In a commanding showcase of skill and nerve, Pakistan’s Atif Iqbal—known in the esports arena as “Atif Butt”—secured a thrilling victory at CEO 2025, claiming the Tekken 8 championship and a $6,195 prize. Representing Team Falcons, Atif ran an undefeated upper bracket campaign, culminating in a hard-fought 3-2 win over South Korea’s ULSAN in the grand final.
The final was a tactical masterclass. Playing Anna Williams, Atif surged to a 2-0 lead before ULSAN fought back to level the score. In a nerve-wracking decider, Atif kept his composure to close out the match and seal the title, while adding 560 EWC points to his tally ahead of the Esports World Cup 2025, for which he is already qualified.
Fellow Pakistani legend Arslan Ash battled through the lower bracket, eliminating both Farzeen and JeonDDing, but fell again to ULSAN in the lower final.
With three Pakistanis in the top six, CEO 2025 reaffirmed the country’s rising dominance in the global Tekken scene. All eyes now turn to the upcoming Esports World Cup.
