Arslan Ash, Pakistan’s globally renowned Tekken star, has relocated to Japan to train and compete at the highest level of professional esports, calling the move a “new chapter” in his celebrated career.
In a post shared on social media, Ash said the decision to move to Japan was driven by his desire to challenge himself among the world’s elite players while continuing to compete internationally. He also reaffirmed his commitment to representing Pakistan on the global stage.
“Esports careers are short, so I’m giving this my absolute best,” Ash wrote.
A new chapter begins 🇯🇵
I’ve moved to Japan to push myself at the highest level, while still competing around the world and I’ll always represent Pakistan 🇵🇰.
Esports careers are short, so I’m giving this my absolute best.
Really thankful to @GsKudo for believing in this… https://t.co/Ds8jdAOT5w
— Twis | Arslan Ash (@ArslanAsh95) February 10, 2026
Originally from Lahore, Arslan Ash began playing Tekken at the age of eight in local gaming arcades. Over the years, he has risen to become one of the most accomplished players in the history of the game.
Earlier in August, Ash added another milestone to his career by winning his sixth Evolution Championship Series (EVO) title at EVO 2025 in Las Vegas. Representing Twisted Minds, he defeated fellow Pakistani player Atif Butt in the Tekken 8 Grand Final.
Ash first gained international recognition in 2019 after winning the Tekken 7 title in Japan. He followed that success with multiple victories at EVO events in the United States. He placed third at EVO 2022, won EVO Japan in April 2023, and secured his fifth EVO title in July 2024.
Widely regarded as the greatest Tekken player of all time, Ash was named ESPN’s Best Esports Player of 2019. His achievements also include winning CEO 2021 and the Combo Breaker 2022 Tekken 7 tournament, where he claimed the title after defeating all 10 of his opponents.
