ZeRo Wins Nintendo Super Smash Bros. Invitational 2018

Taking place after the Nintendo Splatoon 2 World Championship Finals, the Nintendo Super Smash Bros. Invitational 2018 showed off the first ever competitive gameplay by professional players of the newly announced title Super Smash Bros. Ultimate game.

Having been announced during today's E3 2018 Nintendo press conference, the interest and excitement around Super Smash Bros. Ultimate was at an all time high and what better way to celebrate the announcement of the new entry in the popular fighting game franchise than by seeing some of the very best players in the world of the professional scene of the title play the new title at the highest level. 

The eight competitors of the very first Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Invitational consisted of Armada, Plup, Lucky, Mang0, MkLeo, Abadango, Mr. R and ZeRo. The format of the Ultimate Invitational saw the eight players split up into four teams for two doubles match to begin the Super Smash Bros. Invitational 2018 action. 

Our Super #SmashBros Invitational 2018 kicks off with doubles on the new Great Plateau Tower stage from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild!
Reigning champion @zerowondering teams with @ArmadaUGS against @Abadango and @PG_Plup!
Tune in now!https://t.co/6NkveM7n2m pic.twitter.com/7K51wtFvi0

— Nintendo Versus (@NintendoVS) June 12, 2018

In the first winners round doubles match, the duo of ZeRo and Armada was able to take out the team of Plup and Adadango to advance to the winners round 2 singles match. In a surprise pick, Plup used one of the new characters that Ultimate introduced into the franchise in Metroid villain Ridley to show off the character in its first ever competitive setting. 

The second winners round doubles match saw Mang0 and MKLeo defeat the team of Mr. R and Lucky to advance to the second winners round 2 singles match. 

Looking to get on the winning side of the Ultimate Invitational, Plup and Adadango took out Mr. R and Lucky in the elimination round doubles match to eliminate Mr. R and Lucky from the Super Smash Bros. Invitational 2018 and advance to the four player free for all. 

The first Ultimate Invitational then saw ZeRo and Armada face off in a battle of legends that ultimately saw the Smash 4 prodigy of ZeRo defeat the Melee god of Armada to advance to the winners final of the Super Smash Bros. Invitational 2018 and send Armada to the elimination round four player free for all. 

Our second winners round singles match then saw MkLeo secure his spot in the winners final against ZeRo with an impressive victory over Mang0 and force the Melee God into the elimination round four player free for all.

Moving onto the elimination round four player free for all, Plup was able to survive a brutal Ultimate brawl with Armada, Abadango and Mang0 to advance to the losers round final. 

The Super Smash Bros. Invitational 2018 winners final would then see ZeRo defeat MKLeo to send the young and talented player to the losers round finals where MKLeo was able to take out Plup to secure a spot in the grand finals of the Super Smash Bros. Invitational 2018 for a rematch against ZeRo.

Looking to continue his momentum from the losers round final, MKLeo was able to utilize his skill with Bayonetta to defeat the Mario of ZeRo to take the first match of the grand finals of the Super Smash Bros. Invitational 2018. MKLeo continued his strong play with Snake in the second match and scored a second straight victory to force a bracket reset in the Super Smash Bros. Invitational grand finals. 

However, ZeRo was able to flip the momentum of the grand finals into his favor in th second best of three series for the grand finals of the Super Smash Bros. Invitational to take a 1-0 lead against MKLeo.

Unfortunately for ZeRo, MKLeo was not ready to stop playing Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and was able to defeat ZeRo in the next game to force a winner take all game three in the grand finals of the Super Smash Bros. Invitational 2018.

Pushed to the very edge, ZeRo was able to close out the grand finals of the Super Smash Bros. Invitational 2018 with a game three victory against MKLeo to claim the very first Super Smash Bros. Ultimate tournament championship and add another trophy to his vast collection of professional achievements.

(cover photo courtesy of Nintendo)