Pakistani youth becomes world’s top Tekken 7 player

Arslan “Arslan Ash” Saddique holds up his winning trophy at the EVOs in Las Vegas on Aug. 5, 2019. Arsalan is the first Pakistani to participate in the gaming series since 2011. (Photo courtesy: Arsalan Saddique/Twitter) 

• “Arslan Ash” bagged nearly $14,000 in prize money after beating Jae-Min “Knee” Bae in EVO grand final in Las Vegas
• He is the first player from Pakistan to participate in the Tekken 7 leg of Evolution Championship Series

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s 23-year-old Arslan Saddique – aka “Arslan Ash” – is now officially the world’s reining Tekken 7 champion.
Saddique defeated Jae-Min “Knee” Bae at the grand final of the 2019 Evolution Championship Series (EVO) in Las Vegas at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino on August 5th, 2019. In addition to the bragging rights of credentials putting his skillset at the very top of the fighting video game, Saddique walked away with nearly USD $14,000 in prize money.
Saddique has faced Bae, a well-known player in the international gaming community, on three different occasions. The last time was at EVO Japan where Saddique hailing from a relatively uncharted gaming world (Re: Pakistan) was applauded but mostly dismissed according to VICE’s article on his win, but to win back to back in Japan and at the more prestigious North American finals? Something that cannot be ignored.
Saddique is the first player from Pakistan to participate in the Tekken 7 leg of the EVO, and the first player from Pakistan to participate at large at EVO since 2011. He became a player of note in 2018 during the FV x SEA Major Malaysia where he finished in 9th place. Saddique plays Tekken for team VSlash a competitive e-sports team.
Saddique tweeted out about his win writing, “All thanks to Allah Almighty for making me gain success and be an evo champ. Twice consecutively,” further thanking his team and his mom.