The Unknown Tekken God: How Arslan Ash Overcame Borders and Legends to Win Evo Japan

[Music] the underdog never has it easy arson is only really broken into the scene I would say over the past six months the odds are always stacked against them often from birth forgetting the visa our different countries the populace very difficult there are dozens hundreds of obstacles standing between them and greatness the visa was declined the first time he was kind of discouraged he actually messaged me he was saying Hasan I don't know if I want to do this anymore maybe I should just give up but in the end when it really matters the underdog will find a way our three-round come back let's go if he beats everyone that be packs there at the best country in the world a ticket the fighting game world has always revolved around two or three major regions every great fighting game has incredible players from either North America or Japan Korea also stands out particularly in Tekken where they dominate the same what's a legend he is back takes that trophy and he's gonna be taking it home to South Korea of course Europe South America China and the Middle East have all produced standout players across dozens of games but Pakistan has never really been in the conversation despite having the sixth highest population in the world with over 200 million people Pakistani citizens often have trouble acquiring visas to get to Japan Korea or the United States where most tech and tournaments are held but if you do not have money you have to struggle for the visa for getting the visa or different countries the populist body that historically this meant that the Pakistani second tyranny didn't travel it also meant that most people didn't know they existed so they didn't go to Pakistan to train with them there were a few people outside of Pakistan who knew about the country's incredible secret Tekken seen them in 2010 a Pakistani player named awesome arrived in the UK and proceeded to mop the floor with the British that can see literally in Tekken 6 when he came down he was unbeatable like he beats everyone you know in order for someone to be as good as he he is and he was it means that you're seen in yours yeah you're seeing your local scene must be really good as well and then he told them about our fun ash legal system trust me if this guy arsalan comes down to - anywhere he'll be all the Koreans and I believe them I believe that you've only told me this years ago but but no one else did people often people actually laughed at us and when he said this I think the Tekken is the most popular game in Pakistan because it is played around everywhere in Pakistan in every city and I would be split with the Pakistani scene see they've been playing Tekken for a very long time so you know I've been hearing stories about how they've been playing a very very high level since Tekken 5 and they developed their own style Oracle finally got the chance to travel in 2018 when he went to the South East Asia major for his first international Tekken tournament before the tournament he was playing a lot of fests attends and junuh who's a very well-known commentator he said there's just random Pakistani dude killing all the Koreans and Japanese guys infest attends like he's budding everyone I don't know who he is but he's he's being everyone and that to me was that okay that's our still on he plays nice but well most of the Korean and Japanese players who showed up but a respectable performance nonetheless and one he'd quickly outdo arson went to Dubai a few months later for the oug tournament which quickly turned into his coming out party Sofi / Ocelot from Pakistan vs. rocks dragony from Korea then I know the next match is with me I went outside of the place and I just thinking that I will definitely gonna put me all at first and I definitely gonna put my all struggle for these years into this match and I was not thinking about the winning and losing I was just thinking of beating him I was thinking of giving him a - I'm a suspect so dirty right now yeah doing his best work so far superfast and that's it Wow the PD gets beat by us in speed by Arsenal 3-0 o ug tournament congratulations to also for Pakistan but many people were ready to call his wins over knee a fluke they didn't see a unique style of Tekken being played at a high level they saw a no-name from the middle of nowhere beating one of the best Tekken players in the world and somehow they didn't immediately put some respect on Arsenal Nash's name I mean of course you've got people who were saying he was playing off his game that but when you actually analyze the games which is what I did I made a video on YouTube analyzing how he beat me it's quite clear to see that it was it was a Salaam and really well he just looked unstoppable there he didn't lose a single game to me and you know be everyone else Chris he's pretty easily as well in order to get the respect that Horace on and Pakistan deserve in order to get the wins he knew he could Arslan actually need to travel again this time to the biggest tournament he could possibly attend evo japan evo japan is not as big as its american sibling but it's still a prestigious tournament see even Japan doesn't bring out the same kind of numbers that Evo and Las Vegas does every year but the caliber of players is incredibly high by the way I need to know I need to remind y'all this is losing someone put coot on - losers well before topic even Japan attracts the top players who can travel sure but the main Evo in Vegas does that - the main difference between evo Japan and every Western tournament he's a massive contingent of players from the eastern hemisphere who can't necessarily afford to go to Evo in Vegas every summer these are amazing players players who get to go to arcades and play with the top players in Asia regularly and the Western players don't even know their names you cannot prepare for them like I said man these are matches that you will not see outside of Evo Japan man so y'all need to get ready man there's a lot of legacy and matchups like this combined with the legion of top players you already know about our Celyn ass was walking into the Lions Den but getting to Japan was its own problem his visa was delayed because of issues with the paperwork he was kind of discouraged he actually messaged me he was saying Hassan I don't know if I want to do this anymore maybe I should just give up and I said no don't give up we'll get your invitation that's and it's going to be accepted don't worry about it and he was like okay so he kept his determination managed to get the visa getting his hands on a visa was just the first step though after he had won he can book his plane tickets you can go straight from Pakistan to Japan you know allowed to take a direct flight for some reason there's some legal reasons why he Khan he was supposed to go from Pakistan to Thailand to Fukuoka getting to Japan just a few days early but when he got to the airport he wasn't allowed to get on the plane then tomorrow again my possible nearly 20 cuts from here to Malaysia from Malaysia to Korea from Korea to KUKA and when I was in Malaysia after maybe six hours I'd slide is from Malaysia to Korea I go to the counter and I gave him my passport and tickets and he said you can't go to a Korean because we don't have any visa the second is my sponsor book me a flight to Tokyo not from Fukuoka when I was about to board my flight they store pain they are saying that in your password the immigration officer stamped that you are going to Korea and then to Fukuoka why do you change your flight why did you change your flight I I was I told him the whole story then somehow I managed to beg them I begged them and I luckily very humble people they allowed me to go unfortunately the complications didn't stop the Tokyo Airport currency exchange didn't take Pakistani rupees I stay here for one month they eat without eating anything I said to my sponsor that I am leaving boom this book me a ticket from here to the hole because there were only four hours left for the tournament thankfully again the V / guys came through they they booked a flight for him from Tokyo - to Fukuoka and then paid for his taxi and by the time he all that goes like three days of passed at this point manages to get to the venue evo japan literally when his pool starts our flesh showed up to pools after three days straight of start and stop travel after not eating or sleeping properly and he already had more to prove than anybody else in that room so he was out for blood I was something nor no more than Islam at that time I was something else Arslan was such an unknown that his early matches weren't even streamed but that didn't stop him from bringing down me once again I already know after three matches I have to piss me I always prepared for Nia game I was not thinking about writing better than a valid JDC our champion I just want to dream I just want to win because I suffered a lot I was not thinking there are easily I just want to give my best most people Deven you've heard that knee went down but they didn't know who did it some random Pakistani player they didn't know his story but they were about to learn his name I was constantly like like scared for him right I was like oh man he's got pay this dude now man I wonder what's gonna happen and then they just you just can't win him Arsenal took a loss to bowl of B but went on to defeat Chanel and rixton two huge names in Korean and na tagging respectively ours LOD beat Rick stuff he also eliminated Chanel before that game all of them - OH the same man who sent me to loser bracket is still in the tournament that's around the time the stream staff took notice and put him on camera for a match against a low high the defending Evo champion against the underdog a tournament favorite against a guy who didn't even get a full night's sleep you guys asked her to come to the stream here we go yeah buying low high I would be terrified right now this guy's taking all the Korean players he knows that beat the Korean play style so ready prove it oh my god that was it that was God like his round but oh my god to mix up too complicated so confident first game to our thought although the ad Beauchamp well like trying to stay alive tournament life on the line here watch this one one two with the whip planted on the throw arsalan eliminates low high the 2018 Evo champion out of the tournament this like the third Korean he's eliminated this dude is ridicu to Kout me Chanel and lo hi next came book the best player in Thailand and I would say you know his rhythm as was it's very different what they happen to be players waving it out the parry here's the cop you start over the perfect yes be in man this is so great - yes that's a hard time you can make easy but you can write it tonight and visa the first time oh yeah I'm happy now look at his journey or the law the biggest of big Hopkins punished in trouble last chance before candy make something happen it's all over three rounds rating game - Arzo that eliminating book book an ace is seventh place here at evil Japan world that means we're gonna see Arslan tag vs. Jimmy J translator our saloons first real challenge came in his next match against Jimmy J Tran it's a great American home USA vs. Pakistan this is absolutely insane one round away from a limiting arson - who is up until this point looked unstoppable in our top eight cars know what he guy we haven't seen him in this situation before how does he fight back with facing adversity oh and a big counter in - or again that is the second time in the last two referees landed in a clutch situation be by be late oh you're back beautiful down for one final round gave you a given to delayed off you let go tiger and more than half of his life rode the running technically maybe trying to move again oh it Timmy fighting back down don't count Jimmy out he's got the random the Blues up tonight and Arthur with the three rounds come back let's go it's crazy game of mean you think about hooking up oh my god he can't believe he's doing it this is sick he gets to here running to the follow up here I don't throw Chad was ready the Bartek sadboy bar the gym without like 20 seconds you know five minutes ago arts and ash was on the cusp of getting eliminated from the tournament back gosh where's the limit Jimmy pronto we got the wallet will kind of come over easy at the ball I'm gonna break wait oh my god Jimmy J Jed final final round Jimmy J burdens Ivan let's get it whoa but no he's chipping away Jimmy - wait give me the big trouble oh and the win he's not over though he got our sling over Jimmy J train what animate said between players oh my god that was crazy that was crazy I underestimate him a bit but he played outstanding I'd ever run a moment I told I will lose from him but I don't know how I managed to him from him and after that match I was like me tree shaking also after that match I was become more strong next up was chicory one of Japan's best players now puts himself up against Chikara in from Japan not just Japan the entire crowd here from Fukuoka we still got max Bullough gonna make some baby dog get out of here you can't make some something that you get low paid for ie arson - taking that first round drawing first blood here against ticketed hope I got off the wall he's banging on video he's playing horse was up he's got the park back doesn't but then once damn who knows you see that beat at wit pundit your arse Annette this up goes for the bids oh what a sight step Wow off-the-wall pick up two very nice combo conversion this I'm going downstairs itself Oh Big Mac for is he gonna make this comment gets it it is set point for Arthur - last chance for chicken again he's down to red can he do the whip you gotta be careful eliminates Japan from the tournament and then came cherry berry mango who took our Celyn as far as Jimmy J trended if not further to a full five games what universe are we in right now this is bizarro world this is insane this is a new age of Tekken whoo New Age of Heroes nobody counted for it's not like this in the wall don't follow go get the hub over Oh buzzy buzzy doctor told you what these idiots kill the wall crap oh you up the low that helps him of course you do it analyses look at the whip when beautify dude is coming tying around his face you can't do woman's man is facing his children and his Punishers his wood Punishers at the specific weight he'd know they reach and cherry p.m. yeah cherry very big he's old now but cherry berry oh we didn't finish it oh it's going right now he'll sweep I told you to stop I'd warned I try to warn you well there's the lodge doesn't think that move you gotta live in I mind right the moment of truth here his cherry berry bag we're gonna have what it takes to meet you stuff no inside the perfect career out of the German Arvin Acrobat that is going to the grand final finally there was just one opponent left aka is the Philippines best Tekken player and in another youniverse Evo Japan would have been his story a story of how he beat some of Tekken's of best to get a win for one of the game's most underrated regions but that day that match was all Arslan ass oh the packs where are the masked man man on fire three rounds drape who can stop them take these in trouble I'm calling it right now dude is this poor out straight though things are working out there the walls level is up you can't Hawking this man the place to pick Oh second in Duncan you got something scary to do man there's a mix-up there but eight kids it's totally I leave you got around to the board there's a punish here all right into it is that quick tu-204 art than here what a superstar this weekend has been so dominant for arson - now Ford wasn't down port is inside it's all a cage doing right now but all we can't win yeah that's the thing that's very quickly attacked so good in a follow-up call - oh he uses resources there but she need no you can't and you cannot win forgets arson Ange Oh God grateful break a now look at the plots no you all gotta be careful three two zero oh my goodness Pakistan with the 308 on the Philippines you reset the grand final he's the witness round one rate driver one treat oh yeah but that's gonna be it's gonna be able to flip intro okay with the lead right now Carson ash though he's might be changing it up careful tiger gotta be do that was gonna lag it's the follow this girl is so fair you can't really keep track of what's coming at you a lot of time oh man everything is like arson was going crazy make you thought it was ready but man no or didn't oh my gosh down to our pitiful hold on me he'll bother that's so damn tight he needed that one he ties it up oh boy the static air another low is there gonna be enough what's he gonna do this is a lot of juicier hi times on you gotta do this line you go oh my god oh yeah yeah he had no choice it now ours and running away with the tournament oh my god that was good what a win footage and he gets the wall here what makes up can do it right here and that will be another three around a farthing oh my gosh she said the character select screen oh he's not he is he's gotta win two games in a row yes what character can do that for he's even thinking about move that cursor up think about it moving up he might go too low or not feel like law might have gone pick your character works rheticus yeah my gosh look at the side step nowadays arson - moving forward two rounds away from winning the tournament are the Nash with the healthy Bob the blind he's starting to go with a solid line but he believed it he's like you don't even know how to punch with this character right now I ain't gonna let you warm up guys the ground in the follow-up oh my god Phoenix Japan champion it was a clobbering 3-1 in the first set three Oh in the second Arslan dummy take a to lift that trophy and finally earn the respect he deserved I am feeling like the dope of the other but Arslan wasn't the only person who won some respect from the global Tekken community that day Arsenal's win put Pakistani Tekken on the map after taking his second straight loss to arson knee tweeted that he wanted to go to Pakistan to train with a Tekken theme there you know someone replied to me are you serious and then Chanel replied saying does it look like he's joking and I spoke to him and he was actually saying to me yo swag I want to go focus on where should I go where all the players which which city and a few months later the Japanese scene arranged a series of first two tens against their best to see how Arsenal stacked up against them or wouldn't beat every single Japanese player he faced at me only taking two relatively close losses to me who flew over from Korea the moment he heard arson was coming to Japan miedo planned to come by familiar that I am from me so he booked my flight just to beat me just not I think he's very nice legs he just want to learn it is fun to learn Pakistani styles want to become more strong Arslan has showed the world that not only is Pakistan a region worth taking seriously but the Korea and Japan will not go unchallenged for the Tekken front he also proved that the unique Pakistani style of Tekken can stand on the world stage that we don't know everything about the game yet people from all over the world can provide new knowledge and push Tekken forwards Tekken has not been this varied and exciting in a very very very long time who would have thought this thought of the tournament that arsalan was gonna be the Evo champion who would have thought that there wouldn't be a Korean in Grand Finals no one it was amazing for Tekken in Pakistan like Korea they are very suitable players and also they are very competitive and when they heard and when they saw that I want they are working most all and they are becoming more strong and they set me as a benchmark right so now if they're working hard they're becoming strong and it is ultimately beneficial for the whole Pakistan OGC community of stake my second is one of the most diverse sees in the FTC and Arslan Ash's win is a shining example of why that kind of diversity is an incredible thing arsalan ash came out of nowhere to win evo japan but his underdog story doesn't start in the grand final it doesn't start with his incredible loser's bracket run through some of the best Tekken players in the world it didn't start with him arriving at Evo just minutes before Poole started after being bounced from airport to airport for days it started in an arcade in Pakistan a country that has never produced world-class fighting game talent a country that are Celyn - just put on the map this weekend attacking star was born and his name is Arslan ash everyone back home new event know about but now the whole world knows about him thanks for watching if you want more content like this hit the sub button and ring that notification bell for unique bite-sized videos you will find anywhere else hit up our Instagram Twitter and Facebook pages

Channel: theScore esports

Views: 1,616,233

Rating: 4.9360538 out of 5

Keywords: theScoreesports, thescore, tekken, tekken 7, arslan ash, kazumi tekken 7, jdcr, qudans, fgc, evo japan, arslan ash evo japan, lil majin, rangchu panda tekken 7, jeondding, cherryberrymango, rangchu, evo, daigo, tekken 7 knee, comeback, underdog, avoid the puddle, aris, tekken 7 hype match, tekken world tour, james chen, fighting games, arslan ash pakistan, tekken 7 evo, tekken 7 pakistan, heihachi, jimmyjtran, mr naps, tokido, team spooky, tanukana, korean backdash, tekken chanel, lowhigh, knee

Id: i7VnPVzuMto

Length: 22min 52sec (1372 seconds)

Published: Fri May 24 2019

Reddit Comments

[u/miaaaaan]

I would've been sooo good at tekken only if Abba gee didn't beat the shit out of me in 6th grade..

[u/xtremeshaneshame]

Man, Pakistan is surely getting on the esports scene. Alongside Arslan, the most obvious and the noticebale name is by far SumaiL. Hope to see Pakistan grow even more in esports.

[u/deadlycatch]

I can sponsor his US tournament. Anybody know if he is represented in the states?

[u/xtremeshaneshame]

BTW i just found out, Pakistan has 3 of the top 100 best players in Tekken 7. This, combined with Arslan Ash, made me even more proud. Keep it up boyys.

[u/Phantom_5]

I watched his match on youtube it was amazing

[u/[deleted]]

u/dastidood time to ditch ryu and that govt job

[u/g7x8]

enjoyed this whole video. good stuff. Im not into esports but theres definitely potential for pakistani dudes to get up there

[u/HopingillWin]

Never seen this and it was very interesting. Thank you for sharing!

[u/BIGGYHL]

Tbh he had the best run in EVO Japan. He basically played the toughest tourney as he was dropped to losers bracket and beat almost every player in the tournament