live, and faced his rival Kamestry again in the final. The fact that the first professional tournaments’ final was a showdown between old rivals attracted the attention of many people. As a result, he won and became the first champion.
In October 2018, at the "Puyo Puyo Championship 2018 October Tournament", he defeated live in the first round, selva in the second round, and also won the semi-final against Xyro(ざいろ) to advance to the finals for the second time. The final was a showdown with meta, a young high school professional. Both players battled for one set, and in the end, he showed off his veteran presence and won, his second championship.
In SEASON2 (2019), he defeated MGR and fron in June 2019 at the "Puyo Puyo Championship SEASON2 June Tournament" to advance to the top four. He also won against Mackey(マッキー) in the semi-finals to advance to the finals where delta awaits him. It was his third time reaching the finals, where he lost and finished second.
In February 2020, he participated in the professional/general mixed tournament "Puyo Puyo Cup SEASON 2 February Osaka Tournament", defeating Setanagi(せたなぎ), Ethanol, and Shiino(椎野), and making it to the top four for the first time in the Puyo Puyo Cup. Furthermore, he defeated Isana, who became a professional at this tournament, in the semifinals and advanced to the finals. However, he lost to Piponeer(ぴぽにあ) in the finals and came in second place.
On February 4, 2023, he participated in "Puyo Puyo Championship SEASON5 STAGE4" and defeated selva and Titan(タイタン) to advance to the semifinals. He won the semi-final against meta in two consecutive sets, advancing to the championship final for the first time in 3 years and 6 months since the June tournament in SEASON 2. His opponent in the final was Tom, who had fought a 100-99 battle in the 2011 S-Rank league. All eyes were on the final match between the top players who have long led the Puyo Puyo community. In the first set, he came close to losing at 4-4 and won by a hair's breadth. He won the second set in a close match 5-4. He raised both his hands and pumped his fist in joy as he brilliantly won the championship for the third time, four years and four months after SEASON 1. His victory at the age of 41 makes him the oldest official tournament winner in history.
In September 2023, he participated in the large community tournament "Puyo Puyo New Hero Festival" (355 participants) and advanced to the quarterfinals on the winner's side. He defeated delta 5-2 to secure a place in the top six. In the following Winners Semi-Final against Norasuke(のらすけ), he showed a bold attack, but in the second half he allowed his opponent to score consecutive points and lost 3-5, making him the loser. In the loser's quarterfinals, he had a rematch with delta, but this time he lost 1-3 and finished in 5th place.
Past results
- 2nd All Japan Puyo Masters Tournament 3rd place
- 1st Puyo Puyo Master Tournament (Makuhari Messe) 3rd place
- 2011 AC Puyo Puyo Tsu S Rank League 3rd place
- Redbull 5G 2012 Finals PUZZLE Genre (Puyo Puyo!!) East Representative
- Redbull 5G 2013 Finals FREE Genre (Puyo Puyo!!) East Representative
- Redbull 5G 2016 Finals PUZZLE Genre (Puyo Puyo Tetris) West Representative
- Puyo Puyo Championship in Sega Fes 2018 1st place
- Puyo Puyo Championship 2018 June Tournament Best 8
- Puyo Puyo Championship 2018 October Tournament 1st place
- Puyo Puyo Championship 2018 December Tournament Best 8
- “Puyo Puyo Finals SEASON1” commemorative tournament in Aeon Mall Miyazaki 3rd place
- Puyo Puyo Championship SEASON2 June Tournament 2nd place
- Puyo Puyo Cup SEASON2 February Osaka Tournament 2nd place
- Puyo Puyo Championship SEASON2 March Tournament 3rd place
- 6th Hisha Puyo! First place
- Puyo Puyo Championship SEASON4 STAGE1 3rd place
- Puyo Puyo Championship SEASON4 STAGE3 3rd place
- 2nd Puyo Puyo Master Tournament 2nd place
- 13th Waseda University Puyo Masters 3rd place
- Hisha Puyo! in eXeField Akiba #2 1st place
- National Prefectural Esports Championship 2022 TOCHIGI Puyo Puyo Division (General Division) Tokyo Representative
- Puyo Puyo Championship SEASON5 STAGE4 1st place
- EVO Japan 2023 side event Puyo Puyo eSports 2nd place
- Puyo Puyo New Hero Festival 5th place
- 18th Hisha Puyo! 3rd place
Channels and social medium
Youtube：「くまちょむのゲーム配信」／Twitter：@kumachom
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