Guild Esports PLC (LSE:GILD, OTCQB:GULDF) has stepped into the Tekken arena by signing Awais Liaqat as its first professional player of the iconic fighting game series.
Liaqat, who has signed a 12-month contract with Guild, is a seasoned Tekken professional and the first esports player to represent Pakistan at an international level.
Liaqat has won a number of high-profile tournaments within Pakistan including the Go Line Tekken 7 Tournament, and has placed highly in international tournaments in Korea, Malaysia and the UAE.
Guild will support Liaqat as he attempts to qualify for the upcoming Esports World Cup.
The 2023 Tekken World Finals had a combined 695,000 hours watched with a peak audience of 70,000, according to Esports Charts data.
Jasmine Skee, chief executive of Guild Esports, said: "We have been waiting for the right time to enter Tekken, and with the upcoming Esports World Cup and the launch of Tekken 8, now is the perfect opportunity.
“It is testament to our esports prestige that we have been able to attract a player of Awais' calibre to Guild, and we look forward to seeing him compete in a Guild jersey."