The 2025 edition has now set the bar for Tekken esports moving forward

Tekken 8 closed out Week 6 of the Esports World Cup 2025 with a record-breaking spectacle in Riyadh. From August 13 to 16, 32 of the world’s finest competitors clashed on stage for a massive $1 million prize pool, transforming the event into the most-watched Tekken tournament in history. 

The storyline of the weekend belonged to Lim “Ulsan” Soo-hoon, who defended his crown after a dominant run through the bracket. By defeating fellow Korean star Yoon “LowHigh” Sun-woong in the grand final, Ulsan not only secured back-to-back World Cup titles but also became the highest-earning Tekken pro, surpassing $445,000 in winnings. 

Viewership soared throughout the four-day event. A heated group stage match between Han “Mulgold” Jae-gyun and Atif “ATIF” Ijaz peaked at nearly 90,000 concurrent viewers, while overall watch time jumped to 1.35 million hours, more than double the 2024 edition. South Korea’s dominance played a big role—six of the top eight finishers were Korean, fueling massive regional engagement. 

On the organizational side, Ulsan’s success delivered 1,000 Club Championship points to DN Freecs, lifting them into 11th place. Meanwhile, Team Vitality strengthened its top three standing with Jeon “JeonDDing” Sang-hyun’s semifinal run.