“Looking forward to the Esports World Cup” Jeondding on EWC Tekken 8 tournament, fighting game landscape, and more (Exclusive)

Very few Tekken veterans can take risks at the highest level of a tournament like Jeon "Jeondding'' Sang-hyun. He's a prominent name in the South Korean fighting game scene and stands for his devotion to Eddy Gordo, a character seldom picked by professionals. Regardless, Team Vitality acknowledged this dedication and signed him up recently. Securing a spot in the final bracket of the SuperTournament 2024, he has qualified for the Esports World Cup (EWC).

In our exclusive interview, Jeondding expressed his excitement for the upcoming EWC Tekken 8 tournament. He also opened up about his professional journey, the fighting game landscape, and more.

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Jeondding speaks about Esports World Cup Tekken 8 tournament, professional journey, and more

Q. Congratulations on reaching the Top 4 at the Super Tournament 2024 and securing a spot at the Esports World Cup. The bars at the Riyadh event are set quite high, knowing that some of the strongest competitors will go toe to toe in the first phase. So, what is your strategy this time, and how prepared are you for the tournament?

Jeondding: It hasn’t been long since TEKKEN 8 was released, so there’s still a lot about the game and the different characters to study.

I also need to decide my main character for the Esports World Cup and spend time learning about them from the ground up, and more importantly, how to counter them, so I know what I’ll be facing.

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Q. In that regard, is there anyone you're excited to play against in the EWC Tekken 8 Tournament? Are you worried about anyone in particular?

Jeondding: I don’t want to play against any other Korean players, as we all know each other’s playstyles far too well.

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Q. Share some of your thoughts about the Esports World Cup. The Prize Pool seems lucrative, and the event has certainly attracted a large audience. Do you think all these factors could potentially attract more players to the professional fighting game scene?

Jeondding: It’s a life-changing event. I’m really looking forward to the Esports World Cup and playing against the ‘best of the best’ from around the world. The event is huge and super beneficial for players, as the biggest organizations in the world will cast their eyes on their performance this summer.

The EWC has exposed TEKKEN to a wider audience than ever before, drawing more attention to the game and making the competition super exciting. There are also more players competing in international tournaments than ever before, thanks to events like the Esports World Cup supporting the FGC scene.

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Q. The fighting game community has evolved over the last decade and has grown exponentially recently. Especially, the release of Tekken 8 has opened the doors to a lot of newcomers. Tell us how the esports landscape has changed, and is it for the better?

Jeondding: I don’t personally think that the esports scene for TEKKEN has changed much since the launch of TEKKEN 8! Overall, I don't find it too different from when I started my professional career to now.

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Q. From DreamHack Atlanta to the Tekken World Tour, you’ve been to various stages throughout the world and competed against players from different regions. Is there any noticeable difference between the professional scene in Korea as opposed to America or Europe?

Jeondding: Compared to the United States and Europe, Korea has a fairly limited number of tournament organizers and professional events. There are no other tournaments aside from the one called ATL. But in the United States and Europe, there are far more opportunities to compete professionally and on an offline basis.

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Q. It hasn’t been a year since Tekken 8 came out, and you have been among the Top 10 players across multiple tournaments on the board. Any thoughts or opinions about your performance in 2024 so far?

Jeondding: As a pro, I don’t think I’ll ever be satisfied until I’m number 1. Generally, I’m quite happy with my progress as I continue to perfect my skills and polish up my combos.

Finishing in the Top 4 at Combo Breaker 2024 and Super Tournament 2024 was good, and getting to the final of The MIXUP 2024 in front of lots of French Team Vitality fans was an incredible moment in my professional career and boosted my confidence going into the rest of the year.

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Q. Signing up with Team Vitality is a step forward in your professional career and translates to a lot of responsibilities to shoulder. Can you tell us what it means to you to represent the club on a global scale?

Jeondding: I feel very honored to be a part of Team Vitality. I’m incredibly proud to be the TEKKEN 8 representative of such a prestigious club, and I’ll do my best to repay their faith in me at upcoming tournaments.

Joining Team Vitality will provide me with all the support I need to continue competing on the international stage by taking me to tournaments like the Esports World Cup and providing me with the resources and facilities to continue leveling up my game.

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Q. Throughout your Tekken journey, you’ve inspired a lot of players with your composed gameplay, dedication, and hard work. Most importantly, your will to change the image of a gamer for the better is fascinating. What has been your motivation all this time? And kindly fill us in on how your esports journey began.

Jeondding: Firstly, I wanted to have my own identity. When I envisioned who Jeondding would be, I wanted the player to be recognizable and memorable for being me. I also want to be a little special.

Before my competitive career, I was a personal trainer and, at the time, played TEKKEN as a hobby. But when I played my first EVO tournament against the likes of JDCR and Saint, I felt electrifying, and I wanted to keep chasing that feeling. This directed me to become a professional gamer before it was too late. And thus, my journey toward becoming a pro player began.

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Q. Professionals have to go through a lot of hoops to crack into the fighting game scene. Are there any advice, tips, or strategies you would recommend to an aspiring player?

Jeondding: I think players need to know how to enjoy the game, regardless of whether they win or lose. The way I improved my skills so quickly stemmed from the passion I have for TEKKEN. I watched videos and continually researched characters, including how to play as and against each of them.

I think that the most important thing for players to do is to watch videos, see how others play the game, and fight as each of the characters. Just play the game!

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Q. Lastly, we are glad that Eddy Gordo was added to Tekken 8 so that you can keep your legacy alive. However, if this fan-favorite Capoeira user wasn’t on the playable roster, which fighters would you have picked and why? We have seen your Reina crushing opponents in ranked matches, but is there another character up your sleeve?

Jeondding: At first, I wanted to play Azucena. I like characters who use their posture, although I also thought that using her was a bit out of the ordinary since she’s not a traditional pick in the pro scene.

I’m also thinking about using Alisa; she’s a good character for the tournament.

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When Jeondding isn’t crushing opponents at a tournament, you can find him posting videos on YouTube. For more updates about his daily life, follow him on his X account.