Hungrybox wins EVO 2016

July 19 2016
For Juan "Hungrybox" DeBiedma, EVO, the world's most prestigious fighting game tournament, is nothing new. For the past 3 years, the Smash God had placed in the top 3, simply sampling a taste of true victory. 3rd in 2013 and then two back-to-back silver medals in 2014 and 2015 respectively inched his hand closer to the main course, but was always left to starve. Finally, in 2016, that hunger to win paid off and Hungrybox would silence all those who doubted him with an exhausting loser's bracket climb to grab Gold.



For Smash Gods, placing in the top 8 is almost expected. Hungrybox went into the first set of matches with the mindset to win, and he did, blowing through the Melee Pool Stage and securing top 32 at EVO.



In the Melee top 32 bracket, he'd encounter tougher opponents. He took out fellow Liquid player Kashan "Chillindude" Khan 2-0 before a nailbiting 2-1 series win against Winterfox' Shroomed that would secure Florida's Jigglypuff main Top 8.



Unfortunately, the easy ride to the top would be cut short by a strong 2-0 showing from PG_Plup's Shiek, and Hungrybox plunged straight into the loser's bracket.

The loser's bracket is a nerve-wracking place to be--heck, it's got loser in the name. One loss and it would have been over, but Hungrybox would vault over all the challenges presented before him. S2J's Captain Falcon just could not overcome the Puff, and immediately fell 0-2.

The next set of matches felt like destiny. It was again time to watch C9's Mang0 VS Hungrybox, a match almost guaranteed to happen at every event. Each individual map was incredibly close and came down to the last stock. But Hbox was on-fire with the clutch Rests, and took down Mang0 2-1. The match following would be a rematch against PG_Plup, where Hbox would lay down the law and win 3-1 to secure a spot in the Grand Final against the Swedish Smash God, Armada.

Words cannot describe how amazing this series was. Armada looked unstoppable all tournament long, but Hungrybox would trade blows with calculated Rests.

Check it out below, you have to see it for yourself.





When it was all over, the game pushed to its limit in 5 riveting games, it was Hbox who was on his hands and knees in jubilation. It was an emotional scene as Hungrybox was brought to tears because of an accomplishment 4 years, if not more, in the making.




Winning an event as large as EVO is no easy feat. Even Nintendo recognizes that.





Writer // Ken Serra
Graphics // Stacey Yamada