From LCQ to EWC Tekken Champion, M. Zubair stunned the esports world with his unstoppable skills. He embodied the true meaning of the phrase: he came, he saw, he conquered.
Who Is M. Zubair?
M. Zubair Abdulsamad, a 26‑year‑old Tekken 8 player from Pakistan, represents AG.AL Club. Known for his skill with Paul and Dragunov, he shocked the esports world by winning the Esports World Cup 2026 (EWC 26). His journey from local tournaments to the global stage is a story of persistence and discipline.
Early Triumphs in Pakistan
Before stepping onto the world stage, Zubair proved himself at home. At Pakistan Tekken League Lahore 2026, an offline event with 108 competitors, he battled through the bracket and defeated Nouman Ch in the Grand Finals (0‑3, 2‑3). That victory earned him 150 ranking points and set the tone for his international breakthrough.
At the end of July, Zubair entered the Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ) in France — a Tier‑1 event with 444 players. Against all odds, he once again defeated Nouman Ch to secure his spot in the EWC main event. His qualification earned him the prestigious Jafonso Award, recognizing his rare achievement of qualifying from LCQ and then winning the championship.
Legendary Wins at EWC 26
Grand Finals vs LowHigh (South Korea): Zubair stunned fans by sweeping the EWC 2025 runner‑up 5‑0 in under 12 minutes.
Clashes with Arslan Ash (Pakistan): Facing the 8‑time EVO Champion, Zubair won twice — 3‑0 in group stage and 5‑4 in semi‑finals, proving his dominance against Pakistan’s most decorated Tekken player.
“I have been practicing a lot in Pakistan. There’s a specific friend of mine who actually played with me, and he also prepared me. I’m really grateful to him. When he finds out that I have won the Esports World Cup, he’s going to be very happy. He plays a very pivotal role in my success today.”
His humility and gratitude highlight the support system behind his success.
Prize Pool Earnings
By winning EWC 26 Tekken 8, Zubair secured a $250,000 prize pool share, adding his name to the list of Pakistan’s highest‑earning esports champions.
Keys to Success
Zubair’s journey shows that practice and hard work are the ultimate tools. His relentless training, strategic mindset, and ability to adapt under pressure transformed him from a local contender into a global champion.
Famous Players on M. Zubair Tekken Champion
Ulsan, the 2‑time Esports World Cup champion, said:
Takedown 2026 Pakistan is poised to be the most significant prize pool event ever for the fighting game community (FGC). While some may argue that online gaming is a waste of time with no real future, the truth is quite the opposite. Online gaming is evolving and offers incredible opportunities for growth and success. Esports are rapidly gaining traction in Pakistan too, showcasing their potential. Last year, the prize pool for the Takedown event reached an impressive 2.5 million PKR, and this year it has doubled to a remarkable 5 million PKR for a three-day event featuring 4exciting game titles. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to learn more!
What Game Titles Can We Look Forward To?
Takedown 2026 features four major competitive game titles. The tournament rules and formats are structured to test the absolute peak of player skill:
Tekken 8: Singles format with a grueling Double Elimination bracket.
Street Fighter 6: Singles format with a Double Elimination bracket.
EA Sports FC 26: Singles format with a high-stakes, unforgiving Single Elimination bracket.
Community Insight: While many local fans have asked why King of Fighters XV was left out, industry analysis suggests the organizers chose these specific four titles because they directly align with active global league circuits—such as the Tekken World Tour and the SNK World Championship—guaranteeing maximum international impact.
The organizers have strategically distributed the 5 million PKR total prize purse based on community scale, global circuit standing, and local appeal:
Tekken 8: 2,500,000 PKR
Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves: 1,400,000 PKR
Street Fighter 6: 500,000 PKR
EA Sports FC 26: 500,000 PKR
Player Participation and International Attendance
Takedown has grown from a local tournament into an international attraction, with total registration numbers rising steadily year over year:
Last Year’s Scale: The previous event drew 554 total players to the tournament brackets.
International Competitors: The event successfully attracts foreign talent. Last year’s participant list included international players traveling from Spain and Thailand.
Current 2026 Registration: There are already 427 registered attendees signed up for this year’s event. With weeks left before registration closes, final player participation and spectator attendance are expected to exceed last year’s totals.
How Takedown Connects Pakistan to the World
Pakistan has firmly established itself as a global powerhouse for the Fighting Game Community (FGC). Local players possess an incredible passion for the genre, and Takedown is turning that passion into international careers.
Official TWT Status: Takedown 2026 is an officially sanctioned Tekken World Tour (TWT) Challenger Event. It is a fully recognized stop on Bandai Namco’s global calendar.
The Path to Global Finals: Local players do not just win prize money. They earn official Global Leaderboard Points required to qualify for the prestigious Tekken World Tour Global Finals.
Overcoming Travel Barriers: Historically, Pakistani esports athletes faced severe visa issues and high travel expenses when attempting to qualify abroad. Bringing a Challenger tier event directly to Lahore gives homegrown talent a fair, accessible opportunity to prove they belong among the world’s elite on their own turf.
Top Local and International Players to Watch Out For
With massive global circuit points and life-changing money on the line, Pakistan’s absolute elite are locked in to compete at Packages Mall. The local lineup expected to draw the heaviest crowds includes:
Arslan Ash: The legendary 8-time international EVO Champion looking for major redemption after last year’s shock exit.
Ulsan: The reigning, phenomenal 2x Esports World Cup (EWC) Champion flying in from South Korea to assert his dominance on Pakistani soil.
Usama Abbasi: The reigning Takedown 2025 Defending Champion who took the crown last year and is fighting to keep it.
Rangchu: The iconic 2x Tekken World Tour Champion and world-class veteran ready to test his skills in the toughest region on earth.
Farzeen: One of the most dangerous, fast-rising stars globally, fresh off dominant international tournament runs.
LowHigh: The legendary global champion and EVO winner aiming to crush the bracket and silence the home crowd.
Atif Butt: A former global Tour Finals Champion and a strategic mastermind who remains a permanent favorite to take the bracket.
AK: The world-renowned Filipino prodigy making the journey from Manila to Lahore to reclaim his spot at the top tier.
Shehram: The lethal Zafina specialist who shocked the entire esports world last year by delivering the biggest upset in Tekken history.
Sin & Yagami: Formidable international powerhouses and EVO finalists who add deep, unpredictable global danger to the pool.
Numan Ch & The Jon: Highly competitive, world-renowned local veterans who consistently push the top tier to its absolute limits.
The Biggest Upset in Tekken History
Takedown is known for extreme stakes and unpredictable drama. In last year’s event (Takedown 2025), the esports world witnessed arguably the biggest upset in Tekken history.
The legendary Arslan Ash suffered a shocking defeat in his very first match. He was knocked out of the winner’s bracket by Shehram, a relatively unknown local grassroots player. Arslan ultimately finished in the 25th–32nd place category, leaving fans and international analysts completely stunned. It proved that the depth of raw gaming talent in Pakistan runs incredibly deep.
Event Details & Registration Logistics
Organizer:Baaz (baaz.gg) is the main organizer of this event.
Dates: The tournament runs from September 4 to September 6, 2026.
Venue:Packages Mall, Lahore.
Ticket Tiers & Pricing
Player registration is split into phases. Sign up early to secure the best rates via the official organization portal:
Early Bird Registration: 1,100 PKR (Ended)
Normal Registration: 1,500 PKR (Ongoing until August 9, 2026)
Late Registration: 2,000 PKR (From August 10 to August 28, 2026)
To secure your spot as a competitor or spectator, visit Baaz.gg, where the full registration process is outlined.
While battle royale titles still dominate the esports stage, other genres are gradually making their mark. Fighting games, in particular, are growing in popularity, evolving with each release, and pushing closer to the top tier of competitive play. In this article, we’ll look at Three fighting games that are not only thrilling to watch and play but also rewarding their competitors with impressive prize pools.
1. Street Fighter 6
Street Fighter 6 is one of the top fighting games today. Once you start playing, it’s hard to stop. Released by Capcom in June 2023, it holds a strong 9/10 rating on Steam and 4.3/5 on PlayStation. Fans on Reddit praise it as one of the best Street Fighter titles ever, securing its place among the greatest fighting games.
“Getting to play matches is so fast and practical, it makes the experience addicting.”
“It’s been recognized as one of the best street fighter games since launch.”
“I tried playing many fighting games in the past and dropped all of them after a short time. I have been playing SF6 nonstop since day 1 and I’ll probably keep going until the end of its lifecycle. Not only the best SF game, but one of the best games ever in general.”
Street Fighter began as an arcade classic and has now reached its seventh major entry with Street Fighter 6. The game is available across Xbox, PlayStation 4 and 5, arcade machines, and Windows, making it accessible to players everywhere. By November 2025, it had already sold over 6 million units worldwide.
The Esports World Cup (EWC) has now added Street Fighter 6 to its lineup of major games. In this event, 48 players went head‑to‑head, all aiming for a share of the massive $1,000,000 prize pool.
From China, Xiao Hai came out on top, winning the championship and taking home $250,000.
Blaz finished second and earned $130,000.
Leshar secured third place with $75,000.
Angry Bird claimed fourth place, walking away with $45,000.
What set this tournament apart was that every participant received prize money, ensuring that all 48 competitors went home with earnings. The prize distribution highlighted EWC’s approach to rewarding players across different ranks. With Street Fighter 6 now included in the event, the game continues to establish its presence within the wider esports landscape.
Capcom Cup, Annual Fighting Tournament
The Capcom Cup began in 2013, originally focusing on the Street Fighter series. In 2025, the tournament was held in Tokyo, Japan, with a total prize pool of $1,282,000. Japanese player Kakeru secured first place, winning the championship title along with $1 Million in prize money.
2. Tekken 8
The Tekken series was first introduced in December 1994, developed by the legendary Japanese studio Namco. Originally released as an arcade title, it was quickly ported to the PlayStation in 1995, marking the beginning of its global dominance.
From the very start, Tekken captured the imagination of players worldwide. In Japan, it sold an impressive 942,000 units, making it the fourth highest‑grossing arcade game of 1995. Across the United States, it achieved similar acclaim, ranking among the top five arcade titles with 786,556 units sold.
Tekken grew into a well‑known name in gaming culture, with each release refining its gameplay and stories. In January 2024, the series continued with Tekken 8, confirming its strong place in competitive gaming and ongoing popularity with fans worldwide.
Tekken 8 arrival in EWC
The Esports World Cup (EWC) is one of the biggest events in competitive gaming. In 2025, the tournament added Tekken 8 to its lineup, drawing 32 players to compete for a prize pool of $1 million.
The matches were held in Riyadh from August 13 to 16, 2025, and the competition was dominated by South Korean players, who secured all of the top five positions. ULSAN claimed the championship title and took home $250,000. The runner‑up earned $130,000, with $70,000 awarded for third, $50,000 for fourth, and $37,500 for fifth.
Tekken World Tour (TWT)
Tekken organizes its own global tournament, known as the Tekken World Tour (TWT), where players can showcase their skills on an international stage. This Tekken World Tour (TWT) is an annual international tournament organized by Bandai Namco, first introduced in 2017. It has since become a consistent fixture in the competitive fighting game calendar.
The prize distribution is as follows:
First place: $100,000
Second place: $60,000
Third place: $30,000
Fourth place: $15,000
Remaining 33 participants: All receive prize money, with the lowest tier set at $1,000
The 2026 edition of the Tekken World Tour will be held from January 29 to February 1, 2026, featuring four days of competitive matches among top players from around the world.
It means that Tekken personal tournaments are also worth considering. Participation in these events can provide valuable experience and open up future opportunities.
3. Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves
Fatal Fury is a long‑running fighting game series developed by SNK in Japan. The franchise began in 1991 as an arcade title and became known for its distinctive characters, moves, and battle system. Over the years, it has built a loyal following, especially among players who remember its early arcade roots.
In 2025, the seventh installment of the series was released. The game has received positive reviews, with a rating of 9/10 on Steam and 4.4/5 on PlayStation. It is available on Xbox, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Windows.
Fatal Fury at the EWC 2025
Fatal Fury, developed by SNK, secured a spot in the Esports World Cup (EWC) 2025 held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The tournament offered a $1 million prize pool, underscoring the game’s growing relevance in modern competitive play.
The event featured top players from around the world. In the grand finals, Goichi “GO1” Kishida defeated Xiaohai to win the championship. As the winner, GO1 received $300,000 from the prize pool along with competitive points.
Xiaohai from China finished as runner‑up and received $155,000.
DarkAngel earned $100,000 for third place.
Mok received $65,000 for fourth place.
Prize money was also distributed among the remaining participants, with amounts awarded down to the 16th place, where players received $20,000.
Last Words
Esports is not only about battle royale games, since those don’t fit everyone’s style. Fighting games are also a good option because they are straightforward, competitive, and can help players build a future in gaming.
