There was a variety of chatter about Evo Vegas dropping its status. Even Arslan Ash himself has talked about this earlier than. After a Saudi Arabian firm bought Evo and introduced an enormous circuit enlargement, many execs and followers felt the hype across the occasion was dying. As soon as the fruits of the season, it appeared Evo Vegas was changing into simply one other match.
On social media, the FGC lamented that the price was too high after they might simply go to an Evo close to them as a substitute. After I flew to Las Vegas, I instantly observed the distinction. The FGC is not only all discuss. They really didn’t present up. The badge line was empty. I used to be in a position to play any arcade sport I wished as a result of the group was smaller. I might simply sit within the entrance at any stage throughout swimming pools.
However when it got here to the Most important Stage, you’d by no means have the ability to inform that Evo Vegas was lacking anyone. The stadium was packed. The followers had been simply as passionate, hype, and loud as ever, chanting insider callouts and taking bets on matches. And the professionals in High 8 had been giving it their all. The matches had been insane to observe.
And Arslan Ash gained the Tekken 8 match. Similar to at all times.
Nothing actually appeared off when it got here to the tournaments themselves. However talking with Arslan Ash, he’s nonetheless fairly assured that Evo goes within the unsuitable path.
Evo is dropping its status, and EWC’s $1 million prize pool is trying even higher
Again in 2025, Evo introduced plans to broaden past Las Vegas and Tokyo, revealing the Paris location for 2026 and Singapore for 2027.
“Evo used to really feel like one legendary occasion the place the entire world got here to compete,” Arslan Ash tweeted on the time. “Now with three Evo’s (and 4 subsequent 12 months), it’s slowly dropping that status. I miss the times when there was just one Evo, one champion, one second that outlined the 12 months.”
That is an unsurprising sentiment from the FGC, which values authenticity and keenness above all else. Even because it’s grown, it has remained considerably grassroots, targeted extra on the present neighborhood reasonably than increasing into the mainstream.
However Evo continued to develop. After it was bought by a Saudi Arabian firm, Evo shared much more upcoming areas, probably making a circuit that culminates in a championship-type occasion. And Evo Vegas began pushing for extra viewership, bringing on streamers that the FGC felt weren’t real members of the scene. And let me be clear: the FGC would rather stay broke than have views from these streamers’ followers.
I met up with Arslan Ash at Crimson Bull’s lounge forward of the weekend’s Tekken tourney and requested him what Evo Vegas means to him now that extra occasions are on the best way. Does he nonetheless really feel that Evo has misplaced its status?
“This 12 months is okay. We solely had three Evo,” he mentioned. “Europe one way or the other is sensible. It’s enormous. Some folks can’t journey to the USA or Japan. Having one there may be type of okay. However including seven Evo… I feel it’s an excessive amount of.”
Arslan Ash informed me that the one means this might all make sense is to make Evo Vegas larger than the opposite Evo occasions. This might preserve the status. At the moment, even Japanese gamers say Evo Vegas is crucial due to its historical past, he informed me.
“It’ll be particular perpetually,” he mentioned. However he needs it to be particular within the current. Not a particular reminiscence. For that, Evo must cease increasing. Arslan Ash identified that many individuals didn’t even present up, noting that numerous Road Fighter rivals backed out.
Whereas the FGC values history and tradition, Evo Vegas might nonetheless disappear into the lineup if extra Evo occasions preserve popping up. However for now, it nonetheless issues. I imply, Arslan Ash nonetheless flew from Japan to Las Vegas to compete.
“There’s a man from Australia who informed me after I was new that successful Evo Vegas means you’re the perfect participant on this planet,” Arslan mentioned. “Everybody travels to Vegas – or used to – to assert themselves finest on this planet. In that means, it’s nonetheless the identical.”
Nevertheless, the main focus has shifted. Whereas Evo Vegas remains to be particular to the FGC (for now), the true goal is to qualify for the Esports World Cup. That is stunning to listen to, since lots of people in esports have blacklisted the EWC for its ties to the Saudi Arabian authorities. The cash being thrown into the occasion makes it seem extra like a compelled showcase reasonably than a match that counts for something.
“EWC isn’t about status,” Arslan Ash agreed. “It’s about worth. The prize cash. Earlier than, our plan was to win Evo Vegas. However now, our goal is to win EWC.”
Regardless of the sacrifices, Arslan Ash has no plans to decelerate
I feel this speaks extra to Arslan Ash’s success reasonably than the mindset of the FGC as an entire. Evo’s prize pool is fairly huge and all, so he’s not struggling to interrupt even on journeys like over in Tremendous Smash Bros. Melee (the place the prizing is fortunate to be over a $2,000 for the winner). However the EWC is dangling $1 million in entrance of the Tekken 8 neighborhood.
After all it’s not simply cash. Though I don’t blame him for desirous to step it up.
Arslan Ash has now gained eight Evo tournaments (seven once we spoke). Successful Evo is a little bit of a given for him. Nevertheless, he’s not blindly cocky. He informed me that as Evo expands, he doesn’t anticipate to win all seven occasions yearly. In the meantime, there is just one EWC every year. Which means one likelihood to be the EWC champion. One likelihood at $1 million.
It’s clearly not a loopy factor for a professional on the high of their sport to need extra wins at extra tournaments. However for Arslan Ash, it’s much more than only a need to win. He needs to take advantage of his Tekken profession whereas he can. Earlier than he retires. It’s a humorous factor to listen to from somebody of their late 20s, however that’s the character of esports.
“I’ve only some years left,” he admitted to Esports Insider. “Perhaps 10 years? You must retire ultimately. I’m nearly 30. The younger gamers are getting higher. I’ve this quick time frame, so I need to preserve successful.”
Whereas Arslan Ash acknowledged that there are just a few preventing sport gamers of their mid-30s who’re at their peak, like high King of Fighters participant Xiao Hai. However possibly that’s not how he sees his personal future.
He not too long ago moved to a suburb exterior of Tokyo, Japan to focus extra on Tekken. In Pakistan, the place he’s from, there aren’t many gamers to apply with. He discovered himself not realizing sure matchups and coping with a extra persistently aggressive playstyle. Transferring to Japan was nice for his profession: he’s seen enhancements in matchups and enjoys the higher web. He’s additionally been exploring new meals. He tried octopus (and didn’t prefer it).
“Life is best,” he mentioned. “It’s quiet, good, much less visitors, much less loud. Good for household.”
However that’s the worth you pay for higher web and being on the high: you are feeling very alone. Away from household and pals, Arslan Ash is at all times utterly targeted on the following occasion. After successful Evo Vegas, Arslan Ash informed a panel of journalists that he deliberate to return to Pakistan to go to his household.
“When you find yourself at a excessive stage, you are feeling alone,” he admitted. “My pals aren’t even right here. Your loved ones is the one which at all times helps you. Actual help. On the high, you’re alone. There’s simply you and your loved ones.”
