Swedish Fox main Linus “Pipsqueak” Nordin has qualified for Smash Summit 11 by securing the top spot on the current S.A.M.E. European Melee Circuit standings.
While the S.A.M.E. Circuit will run through November, the Smash Summit spot was originally supposed to go to the leading player after Fête Online on June 26. However, SmashEurope announced on May 25 that they had moved up the cut-off date since Fête was too close to Summit and would not give the qualifying player enough time to meet CDC quarantine requirements before traveling to the United States.
With the new cut-off date, the Smash Summit 11 spot went to Pipsqueak, who won Smash Sauna Online May 23. SmashEurope apologized to Elliot “Frenzy” Grossman for abruptly ending the qualification period. Frenzy was the only other player who could have plausibly qualified for Summit through the S.A.M.E. Circuit.
“Frenzy has been offered flight and entry to an upcoming offline major European tournament to offset the lost opportunity,” the SmashEurope announcement statement said. “While the situation is out of our control, we still bear responsibility in our decision.”
— SmashEurope (@SmashEurope) May 25, 2021
Pipsqueak qualifies for Smash Summit 11
Pipsqueak began competing in 2016, making him a relative newcomer to the Super Smash Bros. Melee scene. While he previously attended Summit as a coach, Smash Summit 11 will mark Pipsqueak’s first time competing at a major Melee tournament in the United States.
Throughout the online era, Pipsqueak has risen in skill to become one of Europe’s top players. He boasts wins over the likes of Álvaro “Trif” García Moral, Aaron “Professor Pro” Thomas and Mustafa “Ice” Akçakaya. In addition, he won multiple sets against William “Leffen” Hjelte while Leffen was experimenting with the Frame1 Box-style controller.
So overjoyed right now. When I went as a coach last time I could not foresee that I would earn the spot myself so soon.
Unbelievable, thanks for all the support 😭 https://t.co/TJ1c8txPND
— Pipsqueak (@Pipsqueak_TV) May 25, 2021
“So overjoyed right now. When I went as a coach last time I could not foresee that I would earn the spot myself so soon. Unbelievable, thanks for all the support,” Pipsqueak tweeted.
Who else will be at Smash Summit 11?
Pipsqueak has become one of the nine competitors who have already earned spots at Smash Summit 11. He will join automatic invitees Leffen and Masaya “aMSa” Chikamoto. Another six players previously qualified through the Summit Champions League: Zain “Zain” Naghmi, Joseph “Mang0” Marquez, Zachary “SFAT” Cordoni, Cody “iBDW” Schwab, Justin “Plup” McGrath and Kurtis “moky” Pratt.
In typical Summit style, fans will vote in six of the attendees. One more player will secure a spot at Smash Summit 11 through the last chance qualifier, Rollback Rumble: The Big One, on July 11.
Smash Summit 11 is slated to be the first in-person Melee major since CEO Dreamland 2020. The event will begin on July 15.
