Announced in January of this year, the R.I.P. (Regional Improvement Plan) circuit was created by Big Blue eSports in order to facilitate more competition throughout New England Melee community. The circuit incentivized attending events by offering points for those who placed well at the events; the sixteen players with the most points then qualify for the Invitational in early June. Thanks to the meticulous tracking of Big Blue eSports’ head TO Coldo over 50 tournaments from January 30th to May 14th were cataloged in a beautiful spreadsheet.

The stage is now set for those sixteen players to compete against one other in West Dennis, Cape Cod, Massachusetts this weekend, June 4-5. With some of the most notable players in the region qualifying, as well as several up-and-coming players, it’s only fitting to see the players fighting not only for pride but also for the Invitational’s grand prizes. 1st & 2nd place both get a flight to Vegas for EVO 2016 and space in the Big Blue EVO Suite, with 1st getting an extra $400 on top of that. 3rd place gets $100.

The pools and commentators are as follows:

THE TOP CONTENDERS

Slox – Connecticut – 1268.8 Points, 19 Events – Main(s): Fox, Falcon, Sheik, Marth

Anthony “Slox” Detres has cemented himself as a top player in New England over the past couple of years. He has positive records against not only all the players he’s faced in the Invitational but nearly the entire region as a whole. His national placings within the past year have been solid as well, and he’s defeated players such as Duck, The Moon, Mike Haze, DJ Nintendo, and KJH in the past year. When taking into consideration how solid of a player he is, it’s no surprise he’s considered a favorite for winning the Invitational.

Slox utilizes many characters, as his Fox, Captain Falcon, Sheik, and Marth have all done very well against high caliber players in the past. He’s achieved the most success with his Fox and Captain Falcon, however, and it’s likely that he’ll use those characters against his toughest opponents this weekend. He does experiment frequently at locals when it comes to deciding which character will bring him the most success, so don’t be surprised if he pulls out a secret counterpick.

It’s hard to say who, among the other top players in New England, has given Slox a challenge. Players such as Swift, Zoso, and Mafia have taken sets off Slox and given him trouble in the past, but for the most part Slox has come out on top.  That’s not to say they can’t beat him again this weekend; Slox is certainly on the top of a lot of the players attending the Invitational’s hitlists, and with good reason. Defeating him at this tournament would be quite a statement, especially going into the Summer of Smash.

Slox enters the Invitational as the man to beat. Though it’s not an impossible task, especially given the caliber of some of the players he’ll have to play this weekend, it will certainly be difficult. Expect to see Slox to be one of the top placing players this weekend, if not the winner outright.

Crush – Massachusetts – 1302.4 Points, 14 Events – Main: Fox

Jack “Crush” Hoyt has dominated his home state of Massachusetts in 2016. With several New Game Plus (Boston local) wins and various local tournaments to his name, it’s hard to say he’s not the best player in the state going into the Invitational.  Whether or not he can take the whole thing, however, depends on how well he does against the players who have given him trouble in the past.

Crush has had incredibly solid national performances as of late, earning 13^th at DreamHack Austin, 25^th at Pound 2016, and 7^th at Super Nebulous 4. Defeating players like Ken, Redd, The Moon, and CIZ at these tournaments along the way shows that Crush is certainly someone to fear on a national level. His local results are very solid, with a 5^th place at Mega Mass Madness in May as the only outlier in a sea of top placings for the Fox player.

While Crush has done very well against players like Swift, Mafia, and Infinite Numbers in the past, Zoso and Slox in particular have given him quite a bit of trouble. Crush defeating either one of them, if not both, this weekend would be a statement win and would show that he can overcome his demons.

If Crush’s execution is on point, he’s proven that he can take any top New England player to the brink, if not outright defeat them. He’s been on the rise for a long time and Crush winning the Invitational would prove he’s one of the most dominant players in the region.

Zoso – Connecticut – 1009.6 Points, 17 Events – Main(s): Marth, Sheik

David “Zoso” Hughes hasn’t entered as many nationals as some of the other top New England players lately, but his performances in New England events show he’s still someone to fear. One of the veteran Marth players in the region, Zoso is perhaps best known for his utter domination of the Game Over series which preceded New Game Plus, winning nearly every Game Over he attended by the time the series concluded.

Zoso has shown time and time again that he can defeat New England’s best, even defeating Slox at a Hall of Gaming with his secondary character, Sheik, a few weeks ago. He’s long been the demon of Crush and Mafia, having defeated them in the majority of their encounters. With Mafia earning more set wins on him this year, as well as Crush’s continued growth, Zoso may not be able to dominate them as he has in the past.

Known to become frustrated with himself for unsatisfying performances in the past, it’s key that Zoso stays calm and focused if he wants to win the trip to EVO this weekend. He’s proven in the past that his Marth play is calculated and powerful; it’s just a matter of if he can keep himself in check and play to the best of his ability.

Mafia – Massachusetts – 3208 Points, 44 Events – Main: Peach

Having long been considered the best Peach in New England, James “Mafia” Lauerman enters this weekend hungrier than ever. Struggling recently to defeat Crush in a set, he’ll certainly be looking to do it this weekend, as well as defeating the rest of the competition.

Mafia’s national results are also solid, with a placing of 33^rd at Pound 6 and 65^th at Genesis 3 and beating players like ycz6 and The Moon in the process. He has plenty of local wins to his belt as well, having accumulated the most points out of any of the sixteen players qualified for this event. Mafia is a very experienced player, and this will certainly be an asset to him this weekend.

Though Mafia’s struggle with Crush has been present in the past few months, Mafia has shown he can beat Zoso, a player who’s given him quite a bit of trouble the past couple of years, and take Slox to game 5. This shows that Mafia can still be a top contender for winning the event, though he’ll have to finally defeat Crush again to make it there.

If Mafia can adapt to the stronger Fox players at the tournament and play at his best, expect to see him do very well at this tournament. His long-time standing as one of the best players in Massachusetts is there for a reason and he’s one of the hungriest players in New England when it comes to not only improving but also winning.

Infinite Numbers – New Hampshire – 1796.8 Points, 34 Events – Main: Ice Climbers

Having only played Ice Climbers since the end of last summer, Jason “Infinite Numbers” Gauthier has climbed his way to the top of New England and has become the best player in New Hampshire. With wins on nearly every top player in the region and fantastic local performances, Numbers is expected to do quite well this weekend.

His only national performance is the best of any player attending the New England Invitational and also the placing that got his name on the map: his 9^th place at Pound 6. Defeating DJ Nintendo, Alex19, Mike Haze, and MacD on his way, Numbers showed that the prowess he displays at New England tournaments extends to a national level and established how terrifying the Ice Climbers can be to play against.

Numbers has struggled to consistently beat Mafia, which is proof of the Ice Climbers difficulty in facing against Peach. Though his Marth and Fox have been able to take sets, they haven’t been able to do so enough to sway the set count into Numbers’ favor just yet. Despite this, Numbers has taken sets off of nearly every player in the region, with the exception of Slox who defeated Numbers in their only set so far using Samus.

If Numbers is able to defeat Mafia’s formidable Peach at the Invitational, he will not only defeat one of his demons but open the gateway to him potentially taking the entire event. With so many tough and experienced players attending, the relative newcomer to the top level may have difficulty in doing so but it’s certainly not out of his reach. Should Numbers be on point and defeat the characters that give his Climbers so much trouble, he could get a second shot at the national level at Evolution and show his Ice Climbers are to be feared.

THE HEAVY HITTERS

Swift – Connecticut – 1153.6 Points, 24 Events – Main(s): Marth, Fox

Tim “Swift” Tilley is a veteran of not only the New England scene but of Melee in general. He’s no stranger to competition, and for a long time was considered the best player in the region. Swift is best known for defeating Westballz at Evolution 2014, as well as having very solid placements throughout the years. Before the rise of players like Crush and Slox, Swift was the player pumping out good results for New England.

With less stellar national results in 2016, including an uncharacteristically weak placing at Pound 6, Swift is definitely looking to return to his glory at the Invitational. His best New England tournament during the duration of the circuit happened to be the last event: Mega Mass Madness. Despite being double eliminated by Infinite Numbers, a player Swift has really struggled to defeat this year, Swift was able to beat Captain Crunch, th0rn, Crush, and Mafia to place 3^rd at the tournament.

If Swift can defeat Numbers, as well as fellow Connecticut heavyweight Slox, he could make quite a run this weekend. He’s shown that his Marth has what it takes, and his legendary Fox has proven time and time again that it can hang with the best. Depending on how well he plays this weekend, Swift could reclaim his past glory and show he’s not only a phenomenal player but also a top player as well.

MattDotZeb – Massachusetts – 731.2 Points, 14 Events – Main: Falco

Matthew “MattDotZeb” Zaborowski has been a prominent figure in the Massachusetts community for years in multiple facets. As the creator of The Melee Games, a tournament organizer, a founder of Big Blue eSports, and also a top Falco player in the region, MattDotZeb has always been active in the community. This activity, however, has made it hard for him to be as consistent as he’d like.

MattDotZeb has had solid national performances over the years, though he’s also had his fair share of disappointments. At his peak, he’s proven he can defeat players like Leffen and Ryan Ford, but his lows have shown him lose to rather unproven players. Throughout the duration of the circuit, Matt showed solid gameplay but also some slumps, though by the end of the circuit he gave some good performances and showed that he’s still just as explosive as ever.

MattDotZeb is absolutely a threat to anyone attending the Invitational. If he plays at his peak, it’s not out of his reach to defeat any of the top contenders. It’s just a matter of if he can keep himself in check; if he does, expect him to show why his volatile Falco is so notable and dangerous.

Klap$ – Massachusetts – 937.6 Points, 15 Events – Main: Captain Falcon

Having only started competing in the past two years, Pedro “Klap$” Otero has proven his Falcon is second only to Slox’s in New England. He was one of the best players on UMass Boston’s fabled TMG team, and he has won tournaments over some of the biggest threats in New England.

His consistency has been infrequent in the past couple months, with a 17^th place at a recent New Game Plus. With the Invitational looming, Klap$ has been starting to turn it up again, with a 2^nd place finish at the last New Game Plus. His Captain Falcon has only grown stronger in recent months, which is a testament to Klap$’ skill as he doesn’t get to travel too often.

For Klap$, it’s a matter of stepping up to the plate. His Falcon has the potential to make it far into the bracket of this event, but it depends on if Klap$ plays his game and can hang with the big dogs. Should he do so, he will prove that he is not to be slept on and he’ll finally have another chance at traveling with the trip to EVO 2016 provided.

Squible – Massachusetts – 830.4 Points, 21 Events – Main: Fox

Once Boston’s premier Jigglypuff, Theo “Squible” Landegger has since become one of the best Fox players in Massachusetts. Always a tough opponent in his Puff days, he has continued this trend as a Fox player and it has paid off for him. The transition was gradual, but now Squible has proven the switch was a good idea.

Squible’s Fox isn’t on the level of fellow Massachusetts Fox Crush, but it’s solid nonetheless. He has multiple set wins over Mafia and he’s shown that he can place well even amongst his more experienced peers. Whether or not his Fox can beat even more of the top competition, however, is something that will certainly be tested this weekend.

Squible, much like Klap$, has been an up-and-comer for the past couple years. It’s an event like the Invitational that will prove if he can ascend to the level of some of New England’s top players and show that his Fox is one of the best New England has to offer.

Captain Crunch – Maine – 848.8 Points, 24 Events – Main: Fox

The sole representative of Maine, Luis “Captain Crunch” is one of the newer top players in New England. A veteran of Central Florida, as well as a good friend of Hungrybox, Crunch is a solid Fox himself and has traveled considerably since arriving to New England.

Without fellow Maine player th0rn, a veteran Falco player, in the Invitational it’s up to Crunch to represent Maine. Crunch has shown that his Fox is solid but hasn’t been able to cement himself as a threat as well as other players in the region. At this event, however, that could very well change.

Crunch has shown a drive that most players can’t rival. He’s shown that he’s eager to improve and that he’s studied players in New England, in particular Infinite Numbers and Mafia. If Crunch has prepared well for his other opponents, which he almost certainly has, then he’ll surely be able to deal with them using his proficient Fox. Perhaps Crunch can even make a big run at the event, though it won’t be easy for him.

THE DARK HORSES

Sora – Massachusetts – 912 Points, 20 Events – Main(s): Marth, Fox

Sokcorey “Sora” Chan has been a strong player for a long time, his Marth being one of the best in Massachusetts. With set wins on players like MattDotZeb and Crush in the past, Sora has beaten some of the best players his state has to offer. With less consistent placings in recent history, however, it’s going to take Sora work to recreate some of those wins.

Sora has also dabbled with Fox and Captain Falcon in the past, though his Marth has brought him the most success throughout the years. It will be interesting to see if Sora utilizes any of his other characters during this event, potentially to throw his opponent off. More likely than not, however, Sora will rely on his solid Marth gameplay to help him get some big wins.

Sora has the potential to beat some of the best players New England has to offer; it’s just a matter of if he taps into that potential during the event. If he does, Sora can potentially slice through the competition and make a statement at the Invitational that his Marth has what it takes.

Mr. Lemon – Massachusetts – 1001.6 Points, 46 Events – Main: Dr. Mario

The best Dr. Mario in New England, Nick “Mr. Lemon” Federico is one of the most dedicated players in the region. Having attending 46 tournaments in 15 weeks, Mr. Lemon has constantly worked on his Dr. Mario and proved his worth. Lemon has beaten quite a few good players, yet has losing records against the majority of the top players in Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

With the only real results for Dr. Mario in the region, Lemon has a hard time holding up against some of the players in the top echelon of New England. Infinite Numbers and Mafia are Mr. Lemon’s demons in particular, though he has beaten both of them in the past so it’s certainly possible for him. With a character that generally has difficulty against a lot of the characters players in the Invitational will be using, the odds are somewhat stacked against Lemon.

Mr. Lemon has proven that he is not to be slept on, however, so it’s to be expected that he’ll put on a good show. If he gets going, he may be able to put on a clinic against even the best players New England has to offer. He just has to stick to his guns and play his best; his experience and smart gameplay will definitely be to his advantage.

Dudutsai – Massachusetts – 835.2 Points, 22 Events – Main: Jigglypuff

New England’s most prominent Jigglypuff, Andrew “Dudutsai” Tsai has been around for quite some time. Well traveled and a regular attendee at New Game Plus, Dudutsai is the only player in New England still pumping out results for Jigglypuff. Though it can be hard, especially with so many tough Fox players suddenly popping up in New England, Dudutsai tends to place well at most tournaments he attends, though he is no stranger to being upset.

What makes things especially difficult for Dudutsai going into the Invitational is the presence of so many strong Fox players, as well as Marths and Captain Falcons who know how to deal with Jigglypuff. Dudutsai is no slouch, but it certainly won’t be easy for him when it comes to come on top against these characters.

If Dudutsai can make it past the gauntlet of players who endanger his Puff, he will prove that his Jigglypuff can hang with the best. It won’t be an easy task for him, but with the experience he has, it isn’t out of reach for him. Whatever the case, Dudutsai surely won’t let anyone sleep on him this weekend.

THE UNDERDOGS

Joyboy – Rhode Island – 778.4 Points, 21 Events – Main: Falco

Rhodes “Joyboy” Sabangan is the Rhode Island representative for the New England Invitational. Recently starting to attend more events, Joyboy’s Falco has made a decent bit of noise as his placings are starting to become solid. With how recently he’s started frequently attending tournaments, he has some losses that hold him back from being viewed as a top player.

When Joyboy is on point, however, his Falco has looked incredibly solid. He has set wins on power ranked players throughout New England and it makes sense when you see his gameplay. If he can adapt to the more experienced players, as well as work on his consistency, Joyboy could make even more noise at the Invitational and take some names.

S2B – Connecticut – 647.2 Points, 23 Events – Main: Ice Climbers

Having recently graduated college, Keith “S2B” Robichaud is one of the best Ice Climbers Connecticut has to offer. With set wins on players like Shminkledorf and DOOM back home, he’s shown that his Climbers can hang with some of the best. With this in mind, some of the characters New England has to offer can give S2B trouble and this is important to note going into the event.

At his best, S2B has shown he can take games off of players of Slox’s caliber. S2B is starting to perform even better at his local tournaments, and now that he’s graduated school he has time to focus on his game and on performing well at the Invitational.

Should S2B get his crazy hand-off combos going, he and his Ice Climbers may very well make their way this weekend. If he can overcome some of the best Peach and Fox players in New England, S2B will show that his Ice Climbers are no joke. He may not be at the level of Infinite Numbers, but S2B will be looking to show he’s up there.

Seabass – Vermont – 643.2 Points, 14 Events – Main: Fox

Representing Vermont, AJ “Seabass” Sebastian has the odds stacked against him. He doesn’t have some of the wins that the other players in the New England Invitational has, and he doesn’t have the kind of practice they have given Vermont’s relatively new scene in comparison to the rest of New England.

With that in mind, Seabass has a lot to prove this weekend. It may prove difficult for him to perform, but it isn’t impossible. Should Seabass manage to take a name at this event, he will prove that Vermont can fight the toughest opponents. Even if he can’t, however, it will be invaluable experience for the Fox player that he can hopefully use to help empower the rest of his state.

After introducing our sixteen competitors for this weekend, the big question remains: who will come out on top? Will Slox cement himself as the best player in New England? Will Crush finally defeat Slox on the big stage? Can Infinite Numbers make a run reminiscent of his Pound performance?

You can find out starting this Saturday, June 4^th, 2016 on twitch.tv/bigbluees starting with pools at 1 PM EST. This will be a two-day event, so there’ll be action all day Saturday and Sunday. Be sure to watch to see who will come on top and show they are the best Melee player in New England.

This article was written by BBeS Staff Writer STOC. You can follow STOC at SSB_STOC on Twitter. The event will be streamed on twitch.tv/bigbluees as mentioned and you can follow @bigbluees and @DotZeb on Twitter for updates about the event throughout the weekend.