I caught up with Arslan Ash throughout EVO 2024, and he defined why he feels just like the strain is on for him to win the match. He’s been getting higher and higher since Tekken 8 got here out, partially as a result of he’s attempting to compete whereas he can.
Since he first received EVO Japan in 2019, lots has modified. With 4 EVO titles underneath his belt, an unmatched legacy in Tekken 7, and now being a father, Arslan has a lot to battle for.
With a legacy to defend and a household to offer for, the shining star of Pakistani Tekken has lots to show in Tekken 8. And, in line with him, he’s solely obtained so lengthy to place himself again on high of the world.
Arslan’s cementing his Tekken legacy whereas he nonetheless can
After I final talked to Arslan a couple of months in the past, he felt a bit misplaced with Tekken 8. He was noticeably distraught after I requested him in regards to the state of the sport and the way he’s adjusting to it in comparison with Tekken 7.
Right here’s a snippet from what he instructed me earlier this yr:
“Studying Tekken 8 may be very laborious. I’m shedding lots today. I really feel like a noob ranging from scratch.”
Arslan’s match outcomes originally of Tekken 8’s life cycle weren’t encouraging. He was having a tough time discovering the character that really match his playstyle and the meta, and he had gripes with issues like character steadiness and the way sturdy chip injury was.
Nonetheless, his outcomes have considerably improved since Tekken was up to date. Between a third-place end because the BAAZ Gauntlet, second place at Combo Breaker, and qualifying through Dreamhack, Arslan’s proper again on the high of the pack as Tekken 8 lastly started to click on for him.
“The sport goes in an excellent route,” he claimed. “At first, I tweeted about a couple of issues that wanted to be nerfed or buffed, and that’s precisely what’s taking place. The Warmth Burst nerf, chip injury, some characters have been actually OP they usually nerfed these characters. I actually just like the route proper now.”
Arslan is one among few Tekken execs who swaps characters with the meta and performs what he thinks is nice. He’s keen to choose up somebody new on the drop of a hat if he thinks it’ll give him the very best probability of successful. There are a couple of others, like Doujin, Knee, and Shadow20z, who’re keen to leap from character to character, however instances like these are uncommon.
It’s clear that it isn’t essential to swap characters to win, however Arslan seems like his means to roll with what patches throw at him makes him stand out.
“I feel it’s a tough query, however… You want apply. A participant like me, I used to play a number of characters. A participant like me, even after I was enjoying Tekken 7, I used to play lots of totally different characters. For me, it’s really easy to adapt.
“However, I’ve seen some gamers who study the sport with one character, they usually get well-known and begin successful with the identical man, too. But when their character will get nerfed, then it’s laborious for them. They’ll’t simply change like me or Knee or another gamers. [Swapping] is a tough factor to do, however I additionally assume it’s crucial.”
It’s factor that Arslan is extra comfy with Tekken 8 now as a result of he’s obtained the strain of all the things else bearing down on him. He feels his success in Tekken 7 has set the expectation that he ought to win all the things.
“After I get third place, individuals begin saying, ‘Oh, Arslan is washed.’ Like, why? I obtained third place. After which, after I obtained second place [at Combo Breaker], it was like ‘Oh, Arslan is just not successful, blah blah blah,’ however I feel it’s as a result of I simply set the benchmark very excessive. So individuals simply need me to win, win, win. Nothing lower than that. So… yeah. I don’t know. It’s laborious. It’s laborious to maintain successful each time.”
On high of that stress, Arslan additionally has a family now—a household he has to depart behind as he travels the world for work. This makes it that rather more essential that he wins occasions and stays on the high of his recreation.
“Lots of people globally, and lots of avid gamers in Japan and Korea after I discuss to them, assume that, like, when you get married, you can’t be an expert participant. That we received’t have sufficient time to play video video games. I disagree with them, I disagree with all of them. I really feel prefer it’s extra about having an understanding together with your companion,” he defined.
“I feel my companion may be very understanding. And she or he simply understands my recreation. It does have an effect on us, but it surely’s for our betterment I consider.”
This level is particularly pertinent contemplating Arslan already feels just like the clock is ticking on his possibilities of successful majors. He solely seems like he has so lengthy to maintain competing at his peak.
“Typically, after I preserve enjoying an excessive amount of of the sport, I really feel like I’m burning out. However then I consider my household and my future, and I consider the truth that I’ve a really brief life left. Within the lifetime of an esports participant, in the event that they wish to win, in the event that they wish to be on the highest? It’s very small,” Arslan lamented.
“You could be a legend, you possibly can preserve enjoying till you die, you possibly can turn out to be a streamer. Now we have excellent examples like Justin Wong. He’s not competing, however he’s extra into commentating and different issues. So you possibly can turn out to be like that. However, if you wish to preserve successful, you might have a really brief time period. I simply preserve considering of that. Like, I don’t have loads of time left for me. I simply wish to preserve successful and preserve enjoying.”
So, I requested what age he felt like he’d make it to.
“Hmmm… I don’t know. There’s not a proper reply, however possibly 35? 36?” Arslan is at the moment 28 years previous, so he’s obtained some time earlier than he will get to that time.
Arslan has since received the EVO 2024 title, giving him his fifth EVO win and making him inarguably one of many best Tekken gamers of all time.