Apex 2015 has long been considered one of the most exciting Super Smash Bros. Melee tournaments of all time, with Kevin “PPMD” Nanney striking down an on-fire William “Leffen” Hjelte and Adam “Armada” Lindgren to win his last major title before his extended hiatus from professional play. Countless combo videos, highlight reels, and memes have come out of the event—perhaps most notably, it played host to the infamous Salty Suite in which Leffen 5-0ed Kashan “Chillin” Khan. But many Smash fans are unfamiliar with the logistical nightmare that preceded this historic event. Check out this awesome video by Cheddar Sports to learn more about the story of Apex 2015:
Only hours before the tournament’s beginning, its original venue, the Clarion Hotel Empire Meadowlands in Secaucus, New Jersey, was shut down by local police and fire marshals after they realized it was unsafe and at risk of a roof collapse. Instead of giving up, the tournament organizers jumped to action, taking advantage of a generous assist from Twitch to bus hundreds of Smash players and setups 40 miles south to the Garden State Convention Center in Somerset, New Jersey.
The rest is history: That Sunday, shortly after the New England Patriots defeated the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX, PPMD defended America against the Swedes and won the bracket reset as the audience chanted his name. The scene looks very different now, but the video above, produced by Zane “Epengu” Bhansali, gives a nostalgic and passionate breakdown of the event—and its nearly disastrous start.
