Pakistan’s Tekken superstar, Arslan Ash, announced he will miss two major 2025 esports events, Riyadh Clash and Evo Japan, due to ongoing visa issues. The five-time EVO champion shared his disappointment on X (formerly Twitter), saying he tried everything but couldn’t secure the necessary travel documents.
He tweeted,
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 change. I hope to see you all at LevelUpExpo next weekend.
Arslan Ash, widely regarded as one of the best Tekken players globally, has dominated the competitive scene with wins like EVO 2024 and DreamHack Atlanta 2024. His absence from Evo Japan in April and Riyadh Clash, part of Saudi Arabia’s Gamers8 initiative mid-year, is a blow to the Tekken World Tour. Fans were eager to see him defend his titles, but his withdrawal opens chances for new players to rise. “It’s sad for Pakistan’s pride,” one fan posted.
Visa challenges are a recurring struggle for South Asian esports athletes, limiting their access to global stages despite top-tier skills. Despite the setback, Arslan remains upbeat. He’s focusing on training, local tournaments, and his next event, LevelUpExpo, happening the weekend after April 17. “I’ll keep pushing and hope to see fans soon,” he said.