Smasher:MkLeo: Difference between revisions

Little seemed to change once October came, as at {{Trn|Rise 'N Grind 2023}}, MkLeo once again saw his worst placement at a major since Umebura Japan Major 2019. After losing 3-0 to {{Sm|Skinny the Pooh}}, having stuck to Joker the entire set despite his Joker historically having trouble against {{SSBU|Mario}}, MkLeo ran into Riddles in Loser's Round 4. Despite pulling out Marth, who he used to defeat Riddles previously, Riddles ultimately defeated MkLeo 3-2, eliminating MkLeo at 17th. This trend would continue at {{Trn|Luminosity Makes Moves Miami 2023}}, as MkLeo would lose yet another set to a {{SSBU|Mario}} player, this time to {{Sm|Kurama}}. Picking up {{SSBU|Marth}} for the first two games and switching to {{SSBU|Lucina}} for the third game. This gamble would not pay off as he would lose 3-0 to him, reminiscent of his loss to him at {{Trn|Frostbite 2020}}. He later lost 3-1 to {{Sm|SHADIC}} in the losers bracket. Ending his run at 13th. Later, he started off decent at the most stacked tournament of the year {{Trn|Port Priority 8}} where he reverse 3-0'd {{Sm|MVD}} to qualify for top 64 Winners Side. He then faced against {{Sm|Kaninabe}}, the best Fox player in Japan, who was fresh off of reverse 3-0ing his fellow Luminosity teammate {{Sm|Tweek}}. Kaninabe also proceeded to beat Leo 3-2 in a clutch fashion with a jump read up air, sending him into the losers bracket. He then fought {{Sm|MuteAce}} in a runback from GENESIS 9 earlier this year, but this time MuteAce came out on top 3-0ing MkLeo's Byleth, tying his worst placement at 17th since Umebura Japan Major 2019, along with the rest of the Mexican players {{Sm|Sparg0}}, {{Sm|Skyjay}}, and {{Sm|Maister}}.

So far, things were not looking good for MkLeo. Not only had he lost sets to non-top level players, but he also failed to make it into top 8 at every major he attended after {{Trn|Delfino Maza 2023}}. It reached such a low that some people would go as far as to question if MkLeo would even end up in the top 10. As 2023 would near its end, MkLeo would attempt to make inroads at two important events: {{Trn|Ultimate Fighting Arena 2023}} and {{Trn|Watch The Throne}}, the former being the largest Smash Ultimate tournament in Europe and an latter being an invitational tournament that included the best ultimate players in the world. At UFA, MkLeo would have a rough start after losing to {{Sm|NaetorU}} 1-3 in top 64, yet another underwhelming loss to yet another non-top level player. However, MkLeo would later soar through top 64 losers and would eventually make it to top 8. He then went on to defeat {{Sm|Tarik}} 3-2 and would upset {{Sm|Tea}} 3-1, the latter being the number one seed of the tournament. Unfortunately, he would get upset by {{Sm|Raflow}} 2-3 in Losers Semifinals, finishing his run at 4th. Despite the losses, this was a drastic improvement for MkLeo, being his best placement in an Ultimate major since {{Trn|MAJOR UPSET}} almost 8 months earlier. Then December came and so did the last invitational of the year, {{Trn|Watch The Throne}}. On the Round Robin stage, MkLeo would take a set off {{Sm|Ken}} 3-1, but would lose back to back sets off both {{Sm|Sonix}} 0-3 and {{Sm|Lui$}} 1-3. He would later be sent to Gauntlet and would face off {{Sm|Sparg0}}, but Sparg0 ultimately defeated MkLeo 1-3 which resulted in MkLeo starting in losers. MkLeo who despite the poor start, started to perform better as he would defeat {{Sm|ApolloKage}} 3-2, a player which he had previously lost to twice earlier this year, and would then defeat {{Sm|Dabuz}} 3-1 successfully making into top 8. But would soon lose to {{Sm|Ken}} 1-3 ending his run at 7th. Despite the streak of bad performances and poor results, MkLeo would prove to show some degree of consistency given his encouraging performances at two important events to conclude the season, and most people would start to regain confidence that MkLeo may stay as a top 10 player.