Stream Info/Schedule
All the Melee at GOML will be streamed by EvenMatchupGamingand AffinityPlay. Notable names on commentary at GOML include D1, The Crimson Blur, and more. Additionally, you can keep with the brackets on smashgg. Here is the schedule (click to enlarge):
The Battle of the Best
Armada is looking very strong going into GOML, making him one of the likely favorites to take home the gold. Although he dropped out of EGLX due to sickness, he won Smash Summit 2 defeating Mango, Mew2King, and Hungrybox all in a row. However, Armada will have various challenges on his road to 1st place this weekend. Hungrybox will be ready for the more aggressive approach Armada used with his Fox at Smash Summit 2 and Mango is determined to break down Armada's Peach. Additionally, Armada's possible set with Leffen could very well go either way and Mew2King could give Armada a run for his money in the winner's bracket. Despite the tough competition, Armada's adaptability and ability to battle through adversity could give him what he needs to win GOML.
Hungrybox will be coming back to Toronto for his third GOML. For Hungrybox to win GOML, he will have to overcome the Fox gauntlet of Armada, Leffen, Mango, and Mew2King. Armada beat Hungrybox two times in a row at Smash Summit 2, Mango seemed to have finally figured out the best style to beat Hungrybox at DreamHack Austin, Leffen has historically gone back and forth with Hungrybox, and Mew2King has had very close sets with Hungrybox at EGLX and DreamHack Austin. Nonetheless, if Hungrybox can quickly adjust to varying styles of each Fox and keep his mindset in top shape, he could possibly take a spot near the top of the podium this weekend.
Many eyes will be on Leffen this weekend as he competes at his second major North American tournament of the year. Leffen made his first big appearance in a while at EGLX three weeks ago, where he had an underwhelming 7th place performance. Although he showed glimmers of his old self in the USA vs. The World crew battle, his mindset fell apart in bracket, allowing his bad habits to get the best of him. Last weekend, Leffen won Battle of BC over SFAT, using it as a testing ground for GOML this weekend. Though Leffen expressed that his mindset and stamina have improved since EGLX, his sloppy punish game nearly spelt defeat for him against SFAT. For Leffen to make his grand return to the top of the world at GOML, he will have to brush off his nerves and come in with a fresh mindset.
A determined Mango will be going into GOML looking the best he has been in quite a while. He managed to win DreamHack Austin through the loser's side, finding the style that worked best for him to beat Hungrybox in two consecutive sets. Most importantly, Mango managed to stick to his gameplan at DreamHack -- something that will be a valuable asset against opponents such as Armada and Mew2King. Now that Mango has found the grit required to beat players such as Hungrybox, his biggest key to success this weekend will be staying in the winner's bracket as long as possible. Although he managed to make a loser's run at DreamHack Austin, his foes in the loser's bracket at GOML will be even tougher. If Mango can make it to top 8 through winners and stay focused, he could possibly win his first tournament with all of the top 5 since The Big House 4.
Mew2King will be a wild card this weekend. He had excellent performances at Smash Summit 2, EGLX, and DreamHack Austin in the past month, where he traded sets with Armada and Mango while coming close to beating Hungrybox. Although all three of those players and Leffen will all be formidable challenges for Mew2King, perhaps Mew2King's toughest opponent will be himself. At each of the aforementioned tournaments, Mew2King has looked fantastic in the winner's bracket, only for his mindset to shift from "playing to win" to "playing not to lose" after being sent to the loser's bracket. Aside from a solid Melee warmup after playing Smash 4, Mew2King will need to come in with a champion mentality to have chance at going far at GOML.
The Rising Stars
2016 has been an interesting year for Westballz. He has taken down players such as Mango and Leffen at his peak, but inconsistent performances against floatier characters such as Sheik and Samus have gotten the best of him at bigger tournaments such as Pound 2016 and EGLX. Westballz did not attend DreamHack Austin due to burnout, giving him some time to rest and work on his gameplan. If Westballz can have his tech skill and devastating punish game on point while keeping his head in the game the entire time at GOML, he could gain some much needed momentum for the busy Summer season.
SFAT has been on a tear this year, placing top 8 at every tournament he has attended except for Battle of the Five Gods and Pound 2016. His mentality and approach to the game has only improved since joining CLG last year, and it has shown in his play. SFAT had a solid run at DreamHack Austin, where he narrowly beat Axe and had his moments against Hungrybox. Last weekend, SFAT kept it very close against Leffen at Battle of BC, bringing both of their sets to game 5. If SFAT can keep up his very solid Fox play, another top 8 placing may be in store for him at GOML.
Lucky is still on the search for a sponsor, and he will be looking to make his case this weekend. After uncharacteristically poor runs at Genesis 3, PAX Arena, and Battle of the Five Gods at the beginning of the year, Lucky put in his best performance in recent memory at DreamHack Austin, where he beat Axe, S2J, and Duck. With his flashy Fox back in the groove, Lucky will need to stay in the zone and control his explosive play to replicate his DreamHack performance this weekend.
Ice will be competing in Canada for the first time this weekend. 2016 is already shaping out to be the best year yet for Ice's technical and efficient Fox, starting off the year on a high note by taking 7th place at Genesis 3. He returned to America at Smash Summit 2, where he beat PewPewU. However, the large national tournament setting at GOML means that Ice will have to stay collected with the crowd behind his back -- something that he struggled with at Genesis 3. If Ice can drown out the crowd and keep the chokes to a minimum at GOML, he may have yet another very solid performance this weekend.
PewPewU will be looking to break his infamous "9th Place Curse" at GOML. His 2016 has been shaky so far, losing to Falcons such as n0ne and Gahtzu at Genesis 3 and Pound 2016. Additionally, PewPewU's tournament nerves have led to sloppiness in his play, resulting in disappointing results at Pound 2016 and Smash Summit 2. For PewPewU to conquer his demons at GOML, he will have to refresh his mindset and brush up his punish game.
MacD is looking solid as usual going into GOML. He has done well recently at EGLX and DreamHack Austin in spite of his very uncharacteristic 33rd place performance at Pound 2016. Furthermore, MacD beat Westballz twice at Mayhem last weekend, putting him on the road to success for GOML. If MacD brings his consistent Peach play to the table at GOML, success will be assured for him.
DruggedFox has had a shaky 2016 so far. After an impressive run at Genesis 3 with his Falco, DruggedFox decided to return to his roots at Battle of the Five Gods by bringing back his Fox. He did surprisingly well at Battle of the Five Gods with Fox by beating MacD and nearly taking down Axe. However, DruggedFox was unable to repeat his performance at Pound 2016, where he suffered an early loss at the hands of Mike Haze. Nevertheless, DruggedFox always has new tricks up his sleeve every tournament, and GOML will be no exception.
Wizzrobe is going into GOML hot off his best career performance from DreamHack Austin, where he made history by being the first Captain Falcon main to place top 4 at a tournament with 3 of the 5 gods. His brilliant edgeguards and punishes led to a deep loser's run at DreamHack, where he beat SFAT, MacD, and Nintendude. If Wizzrobe can replicate his pristine play from DreamHack, he could take more names this weekend.
Duck been shooting upwards recently, making him one of the top threats this weekend. Though he missed out on top 8 at DreamHack after losing to Lucky and Nintendude, his efficient style combined with his incredible punishes and edgeguards have made him a consistent threat everywhere he goes. In Duck's last visit to Canada he beat Leffen and Westballz in a stellar run at EGLX. Could GOML continue Duck's success in Canada?
Nintendude is solid as always going into GOML. He had his second national top 8 performance of the year at DreamHack Austin two weeks ago, where he beat S2J and Duck. Even though the competition is looking even more stacked this weekend, Nintendude's consistent Ice Climbers play could result in another strong showing at GOML.
HugS is determined to get out his recent slump this weekend. At his last appearance at a national, he finished 33rd at Pound 2016. In addition to ample preparation in SoCal to return to prime form since Pound, Hugs has taken a break from drinking beer to prepare himself for GOML, similar to what he did for EVO 2015. If HugS' preparation can come together with a winning mindset, GOML could be his resurgence to the upper echelon of Melee.
Swedish Delight has been one of Melee's fastest rising stars of the past year. He bounced back from his 33rd place finish at Genesis 3 with very impressive runs at Super Nebulous 4 and Pound 2016, where his signature death touch netted him wins over Westballz, Hax$, and more. With Swedish Delight's Sheik only looking stronger each tournament, GOML is shaping out to be another great tournament for him.
The Moon will be looking to take names this weekend after multiple weak national performances this year. His slick Marth has shown potential on the regional level, but he has underperformed at tournaments such as Genesis 3, Pound 2016, and EGLX. If The Moon can come in with a focused mindset this weekend, he may be able to show that he can still hang with the top.
Coming in all the way from England is Professor Pro, eager to make a splash in his first Canadian tournament appearance. Professor Pro has been improving rapidly, and his hard work paid off earlier this year with strong showings at Pound 2016, Shots Fired 2, and Super Nebulous 4. Although he has said on Twitter that he is experiencing controller issues, expect another strong performance from Professor Pro this weekend if can fix his controller in time for GOML.
Mike Haze is coming into GOML with lots of momentum. His play has come a very long way in the past year, beating players such as DruggedFox and Javi this year at Pound 2016 and Genesis 3 respectively. With his drive to constantly improve, GOML could be yet another successful tournament for Mike Haze.
Some more players to keep an eye out for this weekend include KJH, DJ Nintendo, Prince Abu, G$, Toph, Zorc, Alpha Dash, Juggleguy, BrTarolg, and Jam.
Our Home and Native Land
n0ne
: n0ne has not only risen to the top of Canada's elite in the past year, but he has also solidified himself as one of the best Captain Falcon mains in the world. His flashy, quick, and smart play has netted him wins over the likes of PewPewU, Colbol, The Moon, Nintendude, Professor Pro, and many more in the past year. If n0ne can find the right balance in his high risk-high reward playstyle at GOML, he could be the defender Toronto needs.Kage the Warrior
: Although Kage has not played at a national tournament since The Big House 5, his great fundamental play has helped his Ganondorf stand the test of time. For Kage to make a deep run this weekend, he will have to play at his best against difficult matchups such as Fox, Falco, and Sheik. But if there's anything Kage has shown time and time again, it's that his fighting spirit canovercome any adversity in his way.Ryan Ford
: Since returning to the tournament scene last year, Ryan Ford has reclaimed his title as the best Fox in Canada. However, he has yet to match the peaks of his 2013 success, despite consistent results across the board coupled with wins over Professor Pro, The Moon, Vwins, DJ Nintendo, and more. Ample warmup time and focus is what Ryan Ford needs to help defend Toronto this weekend.Fork
: Fork will be looking to replicate his top 8 performance from EGLX at GOML this weekend. His technical Ice Climbers play and solid Sopo has helped him rise to Canada's upper echelon in the past few months. With quality wins over players such as KirbyKaze, Prince Abu, Weon-X, and Dizzkidboogie under his belt, Fork is set to take names at GOML.Weon-X
: Weon-X has also been out of the game for a while, but he is quickly returning to form. His Fox has been quite consistent, even managing to beat Kage and Ryan Ford at LAN ETS 2016 and EGLX respectively. Could GOML be Weon-X's big return to the top level of play?IB
: Despite his recent inactivity, IB is determined to show why he's Canada's best Marth this weekend. His 49th place finish at The Big House 5 showed that he can compete with the best, and GOML could very well start IB's return to Melee.SAUS
: SAUS made many fans at last year's GOML, where he had a very impressive win over The Moon with his Link. Since then, SAUS has managed to prove that his mastery with the Hero of Time is more than just a gimmick, claiming the top spot on the Ottawa Power Rankings and taking 65th place at The Big House 5. If the top competitors are not ready for Link, SAUS could take names once again at GOML.Mittens
: Mittens will be looking to make Alberta proud at GOML as their #1 player. Although he has been one of Canada's strongest players for around 10 years, he made a splash at The Big House 5, where he competed in the regional crew battles and placed 49th by beating Toph.Trulliam
: Trulliam has been improving at a rapid rate, and his hard work paid off when he beat DJ Nintendo at EGLX. Could he cause even more upsets at GOML?Also be sure to look out for more Canadian talent such as Coffeeblack, sauc3, Nightmare, Jamrun, Moky, Damian Tyson, K, CmG, Vanitas, Flood, Squidwrr, Mittens (
), Star, Yardsale, Anjo, Tranimal, and more.Teams Preview
PewPewU
and SFAT : Team PewFat will be looking to take their first major teams title of the year at GOML. Their fantastic synergy and overall understanding of teams have consistently brought them far at tournaments such as Genesis 3, Pound 2016, and Smash Summit 2, but they have not been able to win in the end against teams such as Armada/Mew2King and Hungrybox/Plup. With both teams out of the picture this weekend, PewFat could very well win it all at GOML.Armada
and Shroomed : Although Armada and Shroomed have only teamed up together twice in the past, they did very well at I'm Not Yelling and CEO 2015, where they placed 2nd and 1st respectively. Additionally, they have to beat PewFat and Hungrybox/Leffen at said tournaments -- two of their biggest threats at this weekend's tournament. Armada and Shroomed are both very experienced in the Peach/Sheik team, making them a possible favorite to win GOML despite minimal practice.Hungrybox
and Leffen : Hungrybox and Leffen will be putting their rivalry aside in hopes of winning teams at GOML. They teamed together for the second time ever at EGLX, where they brought Armada and Mew2King to game 5 in the Grand Finals. They have the potential to take it all this weekend, as they are two of the very best players in the world in both singles and teams. If Hungrybox and Leffen can improve their team synergy, they will be a force to be reckoned with this weekend.Mango
and Lucky : 4-Leaf Mango will be teaming for the first time since Smash Summit 1 this weekend. Mango and Lucky have been teammates for a very long time, but they have not taken a major teams title for a few years now. For 4-Leaf Mango to have a shot at winning teams at GOML, they will have re-synergize their team's play again.Some more teams to watch this weekend include Westballz/MacD, Ice/Duck, DJ Nintendo/The Moon, DruggedFox/Professor Pro, Wizzrobe/Nintendude, Swedish Delight/Prince Abu, Kage/Weon-X, Ryan Ford/RaynEX, G$/IB, and more.
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