In this BIG SPOTLIGHT episode, Tekken pro Sephiblack talks about what makes Tekken special and his personal milestones with BIG.
How did your path to BIG look?
With the release of Tekken 7, more and more Tekken players were getting sponsored. After I'd already been competing since Tekken 6 and participated in numerous tournaments, I was able to secure a sponsor for myself. Eventually Lenz approached me and expressed interest in working together. After my sponsorship ended, I accepted the offer at BIG and haven't regretted it for a single moment! For the scene, I'd wish that other players who have a lot of talent also get the opportunity to represent such a major organization and receive support like that.
How did your interest in Tekken start?
My first video games were actually pretty classic role-playing games. At first I wasn't really interested in fighting games and was more of a singleplayer guy without any competitive mindset. At some point a friend got me onto Tekken 5, so I bought the game and played against him regularly. He was miles ahead of me. Because I couldn't let that slide, I invested more and more time into the game. We met weekly and played against each other, which gradually made me appreciate the competitive aspect. Competition is still one of the most important factors for me today: The adrenaline rush of facing others in front of a crowd is simply indescribable and drives me!
What makes Tekken special to you?
I like bearing responsibility for my own success. In team games, it can happen that you're unhappy with a teammate or that the teamwork didn't work out. Tekken is different. Whether you win or lose is entirely on you. It all comes down to your own performance.
Since I'm a total console kid, I had very little exposure to other well-known games in esports. Games like Call of Duty I played rather rarely and only casually with friends. I've also only been playing on PC since Tekken 7 because the internet connection was more stable here and streaming is easier. I only downloaded Steam in 2017 – when I was already 25!
How do you train?
In Tekken it's important to play regularly to stay in shape and maintain the reflexes you need. When tournaments are coming up, I usually prepare specifically for opponents I might face in the bracket. I look at their characters, analyze their weaknesses and strengths, and focus on possible counter strategies I can use. Often you can already spot first habits and tendencies in players' videos that you can then use against them. Currently I'm also working intensively on my own weaknesses to optimize my playstyle and eliminate my problem areas.
What have been your biggest milestones so far?
I have a very special relationship with the Combo Breaker events. In 2022 I was there for the first time in the USA. A lot of people from the German community were on site, we explored Chicago for a week and competed in the tournament. I placed 4th and beat some absolute world-class players along the way, which felt incredible. For me personally, the support at that event was also indescribable. Feeling that so many people from Germany and Europe were supporting and cheering for me was an absolute buff for me, because I didn't just want to win for myself, but for everyone who had supported me. That's definitely going to stay with me.
What goals are you pursuing this year?
My goal is to qualify for the Tekken World Tour Finals. For that I need to perform better at tournaments to collect enough points. This coming weekend I'm traveling to Dubai, for example, to compete in a challenger event. Next week there's another challenger event on the schedule.
Beyond qualifying, I also really want to win a tournament at the European or international level. This year I've mostly finished in the top 8 or top 13, which is already very good, but a victory is still missing. That's where I'm putting all my energy right now!