“After Two Decades, a New Champion Emerges in Super Smash Bros. Melee—Almost Cancels His Flight Over a Daunting Bracket!”

Don’t Park on the Grass 2024, a Significant Smash Bros. Melee tournament, has just made history as the first event in over 20 years to feature no previous main champions in its top four.

The four finalists were Moky, Aklo, Nicki, and Joshman. Nicki utilized Ice Climbers to defeat Joshman’s Fox in the losers bracket and subsequently lost to Aklo’s Fox in the losers finals. The Fox-on-Fox conflict continued as Aklo and Moky faced off in the finals, both choosing the same character, but ultimately, Moky triumphed, defeating Aklo 3-1.

Moky has been competing since 2015 and is part of Moist Esports, along with fellow finalist Joshman. This marks Moky’s first major victory, making him the first new champion crowned at a major event since Event Flow 6, which took place in August 2004, as noted by Liquipedia.

I played countless hours of Significant Smash Bros. Ultimate with my housemates when it was released back in 2018, and we became so competitive it almost drove us apart. However, I am still in awe of the skills demonstrated by the professionals. In the finals, Moky and Aklo didn’t just attack where their opponent was, but where they anticipated they would be in a fraction of a second.

Moky’s winning strategy relied on his steady ability to knock Aklo off the stage and then edge guard effectively. Fox’s recovery move, Fire Fox, does not offer much in terms of aerial mobility. It takes time to charge that move, giving your opponent a chance to predict and block your return to the stage. Additionally, it doesn’t provide Fox with much horizontal movement, making it ineffective if you have already been launched far off to the side or beneath the stage.

“I feel great, dude,” Moky stated during his winner interview. “My bracket was quite intimidating,” he shared while reflecting on the path leading up to his victory. “I faced Luigi, then Ice Climbers, followed by [Jiggly]puff, and finally two Peaches. The first time I ever looked.