Ontario-based esports organization Smashurai Esports has indefinitely banned Montreal tournament organizer Nizar “Z” Awada from their events. The ban came after Z announced Battle of Z: Toronto Strikes Back, a Montreal Smash and Guilty Gear regional that will feature the previously-banned Elliot “Ally” Carroza-Oyarce.
https://twitter.com/SMRAI_Esports/status/1411722855314821128
The Super Smash Bros. Ultimate community removed Ally in 2019 after he faced accusations of engaging in a romantic relationship with Zack “CaptainZack” Lauth, who was a minor at the time and is more than 10 years his junior. The now-defunct SSB Code of Conduct Panel recommended and later upheld a lifetime ban for Ally. In addition, he appears on Cyrus “Cagt” Gharakhanian’s Super Smash Bros. Global Ban Database.
However, Z allowed Ally to begin attending Montreal Smash locals again in February of 2020. In a tweet from March of this year, Z suggested there was more to Ally’s situation that he had yet to share publicly. On July 4, Z claimed Ally would release a statement before the end of the month. He said Ally could not attend Battle of Z: Toronto Strikes Back if he failed to release the statement.
“[Ally] was suicidal,” Z tweeted in March. “On our side as a community we stayed open ears, we sent him to therapy, banned him until approval from the therapist that he is no threat and was abused. Hope he makes all his story public and stops being afraid, if he does I hope you listen.”
@AllyUltimate was suicidal
On our side as a community we stayed open ears, we sent him to therapy, banned him until approval from the therapist that he is no threat and was abused
Hope he makes all his story public and stops being afraid, if he does I hope you listen
Thank you pic.twitter.com/Nni5ixFIKa
— Z (@MTL_Z_) March 26, 2021
Others suspended from Ontario Smash series over Ally
Multiple players from Toronto will travel to Montreal for Battle of Z: Toronto Strikes Back. These include Michael “Riddles” Kim, Aaron “Blacktwins13” Grandison-Vargas, Jonathan “JW” Woldu, Aaron “Orange” G., “Grape” and “Heavens.” Smashurai Esports also announced a temporary suspension for these players.
“Attending [Z’s] event shows you learned nothing over the past year,” Smashurai Esports tweeted. “You will not change. We will change however.”
https://twitter.com/SMRAI_Esports/status/1411722860981374981
Z has faced scrutiny before for allowing Ally back at Montreal locals after the events of last summer. Last year, the Smash community ostracized multiple prominent members due to allegations of sexual misconduct. However, Smashurai Esports took the extra step to ban Z due to his intentions of allowing Ally at a regional-level Smash event and of hosting such an event during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Z called Smashurai Esports’ suspensions of the Toronto players “dictatorship 101.” Michael “KnucklesUp” Vassos announced that those players would be welcome at his own tournaments.
The following players are very much welcome to "The Korner" weekly series hosted in my house on Friday's at 6pm, $5 entry:
-Riddles
-BT
-Grape
-Orange
-JW
-HeavensWe will be confirming these players are welcome at future events run by KU (&Slime) when lan events return
😂💯 https://t.co/sVySfbXUln— Omertà | KnucklesUp/Michael (@ItsKnucklesUp) July 4, 2021
This TO blackmailed the featured players by giving them an ultimatum and restrict them for making their own decision. Welcome to dictatorship 101
Also this TO wanted me ban for months and used this as an excuse to push his already scheduled agenda.
ALLY situation tweet below : https://t.co/OQsAICPB6J
— Z (@MTL_Z_) July 4, 2021
