Day 67/1000 Player: Mot$ Mains: Fox / Sheik Region: New Jersey Years Active: 2017– Peak Global Rank: 63rd, 2025 Best Wins: Bbatts, Jflex, Daytripper Summary Mot$ is a New Jersey Melee player who primarily competes with Fox and Sheik. He is known for a technical, matchup-focused style that combines Fox’s speed and punish game with Sheik’s edgeguarding, reaction tech chases, and strong positional pressure. His notable victories include wins over Bbatts, Jflex, and Daytripper. Mot$ has also built a strong record at regional and national events. He finished second at No Jawns 4 in 2024 and won Fireside Open 2025, while continuing to place consistently at major New Jersey tournaments. His recent results and repeated success against established regional players helped him earn a career-best 63rd-place global ranking in 2025, establishing him as one of the strongest active competitors in the New Jersey scene.

Day 66/1000 Player: Setchi Mains: Captain Falcon / Marth Region: Wales, UK Years active: 2016– Peak Global Rank: 42nd, 2019 Best Wins: Trif, Professor Pro, Frenzy, FatGoku, Overtriforce Summary: Setchi is one of the greatest Captain Falcon players in European Melee history and arguably Wales’ strongest competitor. Known for his relentless reaction tech chasing and extensive lab work, he earned comparisons to Wizzrobe early in his career. But Setchi developed his own identity by pushing Falcon’s defensive options, discovering new ways to escape combos and situations that many players previously considered unavoidable. His contributions helped advance the character’s metagame well beyond Europe. His breakout international season came in 2019, when he reached 42nd in the world, the highest global ranking achieved by a European Captain Falcon player. That year included a 2nd-place finish at Fête and 3rd at DreamHack Rotterdam. His long-running rivalry with Frenzy became a highlight of the UK scene, while victories over Trif and Professor Pro established him as a legitimate international threat. Setchi’s legacy goes beyond his rankings, representing the rare competitor whose innovations changed how an entire character could be played.

Day 65/1000 Player: Darktooth Mains: Fox Region: NY Years active: 2013–19, 2022 Peak Global Rank: 59th, 2018 Best Wins: KJH, ChuDat, Amsah, Hax$, Junebug Summary: Darktooth was one of Long Island’s strongest Fox players and a standout competitor during Tri-State’s competitive resurgence. He dominated his local scene, reaching 1st on the Long Island Power Rankings and 5th in New York City. His consistency earned him consecutive global rankings in 2017 and 2018, peaking at 59th in the world, with notable wins over KJH, ChuDat, Amsah, and Hax$. But Darktooth’s legacy extends beyond tournament results. He is credited with discovering and naming “shine mines,” a technical interaction involving Fox and Falco’s reflector that expanded the community’s understanding of the game’s mechanics. Outside competition, Darktooth pursued a career as a music teacher, announcing his retirement in 2019. His combination of technical innovation, regional dominance, and competitive success made him one of Long Island’s defining Melee players.

Day 64/1000 Player: Trif / Trifasia Mains: Peach / Marth Region: Spain Years active: 2014– Peak Global Rank: 11th, 2024 & 2025 Best Wins: Mew2King, aMSa, Leffen, Mang0 Summary: Trif is Spain’s greatest Melee player and one of the most accomplished Peach mains since Armada’s retirement. Beginning his international career with a 9th-place finish at B.E.A.S.T 4 in 2014, he quickly established himself among Europe’s elite. His breakout 2019 season included victories over Mew2King and aMSa, earning him 16th in the world and proving Peach could still compete at the highest level without Armada. Trif’s greatest achievement came at GENESIS X2 in 2025, where he reached grand finals and finished 2nd out of more than 1,000 competitors. It was the first major grand finals appearance by a Peach player since Armada in 2018. With consecutive 11th-place global rankings in 2024 and 2025, Trif has become a defining figure for European Melee and one of the players keeping Peach’s championship legacy alive.

Day 63/1000 Player: TheSWOOPER Mains: Samus Region: NJ / Dominican Republic Years active: 2016–24 Peak Global Rank: 33rd, 2022 Best Wins: Cody Schwab, SluG, SFAT, Aklo, Hax$ Summary: TheSWOOOPER, Originally from the Dominican Republic and competing out of New Jersey, he helped revive Samus’s presence at the highest level following Duck’s departure from the character. His aggressive punish game and creative combo routes made him a standout among Samus specialists, culminating in a career-best 33rd in the world in 2022. His defining performances came in 2022, including a 9th-place finish at Pound and a remarkable tournament run at The Nightclub VIP, where he defeated both Cody Schwab and SluG. Those victories demonstrated that Samus could still challenge the game’s elite during an era increasingly dominated by top-tier characters. Alongside Morsecode762, TheSWOOPER helped usher in a new generation of Samus players and proved the character still had plenty of untapped potential.

Day 62/1000 Player: SFOP Mains: Fox Region: TX Years active: 2015–25 Peak Global Rank: 26th, 2022 Best Wins: Mew2King, KoDoRiN, S2J, SFAT, Joshman Summary: SFOP was one of Texas’s premier Fox players and a standout competitor during Melee’s post-Slippi era. Known for his incredibly technical Fox and consistent execution, he emerged as a national threat in 2022, earning his first global ranking at 26th in the world. His breakout season featured victories over KoDoRiN, Joshman, Krudo, and SFAT, establishing him as one of the strongest new Fox players in the country. SFOP followed his breakout with consecutive top-35 global rankings in 2023 and 2024, proving his success was no fluke. Competing out of Dallas, he helped maintain Texas’s reputation as one of Melee’s strongest regions while building an impressive résumé against established veterans and rising stars alike. His retirement in July 2025 closed the book on a bright career that checked every box any competitor would kill to have.

Day 61/1000 Player: Laudandus Mains: Sheik Region: NorCal / PA Years active: 2011, 2013–20, 2023 Peak Global Rank: 33rd, 2016 Best Wins: S2J, Westballz, Swedish Delight, n0ne, PewPewU Summary: Laudandus was one of NorCal’s strongest Sheik players during Melee’s mid-2010s resurgence. Originally from Pittsburgh, he made his first major statement by winning the inaugural NorCal Arcadian in 2014. He followed that breakthrough with four consecutive global rankings, peaking at 33rd in 2016 and establishing himself as a consistent threat against the game’s elite. His defining performance came at Pound 2016, where he placed 5th after a remarkable losers-bracket run featuring victories over Ryan Ford, Westballz, Nintendude, and S2J. He followed that success with 7th at DreamHack Austin 2017, proving Pound was no fluke. Laudandus helped cement NorCal’s reputation as one of Melee’s deepest regions, standing out as a Sheik specialist in an era dominated by Fox and Falco.

Day 60/1000 Player: Trulliam Mains: Falco / Fox Region: Ontario, Canada Years active: 2014–19 Peak Global Rank: 63rd, 2017 Best Wins: Ryan Ford, KJH, Ginger, moky, Legend Summary: Trulliam emerged as one of Southern Ontario’s leading Falco players during the late 2010s, steadily establishing himself in one of Melee’s most competitive regions. His consistency earned him three consecutive global rankings from 2016 through 2018, including a peak of 63rd in 2017, while he climbed as high as 3rd on the Southern Ontario Power Rankings. He reached the height of his career in 2018, winning The Ryegional with double victories over Ryan Ford and moky. He followed that run with wins over KJH and Ginger at Saints Gaming Live before placing 7th at DreamHack Montreal, which he had announced would be his final tournament. Though his career was relatively brief, Trulliam played a defining role in the heart of melee Falcos golden era.

Day 59/1000 Player: JOJI / MilkMan Mains: Fox Region: VA Years active: 2014 Peak Global Rank: 67th, 2023 Best Wins: Chudat, JuneBug, Polish Summary: JOJI, FKA MilkMan, is one of Virginia’s longest-standing Fox players and a veteran of multiple eras of competitive Melee. Originally from Sacramento, he became a fixture of the MDVA scene, competing nationally while building a reputation as one of the region’s strongest players. His longevity is remarkable, stretching from the early days of competitive Melee through the modern Slippi era. JOJI’s career has been defined by regional consistency and a willingness to keep competing as the game evolves. He reached 3rd on the MDVA rankings in 2020 and climbed to 2nd in 2022, behind only Zain. His 67th-place global ranking in 2023 marked another milestone in a career spanning well over a decade. Through multiple tags and generations of competition, JOJI has remained one of Virginia’s most enduring Fox representatives.

Day 58/1000 Player: Jman Mains: Fox Region: Tri-State Years active: 2007–14 Peak Global Rank: 6th, 2010 (RetroSSBMRank) Best Wins: Mew2King, Mang0, PPMD, KoreanDJ, Zhu Summary: Jman was a leading Fox player during Melee’s early competitive era, active from 2007 until his retirement in 2014. he developed into one of the first Fox specialists capable of consistently challenging the game’s strongest competitors. His defining achievement came at Apex 2009, where he defeated Mew2King twice to win the tournament. Jman remained a major presence through the early 2010s, placing 5th at Pound 4, 7th at Apex 2010, and winning Don’t Go Down There Jeff over Mang0, Zhu, and Lucky. Beyond his results, his aggressive punish game and signature Jman Shine helped establish Fox’s early metagame and demonstrated the character’s ability to contest even the era’s most dominant. When discussing vintage players that could still play today JMan is one of the first names that should be said.

Day 57/1000 Player: ESAM Mains: Samus Region: FL Years active: 2005– Peak Global Rank: 68th 2016 Best Wins: WestBallz, Wobbles, The Moon, DizzKidBoogie Summary: ESAM is one of the most recognizable crossover competitors in Smash history, building his early competitive roots in Melee before becoming one of the world’s premier Pikachu players in later Smash titles. His Samus was part of Florida’s early competitive scene, where he developed the fundamentals and matchup knowledge that would eventually carry him to international success. Although ESAM’s greatest tournament achievements came outside Melee, his history with the game connects two generations of competitive Smash. He went from playing Samus in Melee to becoming a defining Pikachu specialist in Brawl, Smash 4, and Ultimate, making him a rare example of a player whose competitive career spans multiple eras of the franchise with pinnacle success every step of the way.

Day 56/1000 Player: Spud Mains: Marth Region: New Zealand / Australia Years active: 2014–22 Peak Global Rank: 38th, 2019 Best Wins: n0ne, moky, Professor Pro, SFAT, Hax$ Summary: Spud is one of Oceania’s most influential Melee players and arguably New Zealand’s greatest competitor. After moving to Australia, he dominated the regional scene with multiple Battle Arena Melbourne titles before breaking through internationally. In 2018, he became the first player from Australia or New Zealand to earn a global ranking. His international highlights included winning Bridgetown Hyper Blitz over n0ne, moky, and Professor Pro, then placing fifth at Don’t Park on the Grass 2018 with wins over SFAT, Hax$, and Kalamazhu. Spud peaked at 38th in the world in 2019 and earned an invitation to Smash Summit 8, helping establish Oceania as a serious force in global Melee.

Day 55/1000 Player: Cruz / OkayP. Mains: Pikachu / Fox Region: UT Years active: 2017– Peak Global Rank: 37th, 2025 Best Wins: Joshman, Axe, n0ne, L, Army Summary: Cruz is Melee’s strongest new Pikachu player and Utah’s top competitor. After years of local success, he broke onto the national stage with a career-defining 3rd-place finish at Smash Camp 2025. His run included a win over Axe, Pikachu’s most influential player, before he fell to Joshman in losers finals. That performance earned Cruz his first global ranking: 37th in the world in 2025. In a character history shaped by Axe, Cruz has become one of the few Pikachu players able to challenge elite competition. His Smash Camp run marked a new chapter for Pikachu and established Utah as home to one of Melee’s most exciting rising talents.

Day 54/1000 Player: Santi Mains: Falco / Sheik Region: SoCal Years active: 2013– Peak Global Rank: 32nd, 2019 Best Wins: Shroomed, Captain Faceroll, Westballz, Lucky, HugS Summary: Santi, also known as Santiago, was one of Southern California’s strongest Falco players during the late 2010s. Competing in one of Melee’s most competitive regions, he established himself as a dangerous national-level threat with wins over Shroomed, Captain Faceroll, Westballz, and Lucky. His career peaked at 32nd in the world in 2019, following consecutive top-50 finishes in 2017 and 2018. Santi’s legacy is tied to Southern California’s deep pool of talented Falco players. In a region that produced legends like Mang0 and Westballz, Santi carved out his own place through consistent performances and an ability to challenge established names. His rise into the world’s top 32 helped carry SoCal’s Falco tradition into another generation.

Day 53/1000 Player: Taj Mains: Mewtwo / Marth Region: AZ Years active: 2006–07, 2009–18, 2023 Peak Global Rank: 24th, 2013 Best Wins: Mang0, PPMD, Hax$, Ken, Colbol Summary: Taj is the greatest Mewtwo player in Melee history and one of Arizona’s most legendary competitors. His iconic Shadowclaw combo videos helped introduce an entire generation to Mewtwo’s creative potential, showcasing movement and combos few believed the character was capable of. His 17th-place finish at Apex 2010 with solo Mewtwo remains the gold standard of Mewtwo performances. But Taj’s greatest moment came with Marth at GENESIS 2 in 2011. Entering as a massive underdog, he defeated PPMD, Hax$, and Mang0 on his way to 3rd place, becoming the first player outside the Five Gods to defeat multiple Gods at a major. More than a decade later, Taj returned at GENESIS 9 and finished 33rd using only Mewtwo, proving that one of Melee’s most beloved low-tier specialists still had plenty of magic left.

Day 52/1000 Player: Daytripper / Kevin Maples Mains: Fox Region: VA Years active: 2017– Peak Global Rank: 33rd, 2025 Best Wins: RapMonster, Spark, SFAT, Junebug Summary: Daytripper, FKA Kevin Maples, has been a staple of MDVA Melee for nearly a decade. After first breaking into the global rankings at 64th in 2019, his career has been a steady climb, eventually reaching a career-best 33rd in 2025. That season included major wins over Spark, SFAT, and Junebug, and top 24 finishes at every event they have attended this year. My favorite fact is that Daytripper has repeatedly found success against RapMonster, one of melees fastest rising stars ever, over the course of his career. turning their sets into a showcase of DTs Fox’s adaptability and punish game in ways not even the greatest foxes in the world have been able to capture. Their history highlights Daytripper’s ability to prepare for and overcome a difficult opponent, making RapMonster one of the most notable and frequent names on his résumé. And in our opinion one of the best “unknown” rivalries in modern melee.

Day 51/1000 Player: Lunar Dusk Mains: Ice Climbers / Jigglypuff Region: Québec, Canada Years active: 2016– Peak Global Rank: 48th, 2022 Best Wins: Joshman, Rishi, moky, KJH, Magi Summary: Lunar Dusk is one of Canada’s premier Ice Climbers players, using the character as a powerful top counterpick against elite competition. His matchup-specific approach helped him reach 48th in the world in 2022 and 59th in 2023. He has scored notable wins over Joshman, Rishi, moky, KJH, and Magi, establishing himself as a threat even against prepared opponents. Often saving his best performances for home soil, GOML being an event series that Lunar has outplaced his seeding 5 times most notably its 2026 edition with a 9th place finish.

Day 50/1000 Player: Jada Mains: Sheik / Zelda Region: PA Years active: 2015– Peak Global Rank: NR Best Wins: Polish, Khryke, BBatts Summary: Jada, also known as “The Beetle King,” is a longtime Pennsylvania Sheik player who has been a fixture of the Pittsburgh scene for more than a decade. Their rise included reaching 9th on the Pittsburgh Melee Power Rankings in 2019 before eventually climbing to 2nd in the region. Jada has also built a strong doubles legacy, most notably teaming with Khryke and becoming a consistent threat at regional events. Jada has had some impressive singles performances as well. With a 5 set loser run at SuperNova 2026 with three seeding upsets on that path. This Sheik continues a great legacy of PA players and is expected great things next season.

Day 49/1000 Player: Gravy Mains: Captain Falcon / Fox Region: FL Years active: 2012–18 Peak Global Rank: 41st, 2016 Best Wins: Axe, DruggedFox, KoreanDJ, Ken Summary: Gravy was one of Florida’s most important Captain Falcon players and a pioneer of the 20GX movement alongside Wizzrobe and Gahtzu. They pushed Falcon’s technical limits by studying movement, frame data, tech chasing, and punish-game theory. As Fox’s global dominance grew, these three Falcons became a North Star for players who chose the righteous path. Gravy reached 41st in the world in 2016 and climbed as high as 4th in Central Florida, earning notable victories over Axe, DruggedFox, KoreanDJ, and Ken. Their best tournament placements included 5th at CEO 2016, 7th at DreamHack Atlanta 2017, and 9th at The Big House 6. Although Gravy eventually added Fox to their arsenal, their time and effort advancing the 20GX movement will never be forgotten.

Player: Ryan Ford Mains: Fox / Sheik Region: Ontario, Canada Years active: 2008–19 Peak Global Rank: 15th, 2013 Best Wins: Plup, Axe, The Moon, Ice Summary: Ryan Ford is one of Canada’s most accomplished Fox players and a defining figure in the rise of Southern Ontario’s Melee scene. He reached 15th in the world in 2013 and remained internationally ranked years later, placing 31st in 2018. His sustained success helped give Canada a consistent presence between the years of early KirbyKaze to modern Moky. Ford’s standout 2017 season included top-10 wins over Plup and Axe, seventh place at DreamHack Atlanta, and second place in doubles with Colbol. Those results, combined with his longevity and regional influence, made Ford a Mount Rushmore Canadian player.