Bandai Namco announced that a Tekken 8 tournament finalist was disqualified. He was also banned for a year after they competed in the wrong region.
The development comes as the first competitive season for the popular fighting game is fast approaching its end. The Tekken World Tour Finals 2024 is set to arrive in just over a month.
Tekken Tournament Finalist Disqualified
The studio revealed that they have removed one particular player who has qualified for the Tekken World Tour finals. Bandai Namco also handed them a one-year ban for reportedly breaking the rules of the circuit.
The statement revealed that the regional champion for North & East Africa, ILIAS, has been disqualified from the tour. The studio said that the player who ranked first was no longer recognized as the regional champion.
Bandai Namco said that the decision was made over the player's failure to adhere to the rules and regulations of the Tekken World Tour 2024. This resulted in the runner-up being declared the regional champion for that region, according to Event Hubs.
The company also said that ILIAS has been banned from the Tekken World Tour 2025 and all other official Bandai Namco Esports competitions for a year.
It noted that the decision reflects its commitment to maintaining the highest standards of fair play and integrity within the community.
It added that they wanted to maintain fair competition and respect as the cornerstones of the Tekken World Tour. Bandai Namco said it was dedicated to making sure that all of the participating players follow the principles.
Chinese Player Disqualified
The issue comes after a controversy where a Chinese Tekken 8 player was disqualified from the Tekken World Tournament despite achieving 9th place.
This was due to China not being included on the official list of territories from which Tekken World Tour players are allowed to compete, MSN said.
The player in question was Essence|XCC, who was double-disqualified at Thaiger Uppercut 2024. Many players went on social media platforms to express their heartbreak at the unfortunate development.
A lot of people shared their support for the Chinese player and wanted Bandai Namco to reverse its decision on his participation in the tournament. Bandai Namco later responded by saying they would update their rules to include China as an eligible region.
This will be the case moving forward and will be first seen in the Last Chance Qualifier, which is set to take place in Tokyo. The company also paid for the travel and accommodation of affected players, according to The Gamer.
