We’ve had 2 great and exciting tournaments over the past weekend. Let’s hear the thoughts of people around the horn

1. What was the biggest highlight for you over the weekend?

Roustane “Kage” Benzeguir – Fly’s sopo doing work over pretty much on all the top players at KoC 3. The comeback on Silent Wolf was the most impressive. Fly made it look like Sopo was actually a beast unleashed and SW was not able to contain it in time.

Wynton “Progduct0” Smith – Character diversity.  One of the biggest constant complaints is that Melee is too difficult for the non top tiers.  Axe with his YL and Pikachu, Shroomed with Doc, I saw Eikelmann playing some DK and Bowser, Fly’s Ice Climbers, the list goes on and on.  Characters are good.  Players make characters great.

Nico “Ryobeat” Rodriguez – The biggest highlight of the weekend for me had to be the performance of Fly Amanita at Kings of Cali 3. His run through losers was jaw-dropping, beat Darrell , Fiction, Sung, Silent Wolf, Westballz, Axe, AND Shroomed to run it back all the way to Grand Finals. In my opinion, besides Mew2king, he felt like the King of Cali.

Landon “Darkness of Heart” Cox – Fly going HAM in that last match with SilentWolf. Otto played out of his mind the first two games, then Fly downloaded him, and it seemed like Otto had that last match on lock and then #SoPo happened.

Charles “BattleCow” Bullock – Undoubtedly Fly’s legendary comeback against Silent Wolf. #SoPo.

2. Who surprised you the most at Tipped Off 9?

Roustane “Kage” Benzeguir – Probably DruggedFox placing that well. I’m not sure what kind of training he did but apparently it paid off, I’d like to know more about what he did while preparing for this tournament.

Wynton “Progduct0” Smith – Tipped Off 9 surprise award goes to Drugged Fox.  He’s been playing a lot of Marvel, but a third place finish at a tournament of that caliber including a tight set with Hungrybox and beating Colbol among others is nothing to scoff at.  The South is a region that falls off the radar, but they’ve got a ton of players that are slept on.  Waiting for someone to cause a rude awakening.

Nico “Ryobeat” Rodriguez – Dr.PeePee. Though I was very impressed with Druggedfox’s play, the way Dr.PeePee handled that was unmatched to any other time he has played Hbox. In Winners Finals, if I’m correct, beat Hungrybox harder than any other play has in the past 2 years. Mango is usually the one to dominate Hbox, but Dr.PeePee seemed to have a different kind of pressure.

Landon “Darkness of Heart” Cox – DruggedFox – I know he was rising up in the GA ranks a few years ago but it seemed like he fell off the map and/or retired. Beating ColBol and making hbox sweat is no easy feat.

Charles “BattleCow” Bullock – The dominance that Dr. Peepee showed in his 6-1 against Hungrybox. It’s not clear anymore whether results between the top 4 fluctuate wildly based on how they’re playing on a given day, or if one of them decides to go completely Super Saiyan and push themselves onto a new level every couple of months, but Hbox, who seemed like a clear #2 to mango for a while after Evo, got completely junked. Judging skill off of videos is a crapshoot, but I’d lay 3:1 that the bird we saw at TO9 would give even the new mew2king something to rock back and forth about.

3. Who impressed you the most at Kings of Cali 3?

Roustane “Kage” Benzeguir – Axe’s Young Link beating MacD was really impressive. He showed that he has an incredible arsenal of characters ready for battle! He is incredibly fast with them. =)

Wynton “Progduct0” Smith – Fly Amanita, easily.  He showed that he truly is the best IC’s on the block.  Great setups with both present, a cerebral style, and something that Madden can’t measure accurately:  clutch factor.  The amount of work his SoPo put in, and what he did when his back was to the wall, you can’t deny this man.

Nico “Ryobeat” Rodriguez – For me, it was not a particular person that impressed. Instead, it was the team of OkamiBW and Axe. Most people didn’t put them on their lists for Top 8 in teams, and even if they did, they did not expect the run that they made. In every set they played, though their teamwork carried them a long way, I really enjoyed how they kept their composure throughout the whole set, and clutching out 3 best of 5 sets with amazing such as Alan+Shroomed, Bladewise+Silentwolf, and Lovage+S2J

Landon “Darkness of Heart” Cox – Shroomed – clutching out wins vs Lucky, then 3-0ing S2J and PPU (with his pocket sheik) plus he played really well vs M2K. Axe and Fly are close 2nds on for this category.

Charles “BattleCow” Bullock – Again, Fly Amanita. There were at least 6-7 players there who could have been “favorites” for the 2-spot, and coming out on top of that pile speaks volumes. His placings at SSS’s made me a skeptic for a while, but coming off of a win at one of those and a heroic struggle through the KoC losers bracket, he’s got to have his eye on the recently vacated 1-spot of the socal power rankings.

4. Moving forward, who do you pick to finish higher at Apex 2014, Dr. PeePee or Hungrybox?

Roustane “Kage” Benzeguir – Dr.PP, from what I’ve seen at TO 9 he seems ready to compete again and get 1st at an even bigger tournament. The fire has ignited once again!

Wynton “Progduct0” Smith – Dr. PeePee.  I feel like there is a bit of role reversal between M2K and Hungrybox.  M2K was the gatekeeper to the top 5 as 2013 started, and now he has the keys to the castle.  Meanwhile, Hungrybox hasn’t had recent success against him.  Dr. PP and he are close, Mango might have him downloaded.  I think Hungrybox is an extremely talented player, but he’s going through a rough stretch (I wish my rough stretches were top 5 at nationals).  I think he can rebound at APEX, but PP’s win this weekend might literally be what the doctor ordered.

Nico “Ryobeat” Rodriguez – I think Dr.PeePee is this clear favorite in this position. Hungrybox has been doing well recently, beating Dr.PeePee recently and Mew2king earlier in the year, but I feel as though people are progressively understanding how to play vs Hungrybox. Mew2king now has a lock on him, and PP showed his strength in a dominating fashion. If PP can continue to ride his momentum, there is no doubt that he will outplace Hungrybox.

Landon “Darkness of Heart” Cox –  I feel like hungrybox will be back. He’s int he middle of school and finals so I think his showing at TO9 was hindered by this. He has Winter Break to refocus. No Johns though.

Charles “BattleCow” Bullock – It’s impossible to say. The 6-1 says Peepee, but I also recall the doctor talking about “proving” himself the best in the south after winning the money match at TO7–and look how long that lasted. I think that Mr. Nanney’s mindset is the X-factor here, and I’d give him a slight edge.

5. Which run is more impressive? Mew2King’s 2nd half of 2013 or Mew2King’s 2007 run?

Roustane “Kage” Benzeguir- I haven’t really seen M2k’s run in 2007 but M2k right now is certainly incredible. He has insane fundamentals and no one seems to able to go past it at this moment. It would take it a lot of work to even contend that type of mastery over the game.

Wynton “Progduct0” Smith – I can’t pick a draw?  Fine, I’ll pick the second half of 2013.  The talent he’s facing off against is on par with 2007, he’s slicing through seasoned veterans.  Not only that, he’s doing it in multiple games.  Melee.  Brawl.  Project M.  His prowess while playing multiple games reminds me of a former EMP member…Justin Wong, anyone?

Nico “Ryobeat” Rodriguez – Mew2king’s 2007 run CURRENTLY is better than this year’s run. The only reason I believe this is that this year is not over. Mew2king still has more tournaments on his list, ending his streak at Apex 2014, maybe even farther depending on where he decides to go from then. If he could win everything coming up for him, including Apex, then I think it will be his best.

Landon “Darkness of Heart” Cox – M2K 2013. Ever since EVO he’s seemed pretty invulnerable, whereas in 07 he would trade off sets with Chu, PC, KDJ, etc.

Charles “BattleCow” Bullock – The second half. 2007 was a monotheistic time, but so far in 2013 he’s fought his way to the top of a pantheon.