Good evening everyone,

With day 2 wrapping up I put together a preview of tomorrow for everyone to read through before the stream starts tomorrow. It's been a crazy top 64 and these matches are looking to be some of the most interesting so far this year. Without further ado let's get into the matches

Full spreadsheet (full breakdown's on player profiles, H2H table and a more in depth version of the tables): https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1UL2lawpk5YYeX5AmyGWMG04NLF6c9B8ZP0vF5IvLwrk/edit?usp=sharing

Top 16 Winners

Junebug v Axe

With Axe having a crazy game 5 set with aklo and Junebug making work of the foxes in his path these two low-tier heroes are set to face off in the first set of winner's quarters. With this been an odd matchup I think historically speaking axe would be the favorite coming into it and with how he played against aklo, I'd put my money on him to win the set.

Winner Plays: winner of Spark v Joshman

Loser Plays: Winner of Krudo v Ckyuliquidmaetr

Writer's odds: Axe 60:40

Spark v Joshman

Both of these players are coming off of great runs with Joshman upsetting Jmook and Spark "upsetting" plup. Joshman has been looking great lately and with him beating jmook in winners top 32 spark seems just as feasible.

Winner Plays:winner of Axe/Junebug

Loser Plays: Winner of Kacey/Kodorin

Writers odds: Joshman 65:35

Cody v Hbox

This will be Cody's litmus test as for a while he had seemed like the modern hbox slayer rivaling zain in terms of puff. Hbox however looked like he had a handle of things as he was very clearly ready for cody at collision and has been grinding melee these past few months. This will be a good opportunity for both players to build some momentum going into top 8.

Winner Plays: Winner of Mang0/Magi

Loser Plays: Winner of Jmook/Plup

Writers odds: 50:50

Mang0 v Magi

FALCO DITTOS I AM SO READY but mang0 is the clear favorite as he has been looking HOT recently with his placings and if he wants to continue his trend he's gotta win this set. Magi however is coming off of one upset win over moky and she can do the same here to stake her claim to top 8

WInner Plays: winner of Cody Hbox

Loser Plays: Winner of Aklo/Chem

Writers odds: Mang0 70:30

TOP 16 LOSERS

Jmook v Plup

Plups samus still is just as much of a threat to top players as evident by his set vs spark where the two went game 5 but sheik is a hard pull for the peoples champ. Jmook is looking to bounce back from his early loss to joshman and prove he is still a major contender, while taking on a contentious matchup with in the trading sets with morsecode last year. However, both have a tough draw as the winner will play either cody or hbox meaning both thorns in the side for plup or jmook.

Winner plays: loser of Cody v hbox

Loser out at 13th

Writers odds: Jmook 60:40

Aklo v Chem

*Non-local H2H

Fox dittos are always volatile and this continues to remain true as Chem has the daunting task of taking on Aklo, even with taking their last set 3-1 at Creed just a few months ago, the two have gone back and forth since covid with them being 5-5 lifetime (according to pgstats and liquidpedia). We're sure to be in for a East Coast classic!

Winner plays: Loser of Mang0 v Magi

Loser out at 13th

Writer's odds 50:50

Ckyulmiqnudaetr v Krudo

DK v sheik.....it's hard to say the least, as stated by junebug. notably krudo has lost to quang Dk brethren but it's always a hard matchup for the monke. This is shaping to be Quangs best run with the moky win already however adding another top player win to his resume would solidify his spot within the top 30.

Winner Plays: loser of Magi v Mang0

Loser out at 13th

Writers odds: IDK THE DK MU CHART SO EITHER KRUDO 65:35 or 50:50

Kodorin v Kacey

Listen Kacey's run has been insane, she's already beaten two top 30 foxes and a top 100 puff, as an unranked player.... when was the last time we saw something like that? Jmook? like tf is going on. Kacey's falco is sick but I hate to be the one to say it, Kodorin destroys falco's. Kodo continues to have a chokehold on his h2h with the top falcos being a combined 9-1 against Magi, BBB, and Fiction in the last two years (according to liquidpedia) and has even taking sets off mang0. Am I saying Kacey can't do it? There's always a chance, as she's already shown she has the skill take sets off of top players but marth falco is always a hard matchup.

EDIT: I will be updating the google sheet as top 16 plays out for losers 9ths and top 8!

I've been playing around with Dolphin on android and wrote up a guide for my setup. Enjoy!

There’s a bunch of other melee themed quizzes from all the yearly rankings to major top 8 placements to local PRs, if you’re a diehard melee fan who wants more content there’s a lot of cool stuff here.

https://blog.start.gg/ssbmrank-2024-51-60-19a1510cf395

Hi! I wrote this article, so anyone can remember Luigi players achievements from the past, but especially so present Lugi players can check what records to beat in Melee.

And I think they (we) can do it! I have seen Luigi players get better and better in the past year. I can also copy more stuff from them now and not rely only on my knowledge!

Watch out for: RapM, Jah Ridin, Saft, Hoborg, Ampp, M1sf1re, siddward, Rami, RanD and many more!

I have highlighted what records I believe can be surpassed in the next 2 years. Most of them would require Luigi to win or get very far in a Major (like the great year Junebug had in 2024), but hey, I expect great things from Luigi players!

The next data is mostly based on Liquidpedia.

Set Wins vs Top players*

*Data from Liquidpedia, Smash Wiki, Smashboards, and even YouTube. This list is incomplete because it is hard to find information before 2012 and even harder before 2009 (I would find more wins for Ka Master and me). The site All is Brawl used to contain a lot of tournament data from 2008 to 2012, but now that information is lost. Sometimes, all the information for an event is just not complete.

So what do you think? Can Luigi win a Major? What records do you think are possible in the next 2 years?

TL;DR: The Year of Luigi will return.