Before they were gods, before they were EVO champions, Joseph "Mang0" Marquez and Adam "Armada" Lindgren were already locked in a fierce rivalry that took the world of Smash by storm.
Worlds Collide
Beginning his career in 2007, Mang0 quickly became a force to be reckoned with on the West Coast, winning tournaments all over Southern California in his rookie year. He then opened up 2008 with an incredible 1st place finish at his first national tournament Pound 3: in Maryland -- Mang0's Pound 3 losers run is heralded as one of the greatest runs in Melee history. After being sent to the losers bracket in round one by Otto "Silent Wolf" Bisno, Mang0 would proceed to defeat the best players in the world at the time one by one to reach Jason "Mew2King" Zimmerman in grand finals. Not even Mew2King, who was the King of the game in that era, could stop Mang0's momentum -- Mang0 reset the bracket and won the tournament. Following Pound 3, the argument began that Mang0 was the best in the USA over Mew2King.
The two would face off again at Revival of Melee in New York in 2009. In Mew2King's home region of Tri State, the entire crowd was against Mang0; nobody believed he could win and they weren't shy to let him know. Defeating the King in his throne room would be no simple task, but the young usurper stormed the castle and seized victory. Mang0 beat Mew2King in winners finals and grand finals to win the tournament. There was no longer any doubt Mang0 was the best player in the country, but was he the best in the world?
On the other side of the world, Armada had begun his own climb to the top. Also starting in 2007, Armada's name spread like fire across Europe, making waves at his at one of his first tournaments by placing 4th at The Renaissance of Smash 4 in Sweden. 2009 would be the year Armada that would cement himself as the best player in Europe, taking 1st place at SMASH ATTACK in Germany over Miguel "Zgetto" Rodriguez and 1st at Epita Smash Arena 3 over Amsah "Amsah" Augstuszoon. The young Armada had become the strongest player in Europe but a fierce competitor like him could not be satisfied with that alone He now set his sights on the rest of the world.
The First Genesis
Crowd perspective: Mango vs Armada at Genesis 1. Photo Credit: Alphazealot.
2009's Genesis in Northern California would be Armada's American debut. In a commanding display, he defeated Mew2King and Bronson "DaShizWiz" Layton to advance to winners finals, where he would fight against Mang0.
It was at this point that the world would bear witness to the inaugural battle of one of Melee's most vigorous rivalries.
In an absolutely spectacular 5 game set, Armada's Peach stood its ground and slew Mang0's Jigglypuff and Falco. It came down to a last stock, last hit situation where Mang0 over-committed to an attack that gave Armada the opportunity to wrestle momentum away from him and clutch it out. Needless to say, the crowd was stunned -- Armada had come to the US for the first time and defeated their best player. Mang0 had been on a streak of dominance since Pound 3, so it must have devastating to have Armada show up out of the blue and defeat him, right? Wrong, it only increased his will to win. He headed into losers with a fire burning in his eyes as Armada advanced to grand finals.
Losers finals would see Mang0 face against Hungrybox once more. In a dazzling performance, Mang0 steamrolled his fellow Jigglypuff main 3-0 and marched on to grand finals. With his loss to Armada inn winners finals still fresh in his mind, Mang0 was out for revenge. The battle was analogous to their first set going down to the wire in game 5, but this time it would be Mang0 who came out on top resetting the bracket.
The crowd was thunderous -- Americans in the venue rallied behind Mang0 in an unprecedented fashion. In a stunning display, Mang0 3-0'd Armada in the second set of grand finals to win the tournament. Armada switched from Peach to Fox in the final game, but not even a counter pick could break Mang0's momentum.
Although Armada had shown the world just how strong Europe was, he would not be satisfied with 2nd place.
Round Two
Mango at the Big House 6. Photo Credits: Jeff Mahieu (@Delta52_)
That would all change at Genesis 2. After spending time playing different characters, Mang0 had settled on using Fox and Falco for this tournament. He wanted to win to keep his title as the reigning champion of Genesis; he defeated Oscar "Lovage" Nilsson and Mew2King to advance to winner's semis. He would then face Tony "Taj" Jackson, a Mewtwo and Marth player from Arizona, and in an astonishing upset, Taj defeated Mang0 3-2. With Taj taking down Mang0 in winners semis and PPMD in pools, all eyes were on his bout with Armada in winners finals. However, Armada would prove to be near impossible to vanquish as he quelled Taj's momentum with a devastating 3-0 victory; Taj felt so hopeless against Armada that he forfeited in the middle of game 3. Taj had beaten Mang0 and PPMD but he couldn't even leave a scratch on Armada -- could anyone rise to defeat the beast from Sweden?
With a championship on the line, Mang0 was in 2nd gear; he 3-0'd Hungrybox in losers semis. Losers finals would be his runback against Taj, and with his ruthless aggression, Mang0 eviscerated Taj, resulting in a forfeit from the Arizona Marth after the 2nd game. The crowd was electrifying, and once more we would see a Mang0 vs Armada grand finals at Genesis. With Mang0 on fire in the losers bracket, many thought that he would defend his title against Armada. It came down to the wire in game 5 of set 1, but Armada wasn't here to repeat history he was here to make it. With one last big push Armada clutched it out and won Genesis 2. Winning the tournament without dropping a set, many firmly believed Armada had surpassed Mang0 and was now the best player in the world. This proved to be true as following Genesis 2 Armada didn't lose a tournament for two years; following his victory at Apex 2013 Armada announced he would retire from Melee. He did make a brief return for EVO 2013 as the event was very important for Melee, but after a 4th place finish there Armada would once again leave Melee singles behind.
The Tiebreaker
Armada (Left) with Ice (Right) at the Big House 6. Photo Credits: Jeff Mahieu (@Delta52_)
Years had passed since Genesis 2 and much had changed. Melee was bigger than ever. The eSports boom hit Melee following a return to the EVO Championship Series in 2013 and the MLG Pro Circuit in 2014. As a result of this, both Mang0 and Armada were signed by large-scale eSports teams in the form of Cloud 9 and Alliance respectively.
With Smash in general growing at a break-neck pace, an announcement was made in the August of 2015 that set the world of Melee ablaze: the legendary Genesis series was returning, and its next installment, Genesis 3, would take place in January 2016.
With Mang0 and Armada winning Genesis 1 and 2 respectively, Genesis 3 would be the chance for one of them to take the lead. The paths the two took at the event could not have been more different. Armada made it to grand finals with ease at Genesis 3 defeating PPMD and Hungrybox. On the other hand, Mang0 was sent to losers bracket by Arizona's Jeffrey "Axe" Williamson, the best Pikachu in the world, in a dazzling 3-1 upset. The stage was set for their third grand finals at Genesis to be the same as their first -- Armada was waiting in grand finals for Mang0, who had to fight his way through loser's bracket. As he had always done at Genesis, Mang0 tore through the losers bracket, defeating PPMD, Axe, Hungrybox along the way.
It was like a movie script: Mang0 came from the losers bracket to face Armada (who was sitting in the winners bracket) for the 3rd time at a Genesis.
Grand finals, to say the least, was a spectacle. Blow-for-blow, laser-for-laser, the first set of the match was very much an even affair, though Mang0 managed to clutch it out 3-2. With Mang0 resetting the bracket, the pressure was now on Armada to defend his title. While Mang0's fans had hoped he would carry the first set's momentum with him, Armada made the necessary adaptions and won his second Genesis title with a 3-1 score.
Settling the Score
With Genesis 4 a week away, many are waiting with bated breath for another Mang0 vs Armada grand finals. Armada is leading 2-1 over Mang0 in Genesis victories and many including myself are hopeful that he will win the triple crown and once again defend his title. Mang0 however, is determined to settle the score. Upon Mang0's request, Cloud 9 signed Daniel "Tafokints" Lee to serve as his dedicated coach. The two are hard at work preparing for Genesis 4 to start 2017 on a high note.
Will Mang0 settle the score? Will Armada continue his reign? Or will the world manage to them from even making it to grand finals?
After this weekend, the world of Melee will never be the same again.
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