Bad news for fighting game fans – Pakistan’s Tekken legend Arslan Ash won’t be able to play at Evo Japan and Riyadh Gamers8 in 2025 because of visa issues.
The 5-time EVO champ shared his frustration on social media X:
Really wanted to compete this year, but my visa got denied again. I’m used to these passport problems by now – maybe someday it’ll get easier.
This is a huge loss for both tournaments, where Ash was one of the biggest draws. His absence gives newer players a chance to shine, but fans will definitely miss seeing his incredible skills.
The good news? Arslan Ash confirmed he’ll still be at Level Up Expo and might do more local events instead.
He’s spoken before about how hard it is for Pakistani esports players to travel:
“Everyone loves cricket here, but I wish other sports like esports got the same support.”
While Ash deals with these travel headaches, the esports world is getting ready for the massive Esports World Cup this summer with its $70 million prize pool. Here’s hoping Arslan gets his visa sorted soon – the fighting game community isn’t the same without him.
