In the late 1990s and early 2000s, a modest gaming subculture began to emerge in Lahore’s neighbourhood arcades. Children would gather in cramped rooms around aging consoles, inserting coins into machines after school and competing against each other.
Two decades later, that small, tight-knit community has produced some of the world’s top Tekken players, who are now competing with—and often defeating—gamers from countries long considered e-sports powerhouses, such as South Korea.
Pakistan’s breakthrough came in 2019, when Arslan Siddique, better known as Arslan Ash, captured the Tekken 7 World Championship title in Japan. His victory did more than earn a trophy; it put Pakistan firmly on the global e-sports map. Since then, Arslan has continued to dominate international tournaments, while a growing number of Pakistani players have risen to and maintained positions among the top tiers of global rankings.
What makes these achievements remarkable is that they were cultivated not in high-end gaming labs or through institutional support, but in neighbourhood arcades and informal competitions. Almost all of Pakistan’s leading Tekken players trace their roots to local gaming shops, where countless hours of practice, rivalry, and shared learning honed their skills long before government bodies or international sponsors showed any interest.
“I was into gaming since childhood. Arcades were very popular when I was young, and we had one near our house. I used to go there after school with my cousins and neighbours. That’s how I started,” Arslan told Dawn.
He explained that arcades were the hub for children throughout Lahore, offering a space for middle and lower-middle-class kids to socialize and make friends.
Recalling the arrival of computer-based team games in Pakistan, Arslan said he remained loyal to arcade gaming partly because of the high cost of new games. “I come from a poor family, and we used to think LAN gaming was for the rich, so we couldn’t afford it. Also, those games were played in teams, but I preferred playing alone. They charged hourly, but I usually played for free. If no one could beat me, just one coin was enough. That’s why I stayed with arcade gaming,” he said.
Tekken has now become the game of choice for many e-gaming enthusiasts in Lahore, particularly after Arslan’s international success, which inspired many to see gaming as a possible career. Yet challenges remain.
Zamin Abbas, owner of Maniax Gaming—a popular arcade among Tekken players—told Dawn that he had been playing since the age of five. “There’s no arcade in Lahore where I haven’t played. Many talented players over the past 15 years never had the chance to compete professionally, but they laid the groundwork for the next generation by creating local competitive systems,” he said.
He added that following Pakistan’s rise on the international stage, more new players are practicing and learning the game, even if they cannot afford the fees. “We support them by not charging them,” he said
