Tekken World Tour Finals: Team Liquid Shadow 20z

A Shadow is Cast Over Japan

For the first time in Tekken World Tour history, the finals will take place in the mecca of fighting games, and the origin of the fighting game community: Tokyo, Japan. However, when you look at the entrants, you may be confused at just how much of a “world tour” this is. In fact, the list of participants suggests that this is essentially a binary affair between South Korea and Pakistan, two regional titans who are looking to stake their claim as the de facto leader of Tekken 8 in its inaugural season.

Upon a closer inspection of the finalists, you’ll start to see a lot of the usual suspects — all the world travelers and regional heroes looking to add another chapter to their history. One such champion is Team Liquid’s Marquis “Shadow 20z” Jordan. Shadow is not only the sole Monster gaming representative, but he’s one of only two guaranteed players from the North American region (out of a total 37).

We were able to sit down with Shadow, along with Tekken World Tour commentators Reepal “Rip” Parbhoo and Michael “MYK” Kwon, to dive into the issues facing NA Tekken and expectations going into the finals.

The Red White & Few?

So, what happened in NA? As one of the largest scenes by the numbers, our final representation is strikingly low. It’s complicated, but both MYK and Shadow mentioned issues such as competitors faced with rising costs and the lack of a centralized area to train. In comparison, Pakistan has a now-famous offline scene, while South Korea’s highly developed community fosters growth. However, these are not challenges unique to NA. Other regions also deal with tremendous costs but seem to exhibit a more cohesive training environment in order to push their region forward.

This sentiment is something MYK and Rip agree on, as products of their own local scene in SoCal who understand the power of community.

“I think another big issue is that our top players don’t all compete together in the weekly online tournaments anymore,” said Rip. “You have to train together to raise everyone’s skill level and Shadow is one of the few who is doing it where the results can be seen.”

“One topic that’s often discussed is how having all the NA top players living in the same city and training offline — similar to how the Pakistan Tekken scene operates — could help us reach that next level,” MYK added. “While online practice has its merits … nothing quite replaces offline training sessions, especially when it involves a room full of top players running sets and grinding every nuance and matchup in the game.”

Shadow spoke a bit more earnestly and directly, calling out his countrymen and the lack of effort from the community.

“I wish we had more NA reps, but sadly our players didn’t put as much effort into the tour,” he said. “Tournaments are expensive, I understand that, but hopefully next year NA travels more to show their skills.”

Everyone agrees that NA players have the skill, but tapping into that skill to achieve dominance on the world stage is a tall mountain to climb, and not something anyone will likely accomplish alone.

The Weight of a Nation

As one of two American heroes leading the charge on the world stage, it’s tempting to wonder if Shadow feels any additional pressure to perform as a representative of the region rather than just a player doing his best. While Shadow appreciates that his countrymen see him as a regional leader, that’s not how he defines himself.

“I don’t mind people considering me a leader, but I don’t consider myself that,” he said. “I do love the support and plan on doing my best for myself and my fans. [There is added pressure but] the good thing is I’m great under pressure, so there’s nothing to worry about there.”

MYK and Rip acknowledge Shadow’s superhuman ability to stay calm and in control regardless of the situation.

“Shadow has been phenomenal while steadily grinding and improving since the Tekken 7 days,” said MYK. “I’ve always admired his patient playstyle and methodical decision-making, maximizing every resource the game offers. Whether it’s capitalizing on the smallest sliver of a life lead or clutching out rounds as the timer ticks down to 10 seconds — Shadow Time — his ability to control the pace of a match is unmatched.”

“Shadow has been one of NA’s top players for years now,” Rip said. “His patience, composure, and decision making in the clutch is what separates him from others.”

Keep ‘Em Guessing

While Shadow will bring his measured and controlled playstyle to the world stage, he isn’t showing up without a bag of tricks. He’s a multicharacter specialist who always has a tool ready for the job.

“You can expect me to use 2-3 characters but that depends on the players and characters I’m facing,” he said. “I’ll be playing Zafina & Claudio for the most part.”

It’s never wise to reveal all your cards, so we will have to wait for the finals to see who the potential 3^rd character will be. Some things are better left as a surprise.

Preparing for the Finals & the Future

So, how does our NA torch-bearer get ready for such a prestigious and challenging event? With a focus on always being productive, as always.

“To prepare, I just make sure I play every day,” Shadow said. “Some days I study and watch as well, but the biggest thing is just making sure I’m learning. The game is still new so there’s plenty to learn. Some days I play longer than others, but I try to at least make sure each Tekken session is productive.”

A lot to learn, indeed. This inaugural season of Tekken 8 has certainly had its ups and downs as players across the globe grapple with the changes and figure out how to win in this all-new environment, complete with surprising new mechanics. One thing everyone seems to agree on, though, is that there is hope for the future.

“Tekken 8 is undeniably fun, especially when you’re able to impose your will on your opponent,” MYK said. “However, being on the receiving end can feel draining and mentally exhausting, especially when trying to defend against certain overwhelming situations. This dynamic makes the game thrilling to watch as a spectator but can be extremely stressful for competitors. I hope that future updates strike a better balance between the exhilarating aggression and the defensive struggles, creating a more rewarding experience for all players.”

“It’s clear that the fanbase has become very divided,” Rip said. “Tekken 8 added a lot of new system mechanics…. And I suspect they will continue to tune these systems. Usually the 2^nd year of Tekken titles is where the games hit their stride, so I’m optimistic for the future.”

The world finals will certainly be a high-octane, aggressive showcase of talent, hard work, adaptability, and execution, for a shot at Tekken history and a share of the $300,000 prize.

Be sure to tune in to see which player and region plants their flag and achieves the first claim of Tekken 8 supremacy. Find out who will lead the charge for this new generation on December 5^th-8^th on www.twitch.tv/Tekken.