Smasher:Sparg0: Difference between revisions

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m (→‎Tournament history: the fall wasn't even that big to deserve its own section, especially when it's more so just a slump from the looks of it. Also I don't like adding stuff until the end of the season, but I feel like the over-negative paragraph should be balanced out with something much more positive, and if his performances keeps rocking I can see it getting its own section)
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Not content on missing out on the top spot for yet another year, Sparg0 looked to finally claim the spot in 2024, and initially, it seemed like he had a great shot. Up until the beginning of April, Sparg0's tournament performances were stellar, placing no lower than 3rd at any event he attended and even claiming a supermajor win at {{Trn|Collision 2024}}. His record over the top 10 was also pretty solid, having a positive record over Light and {{Sm|SHADIC}} (both 2-0) but a negative record against Sonix and {{Sm|Hurt}} (both 0-2). Despite having two losses outside the top 50 in the form of {{Sm|WaKa}} and {{Sm|Skyjay}} (though the overall records that season were still in Sparg0's favor) and a negative record against MkLeo up to that point (4-3) in what was MkLeo's worst season yet, many players still considered Sparg0 was a shoe-in for the top 5.
Not content on missing out on the top spot for yet another year, Sparg0 looked to finally claim the spot in 2024, and initially, it seemed like he had a great shot. Up until the beginning of April, Sparg0's tournament performances were stellar, placing no lower than 3rd at any event he attended and even claiming a supermajor win at {{Trn|Collision 2024}}. His record over the top 10 was also pretty solid, having a positive record over Light and {{Sm|SHADIC}} (both 2-0) but a negative record against Sonix and {{Sm|Hurt}} (both 0-2). Despite having two losses outside the top 50 in the form of {{Sm|WaKa}} and {{Sm|Skyjay}} (though the overall records that season were still in Sparg0's favor) and a negative record against MkLeo up to that point (4-3) in what was MkLeo's worst season yet, many players still considered Sparg0 was a shoe-in for the top 5.


Unfortunately, all these strong performances were offset by the rest of his season, which arguably was Sparg0's worst string of performances since the pandemic. The superregional {{Trn|PSKSHOWDOWN 7}} was his first underperformance, as Sparg0 was upset by {{Sm|Mr. E}} and {{Sm|AlanDiss}} for 5th. This underperformance, however, was soon overshadowed by his performances during the Golden Week. Despite high hopes for him due to his previous win in Japan as well as his reputation for being great against Japan's best players, Sparg0 unfortunately bombed both of his events, placing 13th at {{Trn|DELTA 8}} after losing to {{Sm|Rarikkusu}}, and {{Sm|Lv.1}} and 33rd at {{Trn|Kagaribi 12}} after losing to {{Sm|Toriguri}} and {{Sm|Noi}}. Finally, he failed to replicate his Smash Factor X victory, falling to 5th at {{Trn|S Factor 11}} after losing two game 5 sets to {{Sm|Cosmos}} and SHADIC, an unfortunate reverse 3-stock in the fourth game effectively sealing the deal in the latter set. Although he was able to even up his record against MkLeo at S Factor 11, this unceremonious conclusion to Sparg0's season, coupled with underwhelming records for a top 10 player (4-5 against the top 10 and 22-12 against the top 50) was reflected in his final ranking, where he was ranked 9th on the [[LumiRank 2024.1]], a placement that surprised many.
Unfortunately, all these strong performances were offset by the rest of his season, which was arguably Sparg0's worst string of performances since the pandemic. The superregional {{Trn|PSKSHOWDOWN 7}} was his first underperformance, as Sparg0 was upset by {{Sm|Mr. E}} and {{Sm|AlanDiss}} for 5th. This underperformance, however, was soon overshadowed by his performances during the Golden Week. Despite high hopes for him due to his previous win in Japan as well as his reputation for being great against Japan's best players, Sparg0 unfortunately bombed both of his events, placing 13th at {{Trn|DELTA 8}} after losing to {{Sm|Rarikkusu}}, and {{Sm|Lv.1}} and 33rd at {{Trn|Kagaribi 12}} after losing to {{Sm|Toriguri}} and {{Sm|Noi}}. Finally, he failed to replicate his Smash Factor X victory, falling to 5th at {{Trn|S Factor 11}} after losing two game 5 sets to {{Sm|Cosmos}} and SHADIC, an unfortunate reverse 3-stock in the fourth game effectively sealing the deal in the latter set. Although he was able to even up his record against MkLeo at S Factor 11, this unceremonious conclusion to Sparg0's season, coupled with underwhelming records for a top 10 player (4-5 against the top 10 and 22-12 against the top 50) was reflected in his final ranking, where he was ranked 9th on the [[LumiRank 2024.1]], a placement that surprised many.


Despite this unfortunate placement and his string of underperformances, Sparg0 was able to get out of this slump immediately after the new season started. His third trip to Japan to {{Trn|Kagaribi 12}} saw what many considered a great 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 that 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 finals and taking the event by double-eliminating {{Sm|Shuton}}. These three performances not only led many to believe Sparg0 had redeemed his LumiRank 2024.1 placement, but also made him the frontrunner for the [[LumiRank 2024.2]] season.
Despite this unfortunate placement and his string of underperformances, Sparg0 was able to get out of this slump immediately after the new season started. His third trip to Japan to {{Trn|Kagaribi 12}} saw what many considered a great 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 that 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 finals and taking the event by double-eliminating {{Sm|Shuton}}. These three performances not only led many to believe Sparg0 had redeemed his LumiRank 2024.1 placement, but also made him the frontrunner for the [[LumiRank 2024.2]] season.