Esports World Cup 2025: Arslan Ash qualifies for Tekken, set to battle for $1 million prize
Pakistani esports sensation Arslan Ash has secured his place in the Tekken 8 tournament at the 2025 Esports World Cup (EWC) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, reinforcing his status as one of the world's top Tekken players.
The EWC, running from July 7 to August 24, will feature 25 esports titles and over 2,000 competitors from more than 200 clubs, competing for a record-breaking $70 million prize pool.
The Tekken 8 event, set for August 14 to 16, will see 32 elite players battle for a $1 million prize fund.
Pakistan's Arslan Ash has officially qualified to TEKKEN 8 in ESports World Cup! 🚨🇵🇰⭐️
Make us proud, @ArslanAsh95! pic.twitter.com/QGjeU9mIcy — Muneeb Farrukh (@Muneeb313_) May 25, 2025
Arslan Ash, a five-time EVO champion with titles including EVO Japan 2019, EVO 2019, EVO Japan 2023, EVO 2023, and EVO 2024, continues to dominate the Tekken scene despite past challenges such as visa issues that forced him to withdraw from events like Evo Japan and Riyadh Clash 2025.
His qualification for the EWC 2025 highlights his ongoing commitment to maintaining Pakistan's presence on the international esports stage.
Arslan Ash's reputation as a fierce competitor is well-established, and his participation is highly anticipated by fans worldwide.
The Esports World Cup promises seven weeks of high-level competition across multiple games, with Tekken 8 among the most eagerly watched.
Arslan Ash's success at international tournaments, including recent appearances at Combo Breaker 2025 in Schaumburg, further cements his position as a global esports icon.
At Combo Breaker, he placed joint fifth in Tekken 8 among a field featuring top players from around the world.
I am happy with the result.
Thanks for the support 🙏 — Twis | Arslan Ash (@ArslanAsh95) May 25, 2025
As the esports community looks ahead to the EWC 2025, Arslan Ash remains a standout figure whose journey continues to inspire gamers in Pakistan and beyond.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
16-07-2025
- Express Tribune
Tekken 8 tournament sees senior citizens compete in Care Esports' inclusive gaming event in Japan
A unique esports event in Japan has highlighted the growing inclusivity of competitive gaming. Organised by Care Esports, a tournament featuring senior citizens aged between 60 and 93 saw participants face off in Tekken 8 for the title of King of the Iron Fist. Held as part of Care Esports' annual tradition of selecting a new game each year, the 2025 tournament brought full-scale production elements, including live commentary and player profiles. Each profile showcased the participant's chosen character, creating an authentic esports atmosphere. Though Tekken is known for its complexity, the tournament demonstrated how accessible the game can be for new players. The simplicity of its control layout, with each button representing a character limb, allowed many first-time players to quickly learn the basics and even execute combos. The final match was closely contested between Sadayuki, a King main who displayed advanced mechanics like throw breaks and air grabs, and Yoshie, who used Panda's low attacks to pull off a reverse sweep win. All players were interviewed post-match and received trophies for their performances. Although none of the competitors are expected to appear on the Evo stage, their efforts reinforced the idea that gaming is a platform open to all ages and skill levels.
Express Tribune
04-07-2025
- Express Tribune
Arslan Ash banned for droping: Tekken champion shares his response, including when he will return
Tekken champion Arslan Ash has responded to a doping sanction issued by the International Esports Federation (IESF), stating he unknowingly consumed banned substances and had no intention to gain an advantage in competition. In June, the IESF announced that Ash tested positive for anabolic steroids following his victory at the 2022 World Esports Championship (WEC22) in Tekken 7. The substances detected, 19-norandrosterone, stanozolol metabolites and others, are banned by the World Anti-Doping Association (WADA), whose list the IESF follows. The ruling led to a two-year ban from IESF-sanctioned events, retroactively covering April 26 2023 to April 25 2025. Ash was also stripped of all titles, points, prize money and awards earned between December 10 2022 and the start of the ban. This included his WEC22 title. Ash, widely regarded as one of the best Tekken players in history, he was unaware the supplements he took were considered performance-enhancing, as reported by ProPakistani. 'I wasn't aware these drugs were banned in esports,' he said. 'I was never using them for any kind of advantage in gaming.' He explained that the substances were sold to him in 2022 by a trainer at a gym in Pakistan. 'I was misled and unfortunately became a victim of a gym culture where substances like these are sold casually, with zero guidance or education,' he wrote later on social media. The IESF maintained its 'zero-tolerance' stance in its original statement, saying it would continue to enforce WADA-based testing protocols across global esports events. However, the decision has been met with scepticism. Critics have questioned both the timing of the ruling, more than two years after the competition, and the relevance of steroid testing in a discipline not reliant on physical performance. The Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC) also released a statement declining to enforce the ruling, arguing that the anti-doping framework being applied lacks scientific basis for esports. 'Without a scientifically grounded and purpose-built approach to anti-doping in esports, serious consequences to competitive integrity are inevitable,' ESIC said. Ash said he stopped using the supplements once he learned their contents and has since prioritised education and health. 'I've joined a better gym, taken full responsibility and educated myself to ensure this never happens again,' he said. Despite the controversy, Ash's most significant victories, including multiple EVO titles and the 2023 Tekken World Tour, remain recognised by tournament organisers. His sponsor, Twisted Minds, also voiced support, calling the IESF's framework 'outdated' and not designed for esports. 'Arslan's career has always been built on skill, passion and relentless work,' the team said in a statement. Twisted Minds reaffirms its full support for Arslan Ash. The following is our official statement regarding the IESF's recent ruling. — Twisted Minds 🧠 (@TwisMinds) July 3, 2025 Ash first rose to international prominence in 2019, becoming the first player to win both EVO Japan and EVO Las Vegas in the same year. With five EVO titles and a World Tour championship, he remains one of the most decorated players in the history of competitive Tekken.
Express Tribune
26-05-2025
- Express Tribune
Esports World Cup 2025: Arslan Ash qualifies for Tekken, set to battle for $1 million prize
Listen to article Pakistani esports sensation Arslan Ash has secured his place in the Tekken 8 tournament at the 2025 Esports World Cup (EWC) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, reinforcing his status as one of the world's top Tekken players. The EWC, running from July 7 to August 24, will feature 25 esports titles and over 2,000 competitors from more than 200 clubs, competing for a record-breaking $70 million prize pool. The Tekken 8 event, set for August 14 to 16, will see 32 elite players battle for a $1 million prize fund. Pakistan's Arslan Ash has officially qualified to TEKKEN 8 in ESports World Cup! 🚨🇵🇰⭐️ Make us proud, @ArslanAsh95! — Muneeb Farrukh (@Muneeb313_) May 25, 2025 Arslan Ash, a five-time EVO champion with titles including EVO Japan 2019, EVO 2019, EVO Japan 2023, EVO 2023, and EVO 2024, continues to dominate the Tekken scene despite past challenges such as visa issues that forced him to withdraw from events like Evo Japan and Riyadh Clash 2025. His qualification for the EWC 2025 highlights his ongoing commitment to maintaining Pakistan's presence on the international esports stage. Arslan Ash's reputation as a fierce competitor is well-established, and his participation is highly anticipated by fans worldwide. The Esports World Cup promises seven weeks of high-level competition across multiple games, with Tekken 8 among the most eagerly watched. Arslan Ash's success at international tournaments, including recent appearances at Combo Breaker 2025 in Schaumburg, further cements his position as a global esports icon. At Combo Breaker, he placed joint fifth in Tekken 8 among a field featuring top players from around the world. I am happy with the result. Thanks for the support 🙏 — Twis | Arslan Ash (@ArslanAsh95) May 25, 2025 As the esports community looks ahead to the EWC 2025, Arslan Ash remains a standout figure whose journey continues to inspire gamers in Pakistan and beyond.
