Mystik wins Smash-a-palooza, Hollow Knight takes cosplay gold


CYPRESS — The first eSports tournament in Cypress crowned its first champions in a Super Smash Bros. Ultimate tournament and a cosplay competition at the Berry Center Saturday night.

 


Editor’s note: Read our preview article about Smash-A-Palooza 1 here!

A portion of the crowd at Smash-a-palooza listens to the tournament rules at the Berry Center, in Cypress, Texas, July 27, 2019. (Cypress News Review photo by Creighton Holub)
A portion of the crowd at Smash-a-palooza listens to the tournament rules at the Berry Center, in Cypress, Texas, July 27, 2019. (Cypress News Review photo by Creighton Holub)

bEta Sports put on the event with 80 competitors of all ages battling it out across nine full rounds of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, plus the intermediary rounds for players with a 1-Up to get back into the competition, for the top three positions in Smash-A-Palooza.

Walker Keel’s Hollow Knight outfit was named as top cosplayer.

Matthew “Mystik” Stephens won the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate tournament. Second place went to Dorien “Chrona” Corteze-Bournes, and Jake “Shaggyplayss” D’Eramo took the bronze.

Smash-a-palooza tournament and cosplay trophies on display during the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate tournament. (Cypress News Review photo by Creighton Holub)
Smash-a-palooza tournament and cosplay trophies on display during the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate tournament. (Cypress News Review photo by Creighton Holub)

Running 40 matches on four Nintendo Switch stations in just the first round of the tournament worked surprisingly well.

“The response has been overwhelmingly positive,” said Clay Ratcliff, the brains behind bEta Sports. “I’ve gotten messages every few hours since we closed expressing excitement about the next event. We found the Cypress gaming community to be very welcoming, supportive and friendly. It really felt like people were leaving more than satisfied with the experience and that made us feel proud to have delivered on our hype.”

Clay Ratcliff, in costume, directs tournament participants during the Smash-A-Palooza event at the Berry Center, July 27, 2019. (Cypress News Review photo by Creighton Holub)
Clay Ratcliff, in costume, directs tournament participants during the Smash-A-Palooza event at the Berry Center, July 27, 2019. (Cypress News Review photo by Creighton Holub)

What’s next for Cypress eSports?

The bEta Sports team is already working on its second Super Smash Bros. Ultimate tournament. In the meantime, the bEta Sports squad has hosted multiple small parties and birthday events.

 

Smash World, a 50-foot stage at Smash-a-palooza at the Berry Center, in Cypress, Texas, July 27, 2019. (Cypress News Review photo by Creighton Holub)
Smash World, a 50-foot stage at Smash-a-palooza at the Berry Center, in Cypress, Texas, July 27, 2019. (Cypress News Review photo by Creighton Holub)
Cosplayers Bowser and Link take direction for bEta Sports' Joker during the Smash-a-palooza tournament at the Berry Center, in Cypress, Texas, July 27, 2019. (Cypress News Review photo by Creighton Holub)
Cosplayers Bowser and Link take direction for bEta Sports’ Joker during the Smash-a-palooza tournament at the Berry Center, in Cypress, Texas, July 27, 2019. (Cypress News Review photo by Creighton Holub)

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Creighton Holub

Civilian photographer and journalist turned Army public affairs operator and combat veteran turned publisher. Winner of local, regional, state and national awards in news, photography and journalism.

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