Competitive video gaming, also known as esports, has quickly transformed from a niche
hobby into a global phenomenon and a profession over the last two decades. With
millions of fans from all over the world, sponsorships from major corporations and prize
pools rivaling traditional sports, esports is now an important component of the
entertainment industry. Various genres, including FPS (First Person Shooters) such as
CSGO and Valorant, MOBAs (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena) such as League of
Legends, fighting games and many others, have established very strong competitive
scenes, each one of them with dedicated player bases and professional circuits.
Fighting games, one of the oldest and most loved competitive gaming genres, have
remained a staple in the esports ecosystem. Titles such as Street Fighter, Super Smash
Bros. and Mortal Kombat dominated the scene for long and still do but one franchise
that has consistently stood out throughout the years is Tekken. Published by Bandai
Namco Entertainment, Tekken has been a leading fighting games series since its
arcade debut in 1994 thanks to its unique 3D combat mechanics, deep combat system,
vast character roster and rich lore.
The Tekken esports scene has significantly grown over the years, fueled by a passionate
and very dedicated community. Competitive players, content creators and also casual
fans all contribute to its ecosystem through local tournament: online competitions and
events help introduce new players to the competitive scene, while professional events
and competitions showcase the highest level of Tekken gameplay. The Tekken
community is very known for its inclusivity, with players from all over the world
coming together to compete, play casually and celebrate the game. The rise of social
media and streaming platforms really boosted the game’s popularity and has further
strengthened this bond between players, allowing them to share strategies, discuss
matchups and game balance and also support one another, even through actual coaching
sessions. The rise of social media also lead to esports organizations and sponsors to
recognize the potential of Tekken esports, leading to increased investments and growth
in the competitive scene.
There are many different competitions but the TWT (Tekken World Tour) is the main
competitive circuit for Tekken Players worldwide. Introduced in 2017, the TWT
provides a structured and well organized environment for high-level competition,
culminating in an annual Grand Finals, where the world’s best 20 players battle for the
‘World Champion’ title.
The TWT operates through an ordered points-based ranking system: players accumulate
points by competing in various events during the season across different regions, with
the highest ranking players earning a spot in the Grand Finals. Events are categorized as
follows:
- Online Events: digital tournaments that allow players from all over the world to
compete without the need to travel, obviously, these tournaments grant the least
points for the global leaderboard, and come with a different set of challenges
compared to the offline events. They are a good training ground for newcomers
and for people who can’t travel. - Dojo Events: these are the smallest local events, still provides a small amount of
points to the best players of the event. - Regional Events: these are exclusive to specific regions, offering LCQ (Last
Chance Qualifiers) tournaments, offering a last chance for players to qualify for
the Grand Finals. - Challenger Events: these are mid-level tournaments that provide a bit less
leaderboard points than the Master Events, still joined from players from all
around the world. - Master Events: these are the highest-tier tournaments and therefore offer the most
points and attract top players from all around the world.
Over the years, all these competitions, but especially TWT, saw the rise of legendary
players and gave us unforgettable moments. Knee (Bae Jae-min) from South Korea,
Arslan Ash (Arslan Siddique) from Pakistan, Ulsan (Lim Soo-hoon) from South Korea
and JDCR (Kim Hyun-jin) from South Korea are among the elite competitors who have
dominated the Tekken scene and consistently manage to qualify to the hardest events.
One of the most defining and famous moments in Tekken esports history was Arslan
Ash’s incredible victory at EVO 2019, where he defeated world-class players and
established Pakistan as a powerhouse in the fighting game community, starting a feud
that is still going on between Pakistan and South Korea to decide which region has the
best players.
With the release of Tekken 8, the future of the Tekken World Tour and competitive
Tekken in general looks promising. Enhanced graphics, completely new mechanics and
a lot of new players joining the community will keep the scene fresh and engaging. The
rise of the streaming and broadcasting platforms such as Twitch and YouTube ensures
that more fans than ever can watch live events, matches and content creators’
livestreams, increasing the global reach of Tekken as an esport.
Esports revolutionized the gaming industry and both Tekken and its community play a
crucial role in the competitive landscape. As the scene grows, new champions will rise,
and the legacy of Tekken will continue to evolve, captivating audiences for years to
come.
Sources:
https://liquipedia.net/fighters/Knee
https://liquipedia.net/fighters/Arslan_Ash
https://liquipedia.net/fighters/Ulsan
https://liquipedia.net/fighters/JDCR#:~:text=Kim%20
https://tekken.fandom.com/wiki/Tekken_(series)
https://liquipedia.net/fighters/Tekken
https://liquipedia.net/fighters/Tekken_World_Tour
