In what has so far been an insane season of Super Smash Bros. Melee, it prepares to take another pitstop on the way to EVO. CEO 2019 is this weekend and better believe all the top talent in Melee will be in attendance. In what has easily been one of the most unpredictable years and seasons for Melee who will come out on top?
In this season of twists and turns we have had some semblance of consistency near the top. There have been several breakout stars, and flashes from relatively unknown talent. We’ll separate the contenders by tiers: Book ‘em - meaning as close to a sure thing as it gets. These are the most consistent and essentially mainstays in top eights. Worth the Bet - next tier of contenders who have a very strong chance, 50-50 - it could go either way, because they have the potential but don’t always play up to it, and Long Shot - could make a run if the bracket falls their way.
I would be blasphemous if i failed to start by mentioning the last of the Gods. Where there once was 5, we are down to 2. Team Liquid|Juan “Hungrybox” DeBiedma looks to strengthen his hold on the number one spot in the Melee rankings. He has two major wins in Genesis 6 and Pound, plus second at Smash N' Splash 5. He hopes to bounce back after a disappointing showing at Smash Summit 8. He hopes to take the CEO Championship Belt.
C9|Joseph “Mang0” Marquez hopes to find the magic that has been flowing through his veins this year. With multiple top 2 finishes at majors, including winning Get On My Level 2019 and second at Pound 2019, and top eight at two other majors, he’s primed for a strong run.
Tempo| Jeffery “Axe” Williamson just won his first ever major. His win at Smash Summit 8 was huge for his legacy and the non-top tier characters. Expect him to ride that momentum into CEO.
Newly sponsored Envy| Justin “Wizzrobe” Hallett looks to ride his white-hot momentum into CEO. After winning Smash N’ Splash 5, then finishing second at Smash Summit 8, he wants to take home the belt.
TSM| William “Leffen” Hjelte has been finishing very well all season despite not spending much time in America for Melee. With his time in Ultimate and DBFZ behind him, he’s began locking in again, which spells trouble for his competition. Leffen has three third place finishes in majors this season. He hopes to break through and win CEO.
PG| Justin “Plup” McGrath hopes to maintain his consistent placings and take back the throne he steadily had been advancing on. Watch out for him. With his worst placing so far being tied for 13th at GOML, with four other top eights, he's primed to continue his excellence.
PG| Zain “Zain” Naghmi hopes to maintain his consistency as well. His Marth will be a force to be reckoned with. He has two top eight finishes at majors, with strong showings at other tournaments that were stocked with talent including winning Full Bloom 5, Welcome to Papa 3, and top eighting GOML 2019.
RedBull| VGBC| Masaya “aMsa” Chikamoto hopes his red yoshi continues to find the light that is the top eight. Be on the lookout after strong finishes in the last couple of majors including fourth at Genesis 6, ninth at GOML 2019, fifth at Smash N' Splash 5, and top eight at Smash Summit 8.
HLC| Johnny “S2J” Kim hopes to become the next Captain Falcon to take a major. His signature aggression and unique combos should assist in his aims for the CEO title this weekend.
CLG| Zachary “Sfat” Cordoni wants to break back into a top three or two finish at a major. His fox is not to be trifled with. This could be a weekend for a strong run.
OG| James “Swedish Delight” Liu and his sheik nearly took down Mang0. He seems primed and ready for a deep run at CEO.
CLG|Kevin “PewPewU” Toy and his Marth are always a threat. Consider him worth a bet as well.
Edgard “n0ne” Sheleby and his falcon are part of the trio that have put Captain Falcon back into the high placings. His hard reads could lead a deep run this weekend.
Jack “Crush” Hoyt , ESE| James “Duck” Ma, Diginitas| Jose “Lucky” Aldama, and Weston “Westballz” Dennis are have proven time and time again to be fully capable of playing amongst the best in Melee. From Crush’s and Lucky’s Foxes, to Duck’s Samus, and Westballz and his Falco, these players can heat up at any moment and take down a God, a gatekeeper or anyone near the top.
BeastCoast|Michael “MikeHaze” Haze of the most innovative Foxes, Avery “Ginger” Wilson, EMG| Aziz “Hax$” Al-yami, Ace| Cody “IBDW” Schwab, SS|Colin “Colbol” Green, Ryan Ford, 20GX| Jason “Gahtzu” Diehl, HLC| Kalindi “KJH” Henderson, Diginitas|Hugo “HugS” Gonzalez, PS|Connor “Bananas” Lamb, Arjun “llod” Malhotra, and Armand “Army” Del Duca make up the last tier. Anyone of these players can absolutely get hot and make that picture perfect, dream run. We’ve seen them do it at different points in the past, and some even this season. Keep an eye out for them, and other players better too, before they find themselves getting put into losers’ or eliminated by one of these players.
You can catch the action starting Friday, June 28th on https://www.twitch.tv/polaritygg
Top 8 will be on https://www.twitch.tv/vgbootcamp
This will be the next chapter in the book that is Melee’s current season. It’s been full of craziness from start to finish. What player will rise up and make their stand this weekend? Tune in and find out.
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- Nico Smith
- Email : nico.smith89@yahoo.com
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