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About Daniel Lee

I am a Melee analyst, journalist, and commentator. I love to write narratives about players and deep analysis of individual matches and rivalries. Creator of the "Zero2Hero" series for Melee to train new players and a regular on the Melee It On Me Podcast
Feb 3, 2014

Apex 2014: The Internationals

By |February 3, 2014|Default|7 Comments

Written by: Kyle Charizanis

Some people will only remember this year’s Apex for its Top 8. There were certainly a lot of exciting moments: Mango 4-stocking Leffen, PP essentially 4-stocking Mew2King twice, and the surprise appearances of Soft and Colbol in the final stretch of the tournament. We also witnessed PPMD’s long-overdue return to the top, solidifying his position as the third member of the American Smash Triumvirate (PP/M2K/Mango).

But I think that the people who were there, and those who watched the entire stream, will have a very different view of the largest grassroots Melee tournament to date. Apex 2014 was as much about the old names as it was about the new. The international players really stepped into the spotlight and showed the world that they, too, are worthy contenders. I’m not talking about the Fox from Mexico, the Sheik from Canada, or even the Peach from Sweden; this year’s tournament had an even more eclectic cast of characters.

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Jan 31, 2014

How to: Talk to Female Smashers

By |January 31, 2014|Default|0 Comments

Co-written by syphilis and MIOM| Tafokints

If you’re new to the Smash Scene and need help getting along with female smashers, this guide is for you. Here are 8 pieces of advice to help you and your game!

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Jan 23, 2014

Apex 2014 Top 8: Recap

By |January 23, 2014|Default|0 Comments

With the year 2013 officially in the books, 2014 looks to be the biggest year ever for Super Smash Bros. Melee. Just two weeks into the new year, Apex 2014 drew competitors new and old to Somerset, New Jersey to test their mettle and leave their mark in a newly revitalized Melee scene. After traveling through a bracket riddled with upsets, the top 8 players were split down the middle into returning contenders and breakthrough players. Making their returns to the national spotlight were VGBC | Dr. PP, HungryBox, MIOM | Mango, and CT EMP | Mew2King. Looking to start the competitive year strong and take out these powerhouses were Colbol, Fiction, Leffen, and SS | Soft.

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Jan 21, 2014

5+ on 5: Apex Aftermath

By |January 21, 2014|Default|7 Comments

What an amazing weekend! We saw high level play, a variety of characters, international surprises, and even the national anthem. Let’s hear our thoughts from people across the community in regards to Apex. This edition will include more than 5 people’s input

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Jan 15, 2014

5 Ways to Improving Your First Nationals Experience

By |January 15, 2014|Default|0 Comments

Hey everyone! Exciting times are here as Apex is around the corner. Perhaps, you took a leap of faith to save up money to travel to your first large national tournament. Here are a few tips to enjoy your experience

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Jan 13, 2014

Just Play

By |January 13, 2014|Default|1 Comment

I think sometimes we over think the process to improvement in Melee when much of our improvement can be done by simply plugging in the controller and playing whenever possible. I actually do believe that you can win against a decent size of tournament players by being technically and mechanically sound. When I watch amateur level ping-pong players, the winner is usually the person that makes less mechanical errors than the opponent. In the same vain, the winner of an early bracket or pools SSBM set is usually the player that has made less technical errors and capitalized more on follow-ups.

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Jan 10, 2014

Apex Fantasy and Player Thoughts

By |January 10, 2014|Default|0 Comments

1 week until Apex! Some friends from the community and I are doing a fantasy draft for this upcoming tourney! Basically, choose players that you think that will do well and get points based on how well they do. Whoever has the most points will win!

Follow the action here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AhIIQ65G7heHdFg0NlNlS3hjMVh1czB4U3o0VVpIU1E&usp=drive_web#gid=0
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Jan 2, 2014

How To: Prepare for a National (Logistically Speaking)

By |January 2, 2014|Default|0 Comments

So you’ve recently watched the “Smash Documentary” or you may have been entering your local tournaments for a while, but now you’re kind of feeling an itch to be a part of the exciting moments: the large projector screens and crowds chanting the names of their favorite players. Maybe you want to be a part of the moment instead of being a spectator at home. Where do we go from here?

If you’ve never traveled for a tournament before, it can be intimidating, so let’s outline what you need to do to prepare (aside from practicing of course!)

      Traveling
      Hotel/Housing
      Tourney Fees
      Food
      Hygiene

Based on the typical demographics of an average Smasher and some stereotyping, I have noticed that people are in general, fairly awful, at planning and coordinating logistics for these types of events. Most will rarely plan ahead and rely on others to take responsibility for their own well-being. Careful planning can not only save you some potential grief, but also save you money and awkward scenarios. Budget ahead of time, these can be quite expensive, but the experience is always worth it.

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Jan 1, 2014

Onward to 2014

By |January 1, 2014|Default|0 Comments

It’s been an exciting past year. I hope everyone has had a great time over the holidays. If you haven’t already, read Robin Harn’s exciting Year in Review: 2013 Edition. We are working on great things for this site, including

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Dec 30, 2013

The Art of Stage Selection: The Counter-Pick

By |December 30, 2013|Default|0 Comments

The Art of Counter-Picking

With the current rule-set, it is important to understand the rules. I’m not going to really present an article on whether I think the stage rule set is fair (that’s a whole different subject), but rather how to make the most of it.

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