Tekken is one of the oldest current video game franchises in the world, hitting new heights in 2024 with Tekken 8. The best Tekken players are those who excel in every game in the franchise. As we move into the new game’s events, these players will define the meta for this fresh title.
As a series, Tekken first launched in 1994 in Japan, and it quickly became a massively popular fighting game. In the last few years, it has enjoyed a storied and popular esports presence. Especially since the release of Tekken 8 in January 2024. With that in mind, we’re here today to find out who is the best Tekken player in the world.
Who are the 10 Best Tekken Players of All Time?
There’s a long list of competitors to choose from, but we’ve compiled the top ten fighters from around the world heavily influenced by esports earnings. Here’s a look at the current list:
| Rank | Player | Esports Earnings |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Jae-min "Knee" Bae | $412,700 |
| #2 | Arslan ‘Arslan Ash’ Siddique | $355,300 |
| #3 | Artif ‘Atif Butt’ Ijaz | $249,800 |
| #4 | Lim ‘Ulsan’ Soo-hoon | $192,500 |
| #5 | Yuta ‘Chikurin’ Take | $519,500 |
| #6 | Seong-ho ‘Chanel’ Kang | $155,000 |
| #7 | Hoa ‘Anakin’ Luu | $123,500 |
| #8 | Daichi ‘NOBI’ Nakayama | $140,000 |
| #9 | Kim ‘JDCR’ Hyun Jin | $113,000 |
| #10 | Son ‘Quadans’ Byeong-mun | $111,000 |
These players have dominated the competition, picked up the most prize money, and have the highest level of in-game skill. Tekken is a vibrant scene packed with top-tier talent, especially with the growth in its tournaments for the release of Tekken 8.
This list is worth knowing for your Tekken betting.
10. Son ‘Quadans’ Byeong-mun
Opening our list of the best Tekken players is Qudans, a Team Liquid player who has been on the top end of the game for decades. One of his first major wins was EVO, maybe the biggest fighting game event, where he won for Tekken Tag Tournament all the way back in 2005.
Since then, he’s continued to rack up major wins. By 2017, he won the Tekken World Tour. Having such strong results over a long period definitely stands out in a game where things move so fast. Quadans is capable of staying at the top of the meta for Tekken. He’s still active too, and could easily reappear at the top of the rankings once again.
- Best Achievement: Tekken World Tour Winner in 2017
- Prize Earned: $110,841
9. Kim ‘JDCR’ Hyun Jin
Next up in terms of earnings is another Legendary player in Tekken, JDCR. He’s another EVO winner who has stuck around as one of the strongest Tekken players over a longer period. He first won EVO in 2014. He also won the very first Tekken World Cup, starting the biggest circuit with a win.
JDCR is one of the best players in recent Tekken games, winning countless tournaments. Even recently he’s kept this up, getting good results in Tekken 8.
- Best Achievement: Winning First Tekken World Tour
- Prize Earned: $112,897
8. Daichi ‘NOBI’ Nakayama
At 8th we’ve got another EVO Champion known for dominating as Dragunov. In Tekken 7 he had great finishes across tournaments, winning EVO in 2015, followed by the King of Iron Fist. Even in 2024, he’s still getting first place. Recently taking first place at DreamHack Dallas 2024.
Still with YAMASA, NOBI has been a part of competitive Tekken since 2011. He’s got massive potential to rise up this list too as he wins more tournaments.
- Best Achievement: EVO 2015
- Prize Earned: $140,091
7. Hoa ‘Anakin’ Luu
Anakin is an American player who has racked up fantastic earnings in Tekken. The player has been active since 2010, now with Team Falcons. He’s a player who puts in strong performances across the game’s tournaments, turning up to loads of events.
In the years he’s been active, he’s won CEO, East Throwdown, DreamHack Dallas, and more. He’s been achieving strong results in Tekken 8 too, so could rise up these rankings in the future.
- Best Achievement: Winning DreamHack Dallas
- Prize Earned: $128,897
6. Seong-ho ‘Chanel’ Kang
Chanel is a South Korean player, active since 2016. In those eight years, he’s racked up earnings that put him easily in the top 10 of all Tekken players. In Tekken 7 and 8 the player has managed huge wins, now part of DRX he looks set to stay one of the top Tekken players even through the eight instalments in the game.
- Best Achievement: Runner Up EVO Japan 2018
- Prize Earned: $146,526
5. Yuta “Chikurin” Take
Chikurin is one of those players who has become synonymous with Tekken. He’s won both huge events for the year in recent years. Even taking the big one, the Tekken World Tour, in 2019. He’s also won EVO and then EVO Japan for Tekken 8.
Chikurin has become a lot of fans’ pick for the best Tekken player thanks to these performances. Looking at recent results for Tekken 8, he might be the player to stay on top of the game with Tekken 8 too.
- Best Achievement: Two Time EVO and EVO Japan Winner
- Prize Earned: $149,711
4. Lim ‘Ulsan’ Soo-hoon
Over six years competing in Tekken, Ulsan has become one of the top earning players across the game. A lot of his big wins come from tournaments like the AfreecaTV League. He hasn’t quite won a Tekken World Tour yet. But with such a strong performance across other events he’s climbed his way up there. He’s racked up an incredible number in earnings across these tournaments.
- Best Achievement: Two Time AfreecaTV Tekken League winner
- Prize Earned: $192,275
3. Atif “Atif Butt” Ijaz
Hailing from Pakistan, Atif “Atif Butt” Ijaz is a World Tour Finals champion, he’s widely respected for his numerous wins using a variety of characters in the game.
Only competing since 2019, he’s already soared high onto this. Moreover, in 2023, the veteran also won the IESF World Esports Championship 2023.
Maybe his biggest accomplishment was the 2022 win at the Tekken World Tour. Not only did he manage to win the tournament, but he was undefeated in the finals. Few have managed a run like this across the game’s history.
- Best Achievement: 1st @ Tekken World Tour Finals 2022
- Prize Earned: $243,729
2. Arslan ‘Arslan Ash’ Siddique
One of the best Tekken players of all time is Arslan Ash. Not just excelling in Tekken, his accomplishments in the game might make him one of the best overall fighting game players.
Having only been competing sine 2018, he’s managed incredible results in that time.
Arslan Ash is a four-time EVO winner. He first won for Tekken 7, at 4 different years. On top of that he’s also taken the win at the Tekken World Tour He’s still regularly maxing out the placement in Tekken 8 too.
- Biggest Achievement: Four-time EVO Winner
- Prize Earned: $355,517.95
1. Jae-Min “Knee” Bae
As a result of his numerous major tournaments wins and consistency over 2 decades of Tekken tournaments, Jae-Min “Knee” Bae is considered by many to definitely be one of the best Tekken players of all time, with over $400K in Tekken earnings throughout his career. He is currently representing the Korean organisation, DRX.
Despite the fact that he started competing in 2010, the South-Korean is still able to contend with the very best players around the world, which he proved by winning his 3rd EVO championship in dominating fashion with Feng in August 2022. At 38 years old, he’s still one of the strongest active players. He has a longevity to these top performances that few esports athletes can manage.
- Best Achievement: 1st @ EVO 2018, 2022, 2013
- Prize Earned: $405,080
Read also: Best Tekken Characters
