World's best TEKKEN 7 player to take on Kiwi gamers next week

The announcement of "Saint's" participation is major coup for New Zealand esports.

The announcement of "Saint's" participation is a major coup for New Zealand esports and reaffirms New Zealand's increasing stature as an esports hotspot on the global stage.

Saint is considered to be one of the world's best TEKKEN 7 players and is the Le Bron James of this video fighting game genre. The NBA link is a good analogy as Echo Fox is owned and operated by NBA hall of famer Rick Fox.

Managing Director, John McRae says "Securing Saint's participation is another huge milestone for New Zealand esports and I would strongly encourage all esports and sports fans to go to their local Ticketek box office so they can experience on September 11th what elite esports is all about."

"It's an awesome opportunity for the esports and Korean community to come along on the night to support Saint and also see our Kiwi players to get the chance to go head to head with one of the world's best."

More than 200 players started the series and the final 8 Kiwi gamers are battling for four spots next Wednesday in the upcoming LPL4 TEKKEN 7 NZ Championship for the opportunity to move on to the Grand Final on September 11 to compete against four international stars.

Next Wednesday's broadcast will be the quailfier to select who represents New Zealand as an E-Black in Busan, Korea at the International Esport Federations World Championship in November.

The final 8 go head to head this Wednesday, September 6 at 7pm and will be broadcast live on www.letsplay.live and www.twitch.tv/letsplay.live

The four players that move on will earn the right to take on four internationals as part of the LPL4 TEKKEN 7 Ultimate Championship.

The Ultimate Championship will take place at SKYCITY Theatre in Auckland on Monday, September 11 in what will be a first for New Zealand to have a fully-televised fighting game competition. The event will be broadcast live on SKY Sport.

LPL, in conjunction with Standing Fierce, will host a one-day offline qualifier at in Auckland on Saturday, September 9 to find the four international finalists.

There will be some serious international talent on display like Saint because, on top of the $10,000 prize pool, the offline qualifier will offer 160 TEKKEN World Tour circuit points in the Asia-Pacific leaderboards.

The 8 players who have made it through to the TEKKEN 7 NZ Championship are:

Player's name, tag and location/
Alven Gavieres, maiven28, Auckland
Jamie Joe, Zarzob, Auckland
Kavin Li, KYO, Auckland
Thomas Choi, Kor_Nova, Auckland
Kevin Young, KevlarX290Wellington
Ajith Siva, Blackout Wellington
Cameron Pene, ParasiteNZ, Palmerston North
Daley Winterstein, Drax, Auckland