Pakistan’s Muhammad Zubair was crowned Tekken 8 world champion after defeating South Korea’s LowHigh 5-0 in the grand final of the Esports World Cup (EWC) in Paris.
Pakistan’s Muhammad Zubair was crowned Tekken 8 world champion after defeating South Korea’s LowHigh 5-0 in the grand final of the Esports World Cup (EWC) in Paris on Saturday.
Zubair, who had narrowly survived the early stages of the tournament, produced a remarkable run to claim the title at the Aug. 5-8 event and secure the $250,000 winner’s prize.
“He came out of nowhere and took the crown!” the EWC said on social media after Zubair’s victory.
The Pakistani player’s path to the title included a series of high-profile victories, none more significant than his wins over compatriot Arslan “Ash” Siddique.
Zubair defeated Arslan in the second group stage on Friday before facing the eight-time Evolution Championship Series (Evo) winner again in Saturday’s semi-final. In a closely fought encounter, Zubair prevailed 5-4 to book his place in the grand final.
The final against LowHigh proved far more one-sided, with Zubair dominating from the outset to complete a 5-0 sweep and claim the championship.
Arslan, one of Pakistan’s most prominent esports players and a leading figure in the global fighting game community, finished fourth after losing the third-place decider to Australia’s Yagami.
The result comes just weeks after Arslan strengthened his own reputation by winning the 2026 Evo series in Las Vegas in June. The victory marked his fourth consecutive Evo title at the event widely regarded as the world’s biggest fighting game tournament.
Zubair’s triumph adds another major international achievement to Pakistan’s growing presence in competitive esports, particularly in the Tekken scene.
The Esports World Cup features competitions across some of the biggest titles in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2, League of Legends, Street Fighter and Valorant.
Zubair’s victory in Paris also highlights the depth of Pakistan’s Tekken talent, with two of the country’s leading players reaching the latter stages of one of the sport’s biggest international competitions.