Islamabad (TDI): Pakistani e-sports professional, Arslan Ash, widely regarded as one of the most accomplished Tekken players in the world, has officially announced his withdrawal from Evo Japan and Riyadh Clash 2025.
He announced the decision on the social media platform X, citing visa-related challenges affecting his travel plans for the events.
Evo Japan and Riyadh Clash are both major events in the Tekken World Tour 2025, drawing top players from around the globe.
I will not be able to attend Riyadh Clash and Evo JP this year. I made every effort to go, but unfortunately, I encountered visa problems again.
It’s fine, I’ve learned to live with passport limitations; maybe one day, things will changeI hope to see you all at LevelUpExpo…
— Arslan Ash (@ArslanAsh95) April 17, 2025
Although Arslan Ash has withdrawn from some competitions, he has confirmed that he will continue his competitive season by participating in the upcoming LevelUp Expo.
He is also looking into other regional and international tournaments for the rest of the year.
Arslan Ash has previously raised the subject of travel limitations for Pakistani e-sports players, particularly after Pakistani competitors performed well against established players from Japan.
He has expressed interest in seeing broader structural improvements that address such challenges for professional gamers.
Looking ahead, the global -sports schedule includes the Esports World Cup 2025, set to be held in Saudi Arabia from July 7 to August 4.
Read More: Pakistan’s Team wins Tekken 7 Nations Cup
The tournament will feature 25 game titles, more than 2,000 professional players, and over 200 teams, with a combined prize pool of $70 million.
Arslan Ash, whose full name is Arslan Siddique, has been active on the global Tekken circuit for several years.
He first entered international prominence after winning both Evo Japan and Evo USA in 2019 — a rare achievement in the fighting game genre. Over the years, he has secured multiple championship placements across various tournaments.
He has secured multiple championships globally, including five EVO titles, cementing his status as a leading figure in the fighting game community and as one of Pakistan’s most recognizable e-sports athletes.
Areeba Kanwal is a contributor at The Diplomatic Insight and has passion for International Relations and diplomacy.
