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The Midwest is a Smash region located in the United States. It is by far the largest Smash region in the United States in terms of size, encompassing fourteen different states. Due to this, the region has sometimes been split into four additional regions: Great Lakes East, which includes Kentucky, Ohio, and west Pennsylvania, and sometimes includes West Virginia; Great Lakes West, which includes Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin; Heartland North, which includes Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota; and Heartland South, which includes Iowa, Nebraska, and northern Kansas and Missouri, primarily the Greater St. Louis and Kansas City metropolitan areas. Tournament activity in the Midwest is the biggest in the Chicago and Detroit metropolitan areas, although metropolitan areas such as Cleveland and Madison also have notable scenes.
Historically, the Midwest was a strong yet relatively secluded region, with many notable top players during Melee's Golden Age such as Darkrain, Drephen, and Vidjogamer and several tournament series such as the long-running Show Me Your Moves series, but the scene's overall size being less than that of the other major American Smash scenes at that time. This began changing around the early 2010s with the rise of The Big House series in Michigan, which eventually grew to one of Melee's premier events. Many other big tournament series began appearing as the decade progressed, including Frostbite in Michigan, Midwest Mayhem in Illinois, and Smash 'N' Splash in Illinois and Wisconsin, and many FGC events such as Combo Breaker and Frosty Faustings in Illinois began seeing greater entrants count for their Smash events, all the while many more Midwest players began making their mark on competitive play, such as Ginger, KJH, Lunchables, Ned, and Zinoto. At its peak, the Midwest's tournament activity rivaled some of the US's biggest regions.
Following the pandemic, however, the Midwest's impact on the tournament scene began diminishing, in part due to the conclusion or hiatus of many big tournament series such as Frostbite, The Big House, and Smash 'N' Splash, while newer tournament series such as Riptide were unable to properly fill that void. As such, the Midwest scene in Ultimate infamously failed to see a single major between The Big House 10 in October 2022 and Riptide 2024 in September 2024 despite having held three supermajors in just the game's first year. Nevertheless, the Midwest retains a slew of strong talent that have found great success in competitive play, including ApolloKage, Onin, and Ossify.
Smashers
- See also: Category:Illinois smashers, Category:Indiana smashers, Category:Iowa smashers, Category:Kansas smashers, Category:Kentucky smashers, Category:Michigan smashers, Category:Minnesota smashers, Category:Missouri smashers, Category:Nebraska smashers, Category:North Dakota smashers, Category:Ohio smashers, Category:Pennsylvania smashers, Category:South Dakota smashers, Category:Wisconsin smashers
The following players are currently or were previously ranked. Their highest placement is listed.
Globally ranked players
| Tag | Character(s) | Best placement | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
 100 Grand (Minnesota) |
 |
 MPGR 2019: HM |
|
| AbsentPage (Minnesota) |
 |
MPGR 2018: 24th |
|
| Anther (Michigan) |
  |
 PMRank 2017: 18th |
Also known for creating Anther's Ladder. |
| ApolloKage (Missouri) |
 |
 UltRank 2022: 20th |
|
| ATATA (Illinois) |
  |
UltRank 2022: 91st |
|
| B33F (Indiana) |
 |
 2023 Smash 64 Power Rankings: 32nd |
|
| Ben (Minnesota/Wisconsin) |
 |
SSBMRank 2023: 30th |
|
| Bobby Frizz (Kansas/Missouri) |
 |
SSBMRank 2017: 92nd PMRank 2018: 36th |
|
| ckyulmiqnudaetr (Michigan) |
 |
SSBMRank 2023: 77th |
|
| Cob (Kentucky) |
  |
MPGR 2018: 94th |
|
| Connor (Minnesota) |
 |
PMRank 2019: 18th |
|
| Darkatma (Missouri) |
|
SSBMRank 2013: 46th |
Originally from NorCal, he resided in Missouri until moving back to NorCal in 2016. |
| Darkrain (Kansas/Missouri) |
 |
RetroSSBMRank 2009: 8th |
|
| Daybreak (Michigan) |
   |
OrionRank Ultimate: Six Months In: 97th |
|
| Dirtboy (Michigan) |
 |
PMRank 2019: 13th |
|
| Dogs_Johnson (Indiana) |
 |
2023 Smash 64 Power Rankings: 13th |
|
| Dope (Michigan) |
 |
RetroSSBMRank 2007: HM |
|
| Drephen (Ohio) |
|
RetroSSBMRank 2007: 8th |
|
| Drugfreechu (Illinois) |
 |
PMRank 2019: 11th |
|
| Duck (Michigan) |
 |
MPGR 2018: 14th |
|
| Eddie (Illinois) |
 |
RetroSSBMRank 2001-2003: 9th |
|
| Eduardo (Illinois) |
|
RetroSSBMRank 2001-2003: 11th |
|
| EG (Michigan) |
|
2018 64 League Rankings: 25th |
|
| Eggy (Illinois) |
|
SSBMRank 2022: 91st |
|
| Ellipsis (Michigan) |
 |
 PMRank 2022: 24th |
|
| Ginger (Michigan) |
|
SSBMRank 2022: 21st |
|
| Gomakenpi (Michigan) |
   |
OrionRank Ultimate: Six Months In: 61st |
Also known as Kesiel, currently going by Sweet JP. |
| goon (Michigan) |
|
2017 64 League Rankings: 62nd |
Also known as supa. |
| HENRY LUMA (Missouri) |
 |
OrionRank Mid-Year 2022: 128th |
|
| Hoenn (Illinois) |
  |
 2023 SSBBRank: 4th |
|
| Ikan (Illinois) |
 |
LumiRank 2023: 105th |
|
| JJROCKETS (Illinois) |
 |
 OrionRank 2016: 58th |
|
| JustJoe (Illinois) |
|
SSBMRank 2022: 96th |
|
| Kain (Illinois) |
 |
SSBBRank 2014: 74th |
|
| Kalamazhu (Michigan) |
|
SSBMRank 2015: 57th |
Moved to NorCal in 2015 and was last ranked while in Michigan that year. |
| Kels (Illinois) |
|
SSBMRank 2014: 28th |
|
| KJH (Michigan) |
|
MPGR 2018: 25th |
|
| Ksev (Michigan) |
 |
OrionRank 2016: 81st |
|
| lain (Michigan) |
|
2023 SSBBRank: 14th |
|
| loaf (Minnesota) |
 |
LumiRank 2024.1: 147th |
|
| LOE1 (Michigan) |
   |
SSBBRank 2014: 17th |
|
| Lunchables (Michigan/Wisconsin) |
      |
PMRank 2016: 2nd |
|
| Lux (Kansas) |
|
SSBBRank 2014: 61st |
Known as DeLux in 2014. He has since moved to SoCal and remains active in competitive Brawl. |
| Mad Tyro (Indiana) |
 |
SSBMRank 2022: 83rd |
|
| Mekk (Illinois) |
|
SSBMRank 2022: 36th |
Although currently banned from most events, he remains active in competitive play. |
| Morsecode762 (Michigan) |
 |
SSBMRank 2023: 18th PMRank 2019: 6th |
|
| Michael (Illinois) |
 |
MPGR 2018: 41st |
|
| MJG (Kansas) |
   |
SSBBRank 2014: 36th |
|
| Mystearica (Indiana) |
   |
OrionRank 2017: 135th |
|
| Ned (Illinois) |
   |
OrionRank 2017: 37th OrionRank 2022: 35th |
|
| Onin (Michigan) |
 |
UltRank 2022: 6th |
|
| ORLY (Illinois) |
 |
PMRank 2023: 21st |
|
| Ossify (Michigan) |
|
SSBMRank 2023: 35th |
|
| Preeminent (Minnesota) |
|
SSBMRank 2023: 81st |
|
| Prince Abu (Michigan) |
|
SSBMRank 2017: 38th |
|
| Rayquaza07 (Michigan) |
  |
OrionRank 2016: 92nd |
|
| Reeve (Kentucky) |
|
SSBMRank 2017: 101st |
|
| Rik (Indiana) |
|
SSBMRank 2017: 81st |
|
| Ripple (Illinois) |
 |
PMRank 2016: 29th |
|
| RipplePuff (Missouri) |
 |
SSBBRank 2020-2022: 12th |
Originally from Maryland, and moved to Missouri in 2018. Formerly known as Poyo. |
| Rocke (Kansas) |
 |
OrionRank 2022: 150th |
|
| Roman (Missouri) |
|
2016 64 League Rankings: 45th |
Also known as Zantetsu. |
| Ryuga (Michigan) |
   |
PGR v4: 45th Spring 2019 PGRU: 33rd |
|
| shabo (Illinois) |
|
SSBMRank 2023: 66th |
|
| Skar (Iowa) |
 |
OrionRank Mid-Year 2022: 117th |
|
| Skerzo (Illinois) |
|
SSBMRank 2022: 39th |
Also resides in Kantō. |
| skittles (Iowa) |
 |
OrionRank Ultimate: Eclipse: 66th |
|
| Slowking (Iowa) |
|
SSBMRank 2023: 88th |
|
| Smashdaddy (Illinois) |
|
SSBMRank 2022: 44th |
Also known as Smash Papi. |
| Sothe (Illinois/Indiana) |
 |
PMRank 2019: 10th |
|
| Star (Illinois) |
  |
PMRank 2023: 41st |
|
| techboy (Michigan) |
 |
PMRank 2023: 2nd |
|
| Tink (Illinois) |
|
RetroSSBMRank 2006: HM |
|
| TonyZTank (Iowa) |
 |
OrionRank Ultimate: Eclipse: 81st |
|
| Trail (Illinois) |
|
SSBMRank 2014: 88th |
Currently resides in Connecticut. |
| tyroy (Illinois) |
|
OrionRank 2018: 28th |
|
| Veka (Minnesota) |
|
PMRank 2023: 35th |
Also known as Gadelong. |
| Vidjogamer (Ohio) |
|
RetroSSBMRank 2006: 9th |
|
| Vro (Illinois) |
|
SSBMRank 2017: 104th |
|
| Wildz (Kentucky) |
 |
LumiRank 2024.1: 85th |
|
| Wyld (Illinois) |
 |
PMRank 2019: 34th |
|
| Kasmir (Minnesota) |
  |
OrionRank 2018: 58th OrionRank 2019: 31st |
Also known by many other tags, including Kasmir. Currently banned from events in Minnesota. |
| Zamu (Illinois) |
|
SSBMRank 2023: 22nd |
|
| Zenan (Illinois) |
 |
SSBBRank 2020-2022: 8th |
|
| Zinoto (Michigan) |
   |
SSBBRank 2014: 19th OrionRank 2016: 13th UltRank 2022: 72nd |
Nationally ranked players
Other notable players
| Tag | Character(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| AmiiboKing313 (Michigan) |
 |
Prominent tournament organizer from Michigan, best known for running the Showdown: Battle Royale series and Smashfield Weeklies. |
| D. Disciple (Minnesota) |
 |
Prominent tournament organizer from Minnesota and the Midwest as a whole, having helped organize events such as Combo Breaker 2015 and Frostbite 2017. |
| DLA (Illinois) |
 |
Perhaps the best Ganondorf player in Brawl, using Ganondorf to place highly at several majors. |
| Foghorn (Iowa) |
Notable tournament director in Iowa in the late-2000s. Better known on the wiki as Clarinet Hawk. | |
| Gooshi (Michigan) |
  |
Founder of Michigan streaming organization GooshiGaming. |
| Jaaahsh (Michigan) |
 |
Talent Strategist at Team Liquid. Former Director of Talent Management for Panda and an organizer for the Panda Cup. |
| Juggleguy (Michigan) |
|
Head tournament organizer for The Big House. |
| Jv3x3 (Michigan) |
|
Michigan tournament organizer during the MLG era, known for coining the term "JV". |
| Kirk (Illinois) |
  |
One of the earliest Ike players in Brawl and the best Bowser player in Project M in his prime, having won The Big House 3. |
| Linus and Lucy (Michigan) |
/ |
One of the best Ultimate doubles teams known for their synergy. Most notably won Get On My Level 2022 doubles. |
| Lordy (Michigan) |
|
One of the few legitimate Captain Falcon players in Brawl. |
| LSDX (Illinois) |
|
Previously ranked as a HM on the PMRank 2019, however his ranking was rescinded after being banned for sexual misconduct. |
| MagicScrumpy (Michigan) |
 |
Disgraced former YouTuber primarily focused on mods and TAS for Melee. |
| M3D (Indiana) |
Founder of MLG's Smash Bros. division and was a member until 2007. He helped form a standard Melee tournament ruleset and began professional commentary for Melee. | |
| ninja1167 (Michigan) |
|
Organizer for the SSBBRank after 2020 and the online Brawl series The Return |
| Ori (Michigan) |
  |
Tournament organizer for several Apex and The Big House events. |
| Pooch (Illinois) |
 |
Head organizer for Tripoint Smash. |
| Raiser (Kentucky) |
 |
Tournament organizer in Kentucky, having organized Bourbon State Gaming events and some of Kentucky's largest events such as QCS: One Night Stand. |
| SKUNCH (Illinois) |
 |
Known for Brawlternative, a popular YouTube channel dedicated to Brawl. |
| SmashBroPro (Illinois) |
|
The first notable tournament organizer in the Midwest, organizing events as early as 2002. |
| trade war (Illinois) |
 |
Tournament organizer and associate to Luminosity Gaming's LumiRank branch. |
| Triple R (Minnesota) |
  |
Arguably the most successful Kirby player in competitive Melee. |
| Unsure (Illinois) |
|
Main tournament organizer for Melee events in Chicago until the end of 2023. |
| Vayseth (Michigan) |
Co-founder and head tournament organizer of Frostbite. GENESIS vendor manager and a member of the EVO translation team. | |
| Xiivi (Indiana) |
|
Known for organizing some of Indiana's largest events, including Landlocked and OUTFOXX'D. |
Tournaments
- See also: Category:Illinois tournaments, Category:Indiana tournaments, Category:Iowa tournaments, Category:Kansas tournaments, Category:Kentucky tournaments, Category:Michigan tournaments, Category:Minnesota tournaments, Category:Missouri tournaments, Category:Nebraska tournaments, Category:North Dakota tournaments, Category:Ohio tournaments, Category:Pennsylvania tournaments, Category:South Dakota tournaments, Category:Wisconsin tournaments
Notable tournament series
Tournament series that have achieved recognition outside their local region.
| Tournament | Games | Type | Status |
|---|
Notable tournaments
Tournaments that featured at least one game at a superregional level.
| Tournament | Date | Entrants | Supermajor | Major | Superregional | Other |
|---|
Largest singles events
| Rank | Tournament | Date | Game | Attendance | Winner | Character(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ||||||
| 2 | ||||||
| 3 | ||||||
| 4 | ||||||
| 5 | ||||||
| 6 | ||||||
| 7 | ||||||
| 8 | ||||||
| 9 | ||||||
| 10 |
See also
[Rankings]