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The Big MI Discussion Topic

Zinoto

Zinoto

Smash Lord
Joined
Jun 27, 2011
Messages
1,565
Location
Michigan
Crap, I made plans for Saturday today =(
Sorry Roller can't go to this one , I'll put in twice the effort at the next Oos tourney for ya :yeahboi:
 
Juggleguy

Juggleguy

Smash Grimer
Joined
Aug 16, 2005
Messages
9,354
Location
Ann Arbor, MI
That's what I originally planned, cause I have some project deadlines right after that weekend. But then I started thinking... to not celebrate the 10-year anniversary of Melee would simply be a crime.
 
Ori_bro

Ori_bro

ignite the fire
Joined
Mar 6, 2008
Messages
9,343
Location
Michigan
Ankoku if the calander on your AiB is correct, are you coming to MI during Thanksgiving? I'd be down to host a smashfest so you could see everyone.
 
Roller

Roller

Smash Legend
Joined
Mar 21, 2008
Messages
13,137
Location
Just follow the grime...
YOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, I'm the new SCOTU!

Went down to Wendy's tonight like I have every night this week, and they made my order before I even ordered it.


I've wanted this status for so long!
 
Juggleguy

Juggleguy

Smash Grimer
Joined
Aug 16, 2005
Messages
9,354
Location
Ann Arbor, MI
Hot_ArmS said:
rob are you making another year in review
Click to expand...
Hopefully.

Speaking of which, someone critique my Big House writeup rough draft for the Apex website:

- - -

The debate about where the true Melee power region is in the country has been settled.

Traveling to the Midwest for the first time in their careers, renowned SoCal Melee players Lovage and S2J swept their way to the top placings of both doubles and singles at Road to Apex: The Big House in Ann Arbor, MI on October 22nd.

"Thanks to everyone who supported me and the West Coast when we took a gamble and bought plane tickets to a region that was totally unknown to us," said Lovage in his shoutouts after the tourney.

The Big House was one of the largest Midwest Smash tournaments of all-time and the most rewarding experience in the TOing career of yours truly, Juggleguy. Hype from the Road to Apex series, along with a wide and unique collection of represented regions, helped elevate the event into a pseudo-national. The Smash community in Michigan had seen its share of large events in recent months, but never anything quite like this -- an impressive 115 entrants showed up in Ann Arbor hungry for some top-level Melee, and they would sure as hell get it.

As expected, the two team favorites marched through the 39-team field to set up an epic clash in Winners Finals, where Unknown/Raynex defeated S2J/Lovage in fairly convincing fashion, abusing double Fox to counter S2J's previously unchallenged strategy of stock-tanking for his partner Lovage. Grand Finals once again pitted the two teams against each other, but this time the West Coast duo pulled off a two-set comeback to take first place.

"I'd say it was a combination of me and Oscar (Lovage) figuring them out and their team chemistry falling apart," reflected S2J in his Big House writeup after the tourney.

Singles was a much different story. Going into the event, a legitimate case could have been made for any of about a dozen players to take top three. Some people anticipated dominance from the proven contenders in Canada, including Toronto's big three of RaynEX, Unknown, and KirbyKaze. Others preferred to bet on West Coast superpowers S2J, Lovage, and SFAT, who all flew in for the event. Still others faithfully predicted strong showings from the Midwest's finest, including Chicago's own big three of Kels, Tink, and Dart, and savvy veterans Drephen, Trail, and CunningKitsune.

With no clear favorite to take the tourney, the stage was set for an ultra-competitive battle.

Several major storylines developed. The most surprising was the fate of a tourney favorite, Kels, who made a stunning exit at the hands of two veteran Jigglypuff players. Canada's Idea defeated him in winners bracket to claim a 2-0 lifetime edge in their head-to-head matchup, and Velynn sent him home in losers bracket to become the first-ever Michigan player to beat the Chicago superpower in tourney. Kels's 25th place finish was his worst at any Midwest tourney since 2007, and his worst at any tourney overall since he finished in the same placing at *Pound 4*.

KirbyKaze, upon hearing of the news: "... shocking; a lot of people were expecting [Kels] to easily get top eight. Seeing him finish 25th was really disarming."

Singles bracket also saw the rise of Duck, who pulled off the upset of the tournament by 2-0ing SFAT in a never-before-seen Michigan vs NorCal matchup. He wasn't done yet, also defeating Weon-X and Dart while taking Lovage to the brink at some crucial moments during Winners Semis. Duck's eventual 5th place finish landed him in the middle of a top 8 filled with famous national Melee players, and his impressive performance is further highlighted by the fact that he mains Samus.

"I said many times that there would not be a Samus in the top ten, and as a Samus main, I personally did not think there was a Samus attending this tournament who was capable of such things," said Violence after the tourney, "and now I have to eat my words."

Despite SFAT's upset loss, West Coast eventually emerged as the wrecking force in bracket. Lovage calmly made his way to Winners Finals where he defeated an on-point VaNz in five closely-contested games. And after his loss to Unknown522 in Winners Quarters, S2J clawed back through losers bracket, defeating Tink in an epic old school vs new school showdown, and then giving all Falcon players a lesson in the Sheik matchup by 3-0ing KirbyKaze. Eventually, the two friends from California decided to split Grand Finals, but nobody could really complain after losers bracket had produced several of the most competitive Melee sets ever seen.

"Watch them all," suggested S2J, regarding videos of late bracket matches. "Almost every match past quarters is a great set. None of them were a blowout, all of them are hype/exciting, just great matches overall."

All in all, Road to Apex: The Big House was a monumental moment, not only for Midwest Melee but for the national scene as well. Those in the Midwest who can't afford to travel to nationals were treated to a mini-national in their own backyard, which was long overdue. And the unique collection of top players at this tourney can hopefully inspire similar tourney efforts for years to come. As I stated before, this was the most rewarding experience of my TOing career, and I can't even express how happy I am with the end result.

"Combined, this trip took a little under 600 dollars in expenses, and 34 hours in travel time," noted Violence after getting back home. "It was worth every second, and every penny."

Indeed it was.

- - -
 
Ori_bro

Ori_bro

ignite the fire
Joined
Mar 6, 2008
Messages
9,343
Location
Michigan
Yo did anyone else get infracted in gifts troll thread? I got infracted for posting the inb4 the lock gif
 
SCOTU

SCOTU

Smash Hero
Joined
Mar 16, 2007
Messages
6,636
Location
MI
@Roller: props; that always makes things more convenient. Although, you haven't had the wendy's people call an ambulance for you yet :p

@Kenni: she's not bad, i'd give her 7 points; mainly for the side tails and the heterochromia
 
Zankoku

Zankoku

Never Knows Best
Administrator
BRoomer
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22,906
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ORI_bro said:
Ankoku if the calander on your AiB is correct, are you coming to MI during Thanksgiving? I'd be down to host a smashfest so you could see everyone.
Click to expand...
Yes, I'll be in Michigan from Thursday until Sunday.
 
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