MLG Raleigh Brawl preview

First two MLG events have been dominated by one man "Mew 2 King" using Meta-Knight no one on the circuit has been able to touch him. He has beaten his rival Ally numerous times now in Major tournaments, and the rivalry has lost its feel. M2K is untouchable thus far in MLG events, but will he be able to do it again?

M2k over the summer won some big events, but he lost the big one. Apex 2010, ended getting third overall in brawl. Losing to the Japanese sensation Brood in losers finals. Larry or "DEHF" also beat him in winners bracket. He did how ever come back the next week and take Supercon with a much smaller amount of top level players, and just players in general. With Raleigh a week away can he take out all the top players in Brawl now? Is the MK match-up now even because of the knowledge of the player base?

Here are some players to look out for: Ally - the Canadian Snake who over the past few years has won over the American crowd with his high level play. But has yet to take an MLG event this season. At Apex Ally played at the high level of play were accustomed to him playing, but was knocked out by Brood, (Olimar) and his rival M2K (MK) Can he take out M2K, and finish with a gold instead of a silver. Next is DEHF or Larry, winning probably the biggest grass roots tournament of the year for smash, but has yet to finish in the top 5 of Brawl at an MLG event. Losing to a lower level Wario at Columbus. With tons of confidence, and his Falco playing at an extremely high level can he take out the top players at MLG Raleigh. Next are MikeHaze,Tyrant,DSF, and Havok. Four of the best players in SoCal have yet to truly make their mark on the MLG scene. Tyrant placing third at Orlando, and 9th at Columbus. Not showing up to Apex but losing at Supercon to MikeHaze, and Tearbear. MikeHaze still going Marth is bound to make something happen. Seems as people have forgotten that Marth is a very dangerous character and can still finish top 8, and Mike being one of the best players in the world is bound to make something happen. Havok, and DSF two MK players who do very well at tournaments still haven't truly made a splash at an MLG event yet. One of the two could place very well at Raleigh.

Now to the east coast players. Coming back to Raleigh to show how good Florida brawl really is the two FLA brothers Nick Riddle, and ESAM. Playing two very underrated/ Unknown characters in Zero suit, and Pikachu do very well at MLG events and are once again a threat at Raleigh. Next we have Atomsk, and ADHD two very strong players from the NY/NJ area who have done well at the last two events. ADHD not showing to Apex, and Atomsk finishing top 8 with his combination of DDD, Wario, and IC's. Last players I would like to talk about is the dirty south. Lee Martin, Gnes, and URazer. Gnes, In my opinion, with the best Diddy in the US and currently ranked 9th on www.smashboards.com wolrd ranking has still not made the move and beaten a high calibur player like M2K, or Ally. With the Diddy-Mk matchup I think he could possibly take out M2K. Lee Martin with the best Lucario in the nation finishing well at Apex, and other MLG events could possibly place very well here. Razer being a top Snake from Texas also has the potential to finish top 8 at Raleigh.

As for my predictions, goes as follows. M2k will once again take back his crown as the best Brawl player in the world, and win his third straight MLG title. Either DEHF, ADHD, Gnes, or MikeHaze will finish above Ally in either second or third. Ally still finishing top 4. DEHF making a run but not taking it home. Nick Riddle, and ESAM out of top 8. DSF, or Havok to take their spot along with either San, Razer, or Dojo.

My top 8: M2K, DEHF, Ally,Tyrant, Havok, LeeM, GNes, ADHD, and Dojo. Right out side top 8: MikeH, San, Razer, DSF, and Nickriddle/ESAM/CO18/Atomsk

DarkLink and Kira's : "*** ******* ****** ***** *** ****"

August 14, 2010. 16 entrants, Brawl. Going to do a small write up with shout outs.

First off the tournament was a lot of fun. One of the better ones DL has thrown. We never get are 40 entrants anymore, but we still have a ton of fun. Saying that we do get about 40 people there but everyone shows up late, with no money, or drunk/high. (LOL) Tournament matches are pretty much just casuals that are labeled as tournament matches. Top 3 were, Darlink, Silly Kyle, and Lonewolf. Kyle took Chris (DL) to game 3 with Peach, but lost at MK CP Delfino, and then lost on BF barely. The match for second place was exciting. Kyle vs Lonewolf, was first to 5, and it was Peach vs Marth which is a very bad match-up for peach. Kyle can beat almost everyone, but he usually gets gayyed by Lonewolf and his Marth. Kyle came out and won game 1, and 2 (Spawned a beam swords in both games XD lol) Game 3 he 2 stocked him.

Shout outs: DL, fun tournament, played some good games, and GG's on winning the tournament (Again) You throw tournament when you need money. Next, Tucson (Kyle, Derp,Tommy, and that Kirby) thanks for coming up and fun times playing Derp's Oli, and good shit Kyle on beating Lonelywolf. Bobby Hill (Rain) and Lonewolf, you guys are too funny and good shit at showing up to every tournament when you live in Prescott, and Glendale. Next, Remix, Bryce (DShift), and Sean (Forward) even though you were drunk and supa loud I had fun playing with you guys. I'll see both of you on Wednesday =D. Lastly, Axe,Tai,Vector, and that annoying kid. (LOL) Another fun AZ ANGER! tournament.

GG's to Kira in Denver, missing his own tournament, and getting like T-9th. Best thing ever is when Axe watched in and seriously everyone stopped playing and said "JEFF!" lol too good.

Apex 2010: A worldwide Event

Apex 2010: A Worldwide event. Ran by Alex Strife, and the crew from New Jersey. 266 entrants for Brawl, and 220 for Melee. Making it the third biggest tournament behind Axis, and Genesis. Many great players competed. Many upsets, and players going home early. The venue at Rutgers University was actually really nice. Spacious, air conditioned, speaker system, over all great place to hold a tournament. Shout out to VG Bootcamp for sponsoring the tournament, and running the stream for those at home to watch. Another big shout out to all that brought a set-up for Melee, and for Brawl.

Now personal shout outs: First off I'd like to thank Alex for holding a great tournament. Tons of hype, tons of great players, and for just letting us have a great time. Next, I'd like to thank my Arizona Melee, and Brawl crew. Kevin, (Kira) Tony, (Taj) Jeff, (Axe) and Wobbles (even though he lives in Indiana now) I love playing with you guys, your like my best friends. Next, to everyone I Money Match, and played casuals with: ybm, Jash, San, H,Bardull,K4ge, Stride, Nintendodude, Eggm, Ether, Sk92, PBnJ, Chibo, M@V, Trela, and those I'm forgetting. Shout out to Maryland, Georgia, and New York Melee. Big shout out to Jason for me waking up and you dead asleep on my floor then leaving at like 6 in the morning randomly. To San for playing 151 friendlies with me when no one else would. To Gnes, and Razer for being my bestes southwest buds. Tw1n, and Twin_A you guys run NM melee, and are too funny. To Scorp A Dorp for having the best Mario on the planet. Too all the new and old friends I met up with or saw at the venue. And last but not least to the lady at Subway who fucked up my order so bad....lol, If I forgot you I'm sorry.

Now the tournament, I did O.K., could have done a lot better. In Brawl, I went 0-2 first two games losing too Earth,and M@V but then won my next 4 games with Marth, and moved onto 2nd round pools where I had Larry. Went like 2-4, or 1-5 I don't remember. In Melee I got out of pools relatively easy like 5-1, and Eggm beat me to move onto bracket. I later beat him in a $20 MM. But the last day, with no voice, no energy, I went all out. I was so hype. First right off the bat, I wake up and go to the venue and witnessed Wobbles beat Mango in winners. I then saw Axe lose to Armada, and Taj get knocked out by PP. Later in the day, Wobbles took out DaDhizWiz (Shout out to him for showing up) put him in losers to play AZ Axe, and get AZ gimped. Wobbles played M2K after,and lost 2-1 setting up Axe Vs Jman, and Wobbles, vs Dr.PP. First up Wobbles had the match won, and fucked up and lost 2-1. Next up the underdog up against Jman (Genesis run back) He got raped on stage, but dominated him off. Got down 2 stocks almost every game, but won the set 2-1, and set up him and Armada. Down 2 stocks again brings and back on PS and ties it up. But gets raped in third game. GG's to Axe though finishing 5th with Wobbles.

Now Brawl was sooooooo hype in top 8. Brood the Japanese Oli was wrecking everyone including Ally.We also had M2K, and Larry. Larry was playing the best I've ever seen him play, plays a weird style falco, but it wrecked at Apex. He beat M2K, M2k beat Ally setting up Brood vs M2K, and in all my years of smash this was the hypest match I've ever seen. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0cZ-Y3yRA8&feature=related Brood wins almost on timing him out (Jason did that already in the match) but gets an usmash to take the set.Best moment of the match was the charge USmash and Brood Hercules Di's( Or Japanese DI) Brood played so solid, Oli is underrated. Brood went on to play Larry, and with that weird style Flaco beat him again 3-1. I was literally running around the venue screaming. lol Brawl was hype (I've never said that in my life)

I'm on the plane right now, GG's to everyone. I'll be doing it again next year! Hopefully I see everyone at Pound 5,Rom3, and MLG events!

Evolution 2010!

Evolution 2010, WOW! Just wow! This event is "The event" out of all my years of going to events I have to say this tops them all. Don't get me wrong I've been to Evo's in the past for Melee as a young in, but none were like this. 2K+ entrants in Super is just unheard of. Super is hype! I mean Genesis had 298 entrants in Brawl and it was the biggest smash tournament of all time. I mean did you see the main stage? Their were at least like 4K people in that room for Super top 8. Plus, all through out the weekend people were watching main stage and getting hype. Matches were hype, and JUSTIN WONG GOT ELIMINATED! The Asian talent there for super was just unheard of. Gamerbee, Tokido, Daigo, Infiltration,...etc.

First off I would like to give a big shout out to the guys who run Evolution, all the judges, and whoever helped out with this operation. I mean we finished on time with 2K+ people. Next off AJ Papa and his crew, I heard about the malfunction at the end there but you guys worked your asses off. Don't let something like that keep you down, you guys are great for the fighting game community. Next I would like to shout out Socal Tekken 6. I met them back at Devastation and had a great time playing ,and hanging with them. Now at Evo we played all night ,drank beer, went on the town, and had a heck of a time, Thanks guys! Next, Arizona Street Fighter. I know you guys got in a big argument between Juice(Or Snitchbox) but I still had a great time hanging out with you. Last shout out to Gootecks trying to amp the experience with the Salty Suite. Stopped by but felt overwhelmed by all of the OG street fighters. And to all that showed up and competed good for you guys.

Vegas is crazy especially when your with a bunch of crazy Asian guys all weekend. I came to Evo to mostly hangout with my once a year tournament friends, and get hype. I went 3-2 in Super, and 4-2 in Melty. Had to play Online Tony (Socal Seth) didn't play bad got 2 rounds off of him. I did well though beat a Canadian Gief, and a mid west Abel. The Abel player was salty and wanted to run it back FT5 MM for $15 bucks. I had fun playing in the tournament, but that's not where the fun is to be had playing. The rooms is where you wanna play, hype MM, and hype casuals all night. We ran high stakes MM starting at: $50 in Super. I had to shut it down though when a random guy threw up everywhere in my bathroom. How much do maids get paid in Vegas? (LoL) Great times. Got to hang with AZ during GF and we went crazy.

This Evolution I will never forget, all the great people, hype matches, and parties. It's great when your surrounded by people who are just as passionate about it as you are. When you talk about frame data and they don't look at you like a psycho. I will be at Evo 2011, and with all those games that will most defiantly be HYPE! Thanks everyone who showed up and who I saw and met.

Devastation 2010

Devastation 2010, only about 2 weeks before the biggest weekend of them all Evolution, but one hell of an event. Most people I talked to called it a regional, with some players out of region. The thing about Devastation is that it's not just fighting games. Halo, Madden, Quake,and Modern Warfare are there as well. But everyone came for the the "Main Event" Street Fighter. Many top tier players did show up, but California came in force. Super, and Tekken were very hype at the event. Nin, and Holeman two Korean Tekken 6 players were there and as expected went 1st and 2nd.

I met some awesome people at the event. Shoutouts to SoCal Tekken, M2K, Mike Haze and the rest of vVv, Nick from www.sf4answers.com, and Royal Flush. Best part of this event was meeting these people. I didn't get to compete, but I had a great time playing casuals and just having a good time at the freezing venue. Casuals were fun, got to play players like Floe, Ryan (Champ), Combo, and the top 8 Makoto.(I beat him) Also got to play Doubles with a good friend from New Mexico Dekar. We ran Friday, but no top players were there that day. Seriously, shout out to everyone who came out and who supported the Arizona fighting game scene and to help our good friend Rob out.

As for the event, Street Fighter was nuts,(Of course)Tekken 6 went down to the wire with the two Koreans, and M2K took Smash over Havok. The crowd and all the people were pretty hype. The tournament was ran smoothly throughout the three days. We had a decent sized venue, with a food rack, and like 100 bathrooms. The main stage is pretty awesome. Some of the coolest people in the fighting game community commentating. A big shout out to DJ Wheat and his crew for getting out to Arizona and making the event a whole lot better.

Overall the event was just a great time. Plus, it's in my state. Only about 20 minutes down the road from my house. Devastation is not the biggest event, but it's a great time, and solid players show up too it. Evo is only a few weeks away, and some practice wouldn't hurt anyone.