First day of the Tekken 8 event at the Esports World Cup has concluded, with five out of eight groups completing their matches. Ten players have secured their spots in the next phase, including Ao and Meo-IL from Group AA, Atif and The Jon from Group BB, Ulsan and JeonDDing from Group CC, Knee and Yagami from Group DD, and Chikurin and Hafiz Tanveer from Group EE.
In a surprising turn of events, reigning Tekken World Tour champion and tournament favorite, Arslan Ash, made an early exit after losing 2-1 to Ulsan and 2-0 to JeonDDing. The five-time EVO champion faced technical difficulties when his arcade stick malfunctioned, forcing him to borrow one from fellow competitor Sajawal. His unfamiliarity with the borrowed equipment is believed to have impacted his performance.
Despite this setback, Arslan Ash is expected to make a strong comeback. Meanwhile, Day 2 of the Tekken event continues with Pakistani players Bilal, Farzeen, and Sajawal hoping to advance from their groups to join their compatriots in phase two.
