Shine 2016 has been, without a doubt, one of the brightest tournaments Super Smash Bros. for Wii U has had this year, with some absolutely outstanding performances from players on all ends. The event has gone by in a flash, leaving us all more than a little dazzled, but what’s happened until now seems to be nothing compared to what’s brewing for today’s matches.
Join Smashboards as we discuss why Shine 2016’s Top 8 will leave you stunned!
Winners Bracket:
- Gonzalo “TSM | ZeRo” Barrios: After his 55-tournament win-streak following the release of Smash Wii U, ZeRo was shaping up to be truly invincible. But following a short break due to injury and a series of (comparatively) underwhelming performances, a lot of people have been wondering if the king has perhaps lost his touch -- to which he seems to respond “No, I haven’t!” with an outstanding performance all through his bracket. After beating Mr. E in a nail-bitingly close set, ZeRo seems to have all the momentum he needs to take the tournament. Could this perhaps be the end of the champ’s losing streak and his triumphant return to glory?
- EVB | Dath: There’s a lot to say about Dath and the unbelievable run he’s had so far -- using a very unique style of Robin, a character whom many considered too weak to place solidly in competitive play, he’s managed to defeat such renowned players as Marss, SuperGirlKels and 6WX, solidifying himself as a real threat in this tournament. It remains to be seen whether he can truly stand against the other titans he’s bound to face in Top 8, but given what we’ve seen of him so far, he’s clearly not to be slept on.
- Jason “FOX | Mew2King” Zimmerman: The king is back and looking fiercer than ever. Legendary for his dominance in all Smash games, Mew2King has left little to wish for during Shine 2016, soundly taking Melee and Smash Wii U doubles before beating Larry Lurr with a hard 3-0 to earn his passage into Top 8. Now sitting comfortably in his throne, the only question remaining is whether M2K will be able to seal the deal and take the victory home.
- Eric “PG | ESAM” Lew: Considered by many to be one of the best players in the world and undoubtedly the face for all Pikachu mains in Smash 4, ESAM has unfortunately had some rather inconsistent results as of late, placing 33rd at SmashCon and 25th at EVO. But he seems determined to change that at Shine, giving us what’s perhaps his most impressive performance this year. The fight ahead is looking tough, but ESAM’s Pikachu looks like he might just be able to thunder through.
Losers Bracket:
- Larry “eLv | Larry Lurr” Holland: Following a solid 2nd-place performance at the Rio eGames, Larry Lurr’s Fox aims to take Shine 2016 with devastating combos and a precise punish game. Although he may have been sent to loser’s bracket by Mew2King in a rather disheartening fashion, counting this player out could be a terrible mistake. All he needs is a good string to completely change the course of a match.
- Tyler “Denial | Marss” Martins: It was quite surprising to see one of the best ZSS players in the world sent to loser’s so early, but Marss has proven his will by clawing his way through the bracket all the way to Top 8, taking solid wins all throughout and showing he’s still got plenty of fight left in him. Whether this fight and determination will be enough to allow him to take the win is still left to be seen.
- Wesley “Circa | 6WX” Alexander: One of the best-known Sonic mains in the world and undoubtedly a pioneer with the character, 6WX specializes in finding openings, going into his opponents and not letting them go. His heavily aggressive, rushdown playstyle can no doubt turn the tides of a match in one swift motion, making him very interesting to watch and a nightmare to play against.
- Jacob “Craftis” Barrios: Quite possibly the least-known name in this list, Craftis is a Sonic main from Rhode Island who has managed to get into Top 8 after beating Mr. E, Ling Ling and some other notable players. His fundamental, heavily punish-based playstyle is definitively something to keep an eye on during the bracket, as it can make for some rather unexpected and sudden turnarounds if he manages to get something going. Regardless of whether he takes the tournament, one thing is for sure: Craftis is certainly someone to watch for in the future.
Stay tuned on Smashboards for further coverage of Shine 2016, as well as future events!
