Smasher:AlphaZealot

AlphaZealot is a professional smasher from Ohio who joined SmashBoards in 2003. He began playing in, and helping run, Smash tournaments in 2004 and has since staffed over 100 different competitive gaming events.

In 2009, AlphaZealot was the tournament director for AllisBrawl helping design and operate one of the first online platforms in esports. He oversaw operations of the quarterly AiB playoffs played online using a beta online version of the tournament software Tio. AlphaZealot then directed the operation of the first bracketed online tournaments ever held for Smash Brothers (64 players in the Playoffs).

In 2010, he became the tournament director for Brawl on the MLG Pro Circuit and would later serve in the same role for Halo Reach, King of Fighters XII, Soul Calibur V, and Mortal Kombat 9. AlphaZealot's last event with Major League Gaming was in Raleigh in August, 2012.

On July 27th, 2012, AlphaZealot was inducted into the inaugural SmashBoards Hall of Fame for his work as a tournament organizer.

On November 27th, 2012, AlphaZealot, through his company Xyelot LLC, purchased Smashboards.com and its related assets from Major League Gaming Inc. That same year he began working for The Pokémon Company International operating the video game championships and designing monthly online tournaments. As of 2020 he was TPCi’s senior manager for premier events, esports, and broadcasting and his team operates the annual Pokémon world championships for several titles including the TCG, video game, and .

In 2020, Allston Melee ranked AlphaZealot as 5th on the top 10 list of Melee Tournament Organizers of all time.

In 2021, AlphaZealot, as executive producer and managing partner for Metagame Documentary, was a finalist for esports video production team, esports video content piece, and winner of esports video content series.

On June 1st, 2023, AlphaZealot stepped down as the owner of SmashBoards. His company Xyelot, LLC sold SmashBoards to Equistellar Media, Inc, a company owned by which will serve as the business entity for SmashBoards and SquidBoards going forward.

Competitive Smash
AlphaZealot's competitive debut was at Bomb 1 in Potomac, Maryland. He had begun his competitive career months earlier when close friend and Smash mentor The Muffin King began teaching him the game. Much of his early competitive history is marred by early tournament exits, usually foregoing doubles and occasionally leaving singles in the middle of a tournament.

MLG Feature Writer
AlphaZealot began his writing career with Major League Gaming in 2005. Since then he has released dozens of articles covering the competitive community through interviews, post event wrap ups, and informative pieces.

One Handed Smash
In 2005, AlphaZealot learned to play Smash one handed while training with. After weeks of practice he eventually created the only existing guide |guide to one handed Smash. He plays money matches with ChuDat a few times a year, with each match being a battle for 'best in the world' status at one handed Smash. Each match is (AlphaZealot) versus  (Chudat) in a best of 3 on Final Destination.


 * Bomb 4: AlphaZealot lost 1-2
 * MLG Chicago: AlphaZealot won 2-1
 * CCX (September): AlphaZealot lost 2-0
 * C3 (February): AlphaZealot lost 2-1