The final for a Smash Bros. tournament last weekend showed what happens when one of game’s best players plays mind games with one of its most knowledgeable.
The grand final match at Paragon 2015 between Juan “Hungrybox” DeBiedma and Jason “Mew2King” Zimmerman was unlike any other in the tournament. DeBiedma, known for being the best Jigglypuff player in the world, got inside Mew2King’s head.
Just skip to the 5 hour and 52 minute mark and check out the madness:
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Zimmerman opted to go in with Fox, which usually means bad news for Jigglypuff.
DeBiedma, however, was able to take his past experience fighting the fox and pull two “rests’” in a row against Zimmerman. Rest is a move in which, if done at the right angle and spacing, can deal a ton of damage to the opponent, usually sending them flying. If a player is unable to land a rest, it will leave the pudgy pink Pokemon sleeping and immobilized. Since Jigglypuff is such a light character, one strong move can kill her. For most it’s an incredibly risky move to pull off.
Losing three stocks in less than a minute, Zimmerman opted to suicide and try again during the next match. The next match was no different, with DeBiedma, again, pulling off two rests in a row sending Zimmerman flying. During the third match, Zimmerman opted to go in with Jigglypuff. It’s not one of his three main characters, so many believed that he had thrown in the towel. It was a longer match, but still a decided victory for DeBiedma.
Zimmerman is far from an incompetent Smasher. He’s known for having an encyclopedic knowledge of the game. He isn’t just good with one character, but multiple. He has immense mastery of not just Melee, but also Project M, a modified and balanced version of Super Smash Bros. Brawl and has been competing heavily in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U. He actually won first place at Paragon 2015 in Project M and Smash Bros. for Wii U.
Zimmerman was rather worried about his Melee performance coming into Paragon 2015, citing that Smash Bros. for Wii U had negatively affected his game. Clearly, not being up-to-snuff in Melee for Zimmerman is placing second at a major tournament.
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Many were wondering if William “Leffen” Hjelte would have a chance at going against Zimmerman. Leffen is currently the sixth best Smasher in the world, and has beaten everyone in the top five except Zimmerman. Hjelte tried to take his Fox against Zimmerman’s Marth in losers finals, but was overcome by his elegant playstyle. Maybe that rematch could occur during Apex 2015.
The win is amazing news for DeBiedma, as he’s been on a meteoric rise since his second place finish at Evo 2014. Ever since his ninth place finish at Big House 4, DeBiedma has not dropped a set since. He placed first at Fight Pit V in November and Forte 2 in December.
In the post game interview, DeBiedma did call out President and CEO of Nintendo of America, Reggie Fils-Aime, who challenged him to a match during the Smash Bros. Invitational this past E3. DeBiedma jokingly called Fils-Aime a “fraud” and a “coward” for not following up on the challenge.
H/T Kotaku
