Pakistan’s Tekken star Atif Butt delivered another strong statement on the global stage, finishing runner-up at Combo Breaker 2025, one of the year’s biggest Tekken 8 tournaments, held in Schaumburg, Illinois.
The event featured over 1,100 entrants from across the world, bringing together the best names in the competitive fighting game scene.
Representing Team Falcons, Atif fought his way through the most stacked bracket Tekken 8 has seen since its launch. His run included wins over top international opponents, with a particularly impressive 3-1 victory over legendary Korean player Knee in the lower bracket final.
Atif Butt’s momentum led him to the grand final, where he faced South Korea’s Mulgold, who had earlier defeated Knee in the upper bracket. Mulgold, representing Freecs, proved unstoppable on the day, taking the final 3-0 with his Claudio/Feng combination. Atif, playing Anna and Dragunov, fought hard but was unable to reset the bracket.
Combo Breaker 2025 Final Standings:
| Place | Player | Country | Team | Characters | Prize | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Mulgold | South Korea | Freecs | Claudio, Feng | $7,173.60 | 560 |
| 2nd | Atif Butt | Pakistan | Team Falcons | Anna, Dragunov | $4,099.20 | 400 |
| 3rd | Knee | South Korea | DRX | Bryan | $2,391.20 | 300 |
| 4th | EDGE | South Korea | T1 | Hwoarang | $1,366.40 | 220 |
| 5th–6th | PINYA / Arslan Ash | Japan / Pakistan | VARREL / Twisted Minds | Raven / Nina | $683.20 each | 180 |
| 7th–8th | LowHigh / Rangchu | South Korea | DRX / VARREL | Bryan / Panda, Lidia, Kuma | $341.60 each | 150 |
Combo Breaker 2025 wasn’t just another stop on the Tekken World Tour — it was a showdown between continents. From South Korea, Japan, and Pakistan to the United States, Saudi Arabia, and Europe, the 1,100+ entrants included top-tier talent like:
- AK (Philippines) – Natus Vincere
- Anakin (USA) – Team Falcons
- Cuddle_Core (USA) – Red Bull
- Book (Thailand) – Talon Esports
- Chikurin (Japan) – THY Esports
- Fergus (Ireland) – Team Mirage
- JeonDDing, CBM, LowHigh, Rangchu, Qudans (Korea)
- Farzeen, Bilal, Panda, Malik Ash (Pakistan)
With names like Shadow 20z, JoeCrush, AO, Sephiblack, and JoKa also competing, Combo Breaker 2025 was a true showcase of global Tekken talent.
With Atif Butt placing 2nd at Combo Breaker 2025 and Arslan Ash making top 6, Pakistan once again proved it’s a force to be reckoned with in the fighting game world. Despite the dominance of traditional Tekken powerhouses like Korea and Japan, Pakistan’s homegrown talent continues to stand tall under pressure.
Atif’s runner-up finish, especially with the new Tekken 8 meta still evolving, sends a clear message: Pakistan is here to stay — and its best players are just getting started.
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