Not something a bit of glue can’t fix though probably
One of the things we certainly missed out on during the Covid era of tournaments were the pop offs on the big stage, and this might have been the biggest of the year so far.
At the start of Super Smash Bros. Melee top 8 at Get On My Level X, Liquid|Hungrybox, who’s been known to pop off now and again, absolutely went off on stage.
Up against SDJ on the loser’s side of the bracket, one of the last remaining Melee Gods still competing actually struggled in the Jigglypuff mirror match hard and barely managed to take a stock in the first game.
A THREE STOCK@SDJ_SSBM opens his set with Hungrybox with dominance!
: #GOMLX pic.twitter.com/naDEeMBS34
— Get On My Level (@GOMLseries) May 19, 2024
The 29th ranked Melee player out of Texas would continue that dominance in the second game as well with similar results.
ARE WE WITNESSING THE REINCARNATION OF MANGO’S PUFF IN @SDJ_SSBM??? pic.twitter.com/Vy15RGsYfk
— Get On My Level (@GOMLseries) May 19, 2024
As someone who’s competed hard for over half of his life now with his favorite pink Pokémon, Hbox would battle his way back to even the score.
It may not have always been the most exciting set from a pure viewer perspective (considering game four ended in a time out), but this might be the top match in terms of intensity for the players with any mistakes from these Puff experts costing them big.
After coming down to the last game last stock, Hbox manages to land the final hit and advance, which leads to him immediately leaping up and knocking over his chair.
He picks it up and slams it down on the stage, as he screams to the crowd and continues to pop off hard.
Hbox acts like he’s about to slam the chair again, but sets it down and gives another yell with the great shot we used in the banner of his face mirrored and repeating on the big screen behind him while the crowd also lost it.
OH MY GOD
THE BIGGEST @LiquidHbox POP OFF EVER FOR THE MOST TENSE PUFF DITTO EVER
: #GOMLX pic.twitter.com/y6ZBtnpVeA
— Get On My Level (@GOMLseries) May 19, 2024
It seems, however, the pop off may have been a bit too intense since Hbox posted a photo after with marks across his arm as well as an apparently damaged chair, which the organizers probably weren’t the happiest about at first — but it seems like they made up.
fuck yeah pic.twitter.com/rWQ4OZEEVh
— hungrybox (@LiquidHbox) May 19, 2024
Call it a lovers’ quarrel #GOMLX pic.twitter.com/c42wzCaLcM
— Get On My Level (@GOMLseries) May 19, 2024
Moving on to loser’s quarter finals, Hbox would have to face off against his longtime rival and fellow Melee God, C9|Mang0 in another intense set.
Although it would once again come down to the last game, Mang0 would end up taking the set and eliminating Hbox at 5th place at GOML.
Following the loss, Hungrybox posted on his X/Twitter page that he’s got some “very pertinent announcements” coming soon regarding Smash in his life and that some “change is needed.”
also, last thing I’ll tweet for now is that I have some very pertinent announcements soon regarding both Melee AND Ultimate and where they belong in my life
been long overdue but a change is needed
stay tuned
— hungrybox (@LiquidHbox) May 19, 2024
While he has been continuing to compete at a high level and win events as recently as March, Hbox hasn’t scored a victory at a super major since 2022.
With his recent post, it now raises questions about what the future of Melee looks like for the player who’s dedicated the past 16+ years of his life to the game.
Hungrybox also keeps himself busy with his own streams, video content and hosting his own Smash and fighting game tournaments, so even if he decides to take a step back away from the stress of competing, he likely isn’t going anywhere in the community.
We’ll have to wait and see what one of the most accomplished players at just 30 years old takes his future from here.
We get the feeling, however, this won’t be the last time we see Hbox popping off on stage.