Score one for Southeast Asia, as a renowned Tekken 8 player has taken the gold in this week’s major fighting game tournament.

Alexandre “PBE | AK” Laverez has won this year’s Combo Breaker 2024 Tekken 8 tournament, which took place in Illinois, USA, during the 3-day span of 25 to 27 May GMT+8. AK has been winning all of his matches, staying in winner’s bracket up until the grand finals against top Tekken player Arslan Ash. The Pakistani esports fighter was the only one who took him down in a set, forcing a reset in Grand Finals. Plus, both of them are using characters that aren’t too popular in the current Tekken 8 competitive scene: Shaheen for AK, and Nina for Arslan Ash.

In the end, AK triumphed over Arslan Ash in a helluva set with loads of highs and close calls, beating the latter 3-2.

The crowd erupts once more, @PBE_AK defeats @ArslanAsh95 and is your #CB2024 #TEKKEN8 champion! https://t.co/krGrwhPhJU pic.twitter.com/QWDoWmnG1d

— kurominah @ #CB2024 (@kurominah) May 27, 2024

AK YOU MONSTER? ?????? pic.twitter.com/zOR8pJ6jSb

— END | Tone @ CB2024 (@hidetone) May 27, 2024

I get the feeling @PBE_AK has been holding on to this pop off for 5 years.

Congrats to @COMBOBREAKER's first @TEKKEN 8 champion! pic.twitter.com/OuDmpYO6gc

— Esteban Martinez (@TheBesteban) May 27, 2024

This is a monumental feat for The Philippines, Southeast Asia, and the region’s Tekken scene, as he joins alongside Thailand’s Nopparut “Book” Hempamorn as one of SEA’s finest 3D fighting game pros. Do note that the Tekken 8 tournament at Combo Breaker 2024 is a Tekken World Tour Master Event, so whatever points the top players get will count towards the final Tekken World Tour bout that’s presumably next year.

Here are the full results of Combo Breaker 2024, as well as some highlights from the major fighting games in the circuit:

Tekken 8

1. PBE|AK (Shaheen)
2. TM|Arslan Ash (Nina)
3. Falcons|Farzeen (Victor)
4. VIT|JeonDDing (Eddy, Reina)
5. Varrel|Rangchu (Kuma)
5. DRX|Knee (Bryan)
7. FaZe|Joey Fury (JACK-8)
7. Yamasa|Nobi (Dragunov)

Street Fighter 6

1. ElChakotay (Lily)
2. TM|NoathThePRodigy (Luke)
3. DualKevin (Rashid, Luke)
4. Moist|JAK (Juri)
5. Shine (Kimberly, Chun-Li)
5. YC|ZachInABox (Luke)
7. RR|Ajax Fidelity (Ed)
7. Ramsey (Zangief, Ed)

Guilty Gear Strive

1. FLY|TempestNYC (Leo, Elphelt)
2. Zando (Asuka)
3. MR|Umisho (Sol)
4. NSxC|PataChu (Sin)
5. PAR|Aarondamac (Happy Chaos)
5. Supernoon (Bridget)
7. TNS|MFCR (Leo)
7. Twis|Slash (May)

Granblue Fantasy Versus Rising

1. BLITZ|Zippy (Nier)
2. PAR|BEPaw (Ferry, Nier)
3. PAR|Aarondamac (Belial)
4. BlueSkyGuyBSG (Vaseraga)
5. DTN|Wavie (Cagliostro)
5. Haveaniceday (Djeeta, Beelzebub)
7. Kanme|Elsa (Nier)
7. Makouna (Yuel)

Image credit: @vexanie on Twitter