Hungrybox hasn’t exactly had a rough go of it since last year’s EVO, where he took home 2nd place, and gave us some amazing Grand Finals matches against two-time EVO champion, Mango. Fresh off the heels of EVO2014, Hungrybox took 1st place in singles and doubles, with long-time teammate Plup, at Smash the Record just a month after the Las Vegas tournament, 1st in singles at Tipped Off 10, 1st at Fight Pitt 5, and 1st at Forte 2 to end the 2014 year. However he also placed 9th at The Big House 4 after being eliminated by Leffen in winner’s and Lucky in loser’s–his lowest placing since the era of the five gods began.

So when looking at his placings since last year, to count Hbox down and out going into EVO2015 would be extremely foolish. We’ve heard lots of talk that the era of the five gods has come to an end, and with the meteoric rise of Leffen over the first half of this year, it’s hard to deny. While many have been saying that perhaps he may not be taking the game as seriously with a new career on the horizon, Hungrybox still maintains his status as a top 5 player in the world, and the best player for his character. It may be a tough mountain for our favorite puff to hike, but let’s take a look at his 2015 year against his competitors so far, before we hang up the headband once and for all.

Hbox/Armada

Hbox began 2015 with an amazing showing at Paragon, taking home the 1st place prize in both singles and doubles–with partner Plup–and taking down Armada, Leffen, and M2K in the process. Just weeks later, Hungrybox went into Apex2015 with an extremely strong showing at doubles, taking 1st place with M2K, however Armada got his revenge in Loser’s Quarters, and Hbox went home with a 5th place showing at the biggest melee tournament to-date–tying with aMSa, the red Yoshi from Japan. The next major tournament to take place, wouldn’t be until mid-April in Arizona, at MVG Sandstorm, where Hbox was eliminated by Westballz in Winner’s Semis, and Armada took home 1st.

Hbox then went through Press Start and CEO placing 4th and 5th respectively, while still maintaining a respectable doubles showing at both, with a 1st place showing at Press Start with M2K, and a 2nd place showing at CEO with Leffen. However, while Armada was not at Press Start, the two did meet in bracket at CEO, and Hungrybox fell 3 – 0. FC: Return brought the Hbox/Armada sets for 2015 to 2 – 3 overall, but if the two face each other at EVO, it would seem that Hbox has Armada’s number after their most recent set.

Hbox/Mango

This is a storied rivalry dating back to the revival of melee days. Unfortunately for us, as of 2015, these two have only met in bracket twice, with both times resulting in nail biting sets that both fell Mango’s way–Press Start in Loser’s Semis resulting in a 3 – 0 loss, and CEO Loser’s Quarters resulting in a 3 – 1 loss. We’ve seen Hungrybox down against Mango for most of his career, although many Melee fans around the world are hoping to see a Hungrybox/Mango rematch in the grand finals of EVO2015.

Hbox/Leffen

I don’t think it’s fair to call this matchup a rivalry, nor is it storied whatsoever. Since late-2014, Leffen has continued to level up, not only in the actual game, but to fans as well. Whereas a year ago, few Melee enthusiasts would have even cared where Leffen ended up, and many actively rooted against him, now he is not only the favorite to take EVO, but he has avid fans who want him to. Leffen had created a bunch of enemies in the smash scene, but through 2015, it seems that he has instead garnered friendships, teaming with many of the top players at multiple tournaments, included Hbox at CEO where they took home 2nd to Armada&Shroomed.

While Leffen has attended every Melee tournament Hungrybox has competed in this year, save Canada’s Get On My Level, the two have only played in bracket 3 times, once at MVG Sandstorm resulting in a 3 – 1 victory for Hbox, and twice at FC-Returns with both sets resulting in 3 – 1 victories for Leffen. Again, a losing record for Hungrybox for the first half of the year, but to consider his chances against Leffen at EVO completely shot would be a grave mistake.

Other challengers

Unfortunately, M2K will not be attending EVO, and PPMD has not competed in a major tournament since APEX, and Hbox did not meet Dr. Peepee in bracket at that tournament. There are still many opponents not in the top 6 that will stand a challenge for Hungrybox, included Westballz, Axe, Hax, Plup, Lucky, and Shroomed, and all of these players are vying to take the coveted number 5 spot.

The end of 2014 showed Hbox take 1st place at four of the five tournaments he attended, and the 2015 season leading up to EVO has been full of great placings for him as well–two first place showings, and not placing below 5th. While he certainly isn’t the favorite to take home the trophy, he is still a top 5 player in the world, he is still the strongest Jigglypuff main, and he is still hungry for the win.