In a stunning display of skill and determination, KWANGDONG FREECS' Lim "Ulsan" Soo-hoon has emerged as the Esports World Cup: TEKKEN 8 champion. The South Korean player delivered a flawless performance, defeating Atif “Atif” in the grand finals with a commanding 5-0 sweep, restoring Tekken 8 glory to South Korea.
Ulsan's Path to the Top
The journey to the grand finals was marked by intense competition and surprising upsets. Reigning EVO champion Arslan Ash was unexpectedly knocked out early, leaving his compatriot Atif as Pakistan's sole representative in the final stages of the tournament.
Atif showed impressive form throughout the competition. He topped Group B in the First Phase and secured second place in Group A of the Second Phase, falling only to the formidable Benjamin "Yagami" Torngdee. Atif advanced through the playoffs with decisive victories over KDF’s Jae-hyun "CherryBerryMango" Kim (5-2) in the quarterfinals and ZETA DIVISION’s Shoji "Double" Takakubo (5-1) in the semifinals.
Ulsan's Unstoppable Ascent
Ulsan, on the other hand, dominated from the start. He led his group in both phases of the tournament and remained unbeaten until a 5-3 win over Muhammad “Farzeen” in the quarterfinals. He then halted Yagami’s momentum with a 5-1 victory in the semifinals, setting the stage for a highly anticipated clash against Atif in the grand finals.
The grand finals began with Atif gaining an early edge, securing a Perfect victory in the first round of match 1. However, Ulsan showcased his resilience by reversing the tide with three consecutive round wins to take the lead. Ulsan continued his dominance, convincingly winning match 2 and then delivering another reverse sweep in match 3. His relentless performance ensured a 5-0 sweep, securing his title as the champion.
The Champion’s Rewards
Ulsan's victory not only earned him the inaugural EWC 2024 Tekken 8 championship but also a substantial portion of the $1,000,000 prize pool—$300,000 to be precise. Additionally, KWANGDONG FREECS received 1,000 Club Championship Points, propelling them into a tie for 8th place in the standings with several other top-tier teams.
In a post-game interview with Ryan Hart, Ulsan expressed his exhilaration, saying, “I said after Top 4 that my nervousness was over… My dopamine is crazy… I’m still hungry!” His triumph at the EWC: TEKKEN 8 not only cements his status as a top contender but also highlights the growing prominence of South Korean players in the global Tekken scene.