Most large Super Smash Bros. tournaments take place in the United States, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t vibrant Smash communities throughout the world—after all, many of the world’s best Smash 4 players are from Japan, and the European scene has long been propped up by major tournament series such as Sweden’s B.E.A.S.T and the United Kingdom’s Heir series.
This weekend, Smash fans hoping to catch the action should look towards America’s Southern border for Mexico’s Smash Factor 7, a major-level tournament for the nation that birthed such Melee luminaries as Javier “Javi” Ruiz and Eduardo “Eddy Mexico” Rincon, both of whom will be in attendance at the event. Smash Factor 7 will have far more than just local talent, however: out-of-region competitors such as Edgard “n0ne” Sheleby and Ryan “La Luna” Coker-Welch. The tournament’s crown jewel is Melee’s greatest player of all time, Adam “Armada” Lindgren, who will be traveling to Smash Factor 7 for his first-ever Mexican tournament.
Besides Armada, whose victory at this event is all but assured unless an upset of historic magnitude occurs, none of the high-level players traveling to Smash Factor from other regions have a cakewalk to Top 8. Mexico is a secretly stacked region, featuring many high-level players who are normally unable to make their way to far-away majors in the United States. Alongside Javi and Eddy Mexico, other Mexican power-players include Fernando “Far!” Dorame, the Sonoran Sheik/Falco, Azael “Aza” Mares, the Sheik from Monterrey, and Cesar “Valdo” Cantu, Mexico’s second-best Fox. Also in attendance will be Yu “Yu” Okada, a flashy Falco main who spends most of his time living in Mexico despite his Japanese origins. In both Mexico and Japan, Yu is one of his nation’s best players—a rare example of a top player whose renown extends across the Pacific.
Of course, Smash Factor 7 features a Smash 4 bracket as well, with out-of-region talent such as Larry “Larry Lurr” Holland, Griffin “Fatality” Miller, and Jason “ANTi” Bates joining a deep list of Mexican hard-hitters. Unfortunately, Mexican #1 Leonardo “MkLeo” Lopez Perez is not yet registered to attend the event. Last August, MkLeo won Smash Factor 6, defending his home nation against invaders such as Ramin “Mr. R” Delshad; only time will tell if he will make his return this weekend to continue his streak.
The tournament will be going down between Friday, June 20, and Sunday, June 22, and will be streamed on Twitch at SmashFactorGaming. Don’t miss this weekend’s most exciting event!
