‘The Beast’ donates $60,000 of winnings to NYU Game Center scholarship

Daigo “The Beast” Umehara is known as the most dominant fighting game champion in the world. His sponsor, Mad Catz, says he has a, “nearly psychic ability to predict and counter his opponent’s next move. This power not only paralyzes world-class opponents, but has also led to many unforgettable comebacks from the brink of defeat.”
Yesterday the Downtown Brooklyn-based NYU Game Center announced that the superstar gamer would donate all $60,000 of his winnings from the recent CapCom Pro Tour to the university’s Evo gaming scholarship.
“It’s simply because I would not have existed without community and I owe you,” Daigo wrote in the announcement. “My ‘professional’ gamer life has given me such invaluable experiences. I get to give all myself to fight against top players around the world and meet and engage with fans across the globe. I can express myself through my gameplay to the audience, the community.”

The EVO scholarship is for students interested in designing and innovating fighting games.
“By enabling individuals from within the community to be leading the charge, competitive games will continue to evolve and become an even richer field of games,” the university says.

Recognizing that Daigo’s donation makes school possible for many more, applications to the fall 2016 MFA class have been extended to 1/15.

— NYU Game Center (@NYUGameCenter) January 5, 2016

Those interested can learn more about the NYU Game Center and the Evo scholarship here.
“I sincerely hope the money I donate will help the community thrive further,” Umehara said. “The stronger the community grows, the further my career expands, doesn’t it? That is not so bad. At least, it would be a much wiser and prudent investment than an Ume-Shoryu?!”
NAILED IT.