Final week, we noticed a earlier king topped but once more, a rising star problem the throne, and a few good *ss Tekken. Nevertheless, what appeared like an thrilling week was marred by yet one more reminder that the Smash neighborhood nonetheless has its share of bizarre folks.
Whereas the allegations have been retracted by the event organizers, folks over at Reddit are saying that it’s getting more durable and more durable to defend the Smash scene due to what looks like a endless stream of sexual allegations thrown left and proper.
And in case you’re aware of the preventing recreation scene, you’d see all this and say: Appears like simply one other week within the FGC! Listed below are a number of the highest and lowest moments, from epic tourneys to controversial points.
Georgia Smash Match Organizers Retract Sexual Allegations About L4st
Let’s get the uncomfortable stuff out of the best way. On June fifth, the GeorgiaSmash Twitter account launched a press release concerning Ryan “L4st” Krichbaum. Within the assertion, they retracted their allegations against L4st again in Could.
They talked about {that a} regulation agency contacted them on behalf of L4st, saying that the allegations offered to them have been “largely unsubstantiated and categorically false.”
“Because the publication of our preliminary assertion, Mr. Krichbaum admitted to an incident in 2023 that led to him being uninvited from an occasion. Nevertheless, this current letter states that our ‘reckless publication’ may very well be interpreted to falsely cost Mr. Krichbaum with the fee of against the law and (have been) calculated to injure his popularity in his commerce and occupation throughout the esports and gaming business,” the assertion mentioned.
Folks over on Reddit shared their opinions in regards to the state of affairs, and most of them are saying that L4st basically lawyered up and strong-armed a volunteer group into retracting their assertion, or danger getting sued.
What bothers me right here is the truth that L4st admitted to an incident in 2023. Nevertheless, GeorgiaSmash didn’t point out what sort of incident it was, however the truth that he was uninvited to an occasion due to it speaks volumes concerning its severity.
Earlier than this, L4st had already been privately banned from a number of tournaments in Georgia in 2024, which signifies that the allegations weren’t new. The main points on this case are sparse and can stay so, particularly since attorneys have stepped in.
Actual or not, circumstances like these all the time depart a nasty style within the FGC, particularly because the scene is already getting a variety of consideration from outdoors. I wouldn’t be shocked if sponsors see the scene as problematic and never contact the Smash neighborhood with a 10-foot pole, which may be very unhappy, contemplating that it was the primary preventing recreation I competed in.
MenaRD Lastly Wins a Avenue Fighter 6 Match in His Residence Nation
Saul Leonardo “MenaRD” Mena II, also referred to as “The Bull,” has lastly received a significant Avenue Fighter 6 event in his house nation. Blink Respawn occurred over the weekend, the place international skills resembling Noah “NoahTheProdigy” Solis, Victor “Punk” Woodley, and Michael “Riddles” Kim examined their mettle.
Nevertheless, ultimately, it was MenaRD who rose on high and defeated all of them in entrance of his personal folks.
Blink Respawn has all the time eluded MenaRD because the launch of Avenue Fighter 6. In 2023, he positioned fifth; in 2024, seventh; and in 2025, solely seventeenth. It appeared like a curse had been positioned on him, profitable each single big event resembling Evo 2025, Evo Japan 2025, and Evo Japan 2024, however he simply couldn’t appear to get the title in entrance of his countrymen.
Nevertheless, what occurred on June seventh was one for the books.
The event featured a extremely popular NoahTheProdigy tearing by way of the bracket. He despatched each Punk and MenaRD right down to the loser’s bracket and waited for his challenger within the Grand Ultimate. This meant that MenaRD and Punk needed to combat one another within the loser’s bracket, which gave us a number of the craziest video games of the event.
I additionally assume it’s price noting that there’s just one Japanese participant within the high 8 of this 12 months’s Blink Respawn, in comparison with final 12 months’s 5.
Riddles notably confirmed up and let everybody know that he’s nonetheless him, the Michael Kim, in his match towards Lenny “Crossover” Almanzar, which featured a dash-up OD Rising Deal with to safe the sport. I imply, simply watch this. This man’s constructed completely different.
Ultimately, although, it was MenaRD within the finals towards NoahTheProdigy. Regardless of defeating MenaRD earlier within the bracket, some changes from MenaRD made it look like NoahTheProdigy had misplaced the combat towards him. MenaRD ended the event rapidly with a 3-1 bracket reset and one other 3-1 to shut it out, lastly being topped the victor in his nation. With this win, MenaRD lastly qualifies for the Capcom Cup 13.
MenaRD may be very scorching proper now. If he retains his streak going, there’s little doubt that it’s his time to say the Capcom Cup, a event he already received twice. Funnily sufficient, the final time he received the event was again in 2023, when it wasn’t the million-dollar occasion with atrocious prize distribution that it’s proper now.
Mangja Lastly Wins First Tekken 8 Main Match
Over to Tekken 8, Park “Mangja” Geon-ho lastly reveals us what good *ss Tekken actually is. Whereas Blink Respawn was occurring within the Dominican Republic, SOOP Tremendous Match 2026 was occurring in Korea, on the opposite aspect of the globe. There, a 232-man Tekken 8 event occurred, and Mangja reigned over all of them.
Mangja’s information have all the time been stable. Second on the Tekken World Tour Finals 2025, ninth at Evo Japan 2026, and third at Combo Breaker 2026. It all the time appeared like he was the bridesmaid however by no means the bride. Nevertheless, all of that modified after profitable fairly presumably one of many hardest Tekken 8 tournaments up to now.
Simply to provide somewhat context, attendees embody Evo Japan 2026 champion Kim “iKARi” Min-kyu, Tekken legend Bae “Knee” Jae-Min, and Tekken World Tour Finals 2025 champion Yoon “LowHigh” Solar-woong. That’s the extent of competitors he’s going through. So, who met him within the Grand Finals? None aside from one other participant who’s struggling the identical destiny as him: Takaba Keisuke.
Keisuke has been competing since 2013 and has delivered nice outcomes. Second in DreamHack Atlanta 2026, second in CEO 2024, and seventh in Battle Area Melbourne 15. Once more, similar to Mangja, he has but to get his maiden Tier 1 win in Tekken 8.
The finals between Keisuke and Mangja have reached the utmost of 10 video games. A 3-2 Grand Finals reset allowed Keisuke to have an actual likelihood of taking the trophy away. Nevertheless, within the closing spherical of the closing recreation, Mangja performed way more solidly than him, which led to his loss.
As a Keisuke fan, that is heartbreaking, as a single combo starter might’ve been him elevating the trophy. Nevertheless, I can also’t get mad at Mangja as a result of that is his maiden Tier 1 win in Tekken 8 after all the time getting second.
Finally, I feel the viewers are the true champions on this event. All all through the occasion, superb Tekken was proven. Glimpses of punishes, impartial, and motion have been seen throughout matches, which pleases my Tekken coronary heart.
Lastly, some good *ss Tekken.
Moky Refuses Handshake from Hungrybox
Now again to Smash! However Tremendous Smash Bros. Melee, , the unproblematic one. Whereas all of those tournaments are occurring, Battle of BC 8 was additionally in progress. Kurtis “moky” Pratt has been a high participant in Melee for fairly a while now, and naturally, in case you’ve reached that degree of play, you’re going to run into the one remaining lively God of Melee: Juan “Hungrybox” Debiedma.
In the event you’ve been within the scene lengthy sufficient, you know the way Hungrybox performs. Sluggish and methodical. Some folks say lame, however hey, that’s their opinion. Anyway, a match between Moky and Hungrybox occurred over at Battle of BC 8, the place Hungrybox received 3-1. So, like every other competitor, Hungrybox supplied a handshake after the set, however Moky denied it, insisting for a fistbump as a substitute.
This shouldn’t be an enormous downside; these are the frequent methods of displaying sportsmanship earlier than and after the set, in spite of everything. Nevertheless, Moki posted one thing on Twitter shortly after.
Within the tweet, he talked about that he “misplaced within the lamest methods doable” and “the audacity to go for the handshake is insane there although.” He completed the tweet by saying that he has no respect for folks taking part in “like that.”
I understand how he feels. It’s all the time irritating to get “lamed out” and lose to zoners or very defensive gamers. The FGC additionally prides itself on being raw and unfiltered at times, so displaying your frustration in occasions like that shouldn’t be an enormous deal. Gamers are folks too, and there can be occasions when issues don’t go their means.
Let’s simply be grateful that Hungrybox didn’t win the event, or his pop-off may’ve spelled the tip of the universe.
