Esports: Search returns for NZ's best Tekken 7 gamer

The search is on again to find New Zealand's best Tekken 7 gamer.

LPL have confirmed the details of their latest event: The Tekken 7 Esports World Championship NZ Qualifier.

There will be four qualifying tournaments during the coming weeks and the two best players from each event will move on to the live final in Auckland on Saturday, July 21.

The winner of the tournament - aside from banking $1500 - will have the opportunity to represent New Zealand at the Esports World Championship in Kaohsiung in Taiwan later this year.

Last year's national champion Thomas "Kor_Nnova" Choi eventually finished fourth at the world championships in Korea.

He won an online qualifier to take him through to the New Zealand final where he punched his ticket to take on the world.

The world championships proved to be a successful event for Choi where he met his goal of a top-four finish.

"The standard of competition was very high because they did have different people coming from all parts of the world," he said.

"It was quite competitive … The competition was fierce."

"It was a very enjoyable experience."

Choi wouldn't predict a repeat performance but the Aucklander said he was likely to have another crack at the national crown this year.

The online qualifying tournament will be held on Saturday, July 7, while the Wellington event will take place on Sunday, July 15 and will be run in partnership with Expansion NZ.

The Christchurch tournament, run in partnership with Got Game, is scheduled for Saturday, July 14 with the Auckland event set for July 8th at the SKYCITY Welcome Room.

More details can be found at letsplay.live.

Ben Lenihan, president of the New Zealand eSports Federation, said Tekken 7 was a popular title among Kiwi gamers.

"Tekken 7 has sold well and has also been popular as an esport. Bandai Namco have created the Tekken World Tour, which consists of 40 events all over the world with a 20 player global leaderboard and a finals event," Lenihan said.

"That has definitely boosted the popularity of the game as an esport."

Lenihan said Kiwi gamers had the ability to foot it with the best from around the globe.

"Kor_Nnova's fourth-place finish last year was a real revelation and definitely put New Zealand on the international esports map. That followed a very credible performance against Choi "Saint" Jin Woo, then ranked as the best Tekken 7 player in the world.

"The Korean champ spoke highly of the level of competition he encountered in New Zealand and enjoyed the experience of competing in New Zealand."

The Tekken 7 Esports World Championship NZ Qualifier final will be broadcast live on Twitch so don't miss out on seeing who will reign supreme on July 21.