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Smasher:Sparg0: Difference between revisions
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Despite this unfortunate finish and his string of underperformances, Sparg0 was able to get out of this slump immediately as the new season started. His third trip to Japan for {{Trn|Kagaribi 12}} saw what many considered a return to form: although knocked into losers by {{Sm|Doramigi}}, Sparg0 was able to make a strong losers run to 3rd, knocking out {{Sm|Asimo}} and getting his revenge against Doramigi and Lv.1, ultimately losing to acola for the first time since Ludwig Smash Invitational. His performance at this event, especially his wins over players who had previously defeated him that year, was a foreshadow to what was coming at {{Trn|Supernova 2024}}. In what many considered his revenge tour, Sparg0 was able to win his runbacks against Hurt and SHADIC, while a surprise character choice of {{SSBU|Roy}} in game 2 onwards allowed him to defeat Sonix and claim his first P-tier win of the season. | Despite this unfortunate finish and his string of underperformances, Sparg0 was able to get out of this slump immediately as the new season started. His third trip to Japan for {{Trn|Kagaribi 12}} saw what many considered a return to form: although knocked into losers by {{Sm|Doramigi}}, Sparg0 was able to make a strong losers run to 3rd, knocking out {{Sm|Asimo}} and getting his revenge against Doramigi and Lv.1, ultimately losing to acola for the first time since Ludwig Smash Invitational. His performance at this event, especially his wins over players who had previously defeated him that year, was a foreshadow to what was coming at {{Trn|Supernova 2024}}. In what many considered his revenge tour, Sparg0 was able to win his runbacks against Hurt and SHADIC, while a surprise character choice of {{SSBU|Roy}} in game 2 onwards allowed him to defeat Sonix and claim his first P-tier win of the season. | ||
Sparg0 followed this performance with yet another P-tier victory at {{Trn|Riptide 2024}}, winning every game up to winner's semifinals and taking the event by double-eliminating {{Sm|Shuton}}. At the {{Trn|Luminosity Invitational 2: Back to School}}, though he lost early to MkLeo and Zomba in round robin pools, which sent him to the losers bracket for the main bracket, Sparg0 managed to claw his way out to a 2nd place finish through an incredible losers run, defeating Sonix 3-2 (once again using Roy), as well as beating Maister, Light, Asimo, Zomba, and Shuton before defeating {{Sm|Kola}} 3-1 in the first set of Grand Finals. These | Sparg0 followed this performance with yet another P-tier victory at {{Trn|Riptide 2024}}, winning every game up to winner's semifinals and taking the event by double-eliminating {{Sm|Shuton}}. At the {{Trn|Luminosity Invitational 2: Back to School}}, though he lost early to MkLeo and Zomba in round robin pools, which sent him to the losers bracket for the main bracket, Sparg0 managed to claw his way out to a 2nd place finish through an incredible losers run, defeating Sonix 3-2 (once again using Roy), as well as beating Maister, Light, Asimo, Zomba, and Shuton before defeating {{Sm|Kola}} 3-1 in the first set of Grand Finals. At {{Trn|The Throne 2024}}, Sparg0 lost to {{Sm|Zackray}} early on but beat Marss, Tweek, {{Sm|Candle}}, Hurt, MkLeo and Light twice to win the entire event. These five performances led many to believe Sparg0 had not only redeemed his LumiRank 2024.1 placement, but also made him the undisputed #1 for the [[LumiRank 2024.2]] season. | ||
However, there was incredibly strong competition for the throne from Japan's other best player, {{Sm|Miya|p=Honshu}}, whose season was similar to Sparg0. Miya had won every major event he attended in Japan, including the premier-tier events Kowloon 12 with Kagaribi and {{Trn|Umebura SP 11}}, and as such tied Sparg0 in the number of premier-tier wins. In addition, unlike previous seasons where Sparg0 had a dominant record over Miya, Miya and Sparg0 had an even record for the LumiRank 2024.2 season, with Miya winning their encounter at {{Trn|Litvitational 3}} and the first set of Grand Finals at {{Trn|Don't Park on the Grass 2024}}, while Sparg0 won their encounters at both Winners Final and the reset at Don't Park on the Grass. Finally, although Miya had underperformed at several North American events, the losses he took at those events were from players who were ranked in the top 50 that season, and as such Miya and Sparg0 had virtually the same number of losses against top 50 players (Sparg0 having just one less than Miya). These statistics led some to question whether another Japanese player would "steal" the #1 rank away from Sparg0, a fear exacerbated the day before the rankings were revealed, where it was revealed that the gap between #2 and #1 was the closest in ''Ultimate'' history.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://x.com/Stuart98SSB/status/1875292479072956644|title=The top 3 being close on LumiRank 2024.2}}</ref> | However, there was incredibly strong competition for the throne from Japan's other best player, {{Sm|Miya|p=Honshu}}, whose season was similar to Sparg0. Miya had won every major event he attended in Japan, including the premier-tier events Kowloon 12 with Kagaribi and {{Trn|Umebura SP 11}}, and as such tied Sparg0 in the number of premier-tier wins. In addition, unlike previous seasons where Sparg0 had a dominant record over Miya, Miya and Sparg0 had an even record for the LumiRank 2024.2 season, with Miya winning their encounter at {{Trn|Litvitational 3}} and the first set of Grand Finals at {{Trn|Don't Park on the Grass 2024}}, while Sparg0 won their encounters at both Winners Final and the reset at Don't Park on the Grass. Finally, although Miya had underperformed at several North American events, the losses he took at those events were from players who were ranked in the top 50 that season, and as such Miya and Sparg0 had virtually the same number of losses against top 50 players (Sparg0 having just one less than Miya). These statistics led some to question whether another Japanese player would "steal" the #1 rank away from Sparg0, a fear exacerbated the day before the rankings were revealed, where it was revealed that the gap between #2 and #1 was the closest in ''Ultimate'' history.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://x.com/Stuart98SSB/status/1875292479072956644|title=The top 3 being close on LumiRank 2024.2}}</ref> | ||