Pakistan’s Dominance in Tekken World: A Surprising Success Story
Pakistani players have become a force to be reckoned with in the world of professional Tekken, one of the most popular fighting video games globally. While the game originated in Japan 30 years ago, its growing popularity and success in Pakistan has surprised even the game’s creators.
Rising Stars from Pakistan
The game’s dominance has traditionally been in the Far East, but Pakistani players have broken through that trend, with 4 of the current top 10 professional Tekken players hailing from the country. The most notable of these is Arsalan Ash Siddiqui, who gained international recognition after winning the EVO Fighting video game tournament in 2019. He has since gone on to win the title four more times, cementing his status as a fan favorite.
Surprising Interest from Tekken’s Director
Katsuhiro Harada, the director of Tekken, expressed his amazement at the game’s unexpected rise in Pakistan. In an interview with BBC, Harada stated:
“We did not know that Pakistanis play Tekken games. We have not even been to Pakistan yet, and I am still very interested to know why Pakistanis are crazy about this game and how they play such a good game.”
Emerging Talent and Global Recognition
Arsalan Ash’s victory in 2019 marked the beginning of a new chapter for Pakistani players. During the recent Red Bull Golden Letter tournament in Great Britain, Pakistan’s Atif Butt secured second place, despite Arsalan being eliminated early. Michael Murray, the producer of Tekken, expressed his delight at the emergence of Pakistani talent:
“I was very pleased when Arslan Ash Siddique won; no one knew him before. After Arslan, other great players emerged from there, and everyone liked them. This is very interesting for us.”
The Future of Tekken in Pakistan
The growing interest in Tekken in Pakistan continues to intrigue the global gaming community, especially the creators of the game. The combination of raw talent and the passion for the game has positioned Pakistan as a formidable player in the competitive Tekken world. With such talent emerging, Pakistan’s influence in the global Tekken community is only expected to grow further.