James “VoiD” Makekau-Tyson won the Smash Ultimate Singles at Goodwill of Orange County’s Charity Invitational Esports Fundraiser on April 28. His run to first place included wins over Eric “ESAM” Lew, Tyler “Marss” Martins, and Chris “WaDi” Boston. VoiD lost the first set of Grand Finals to Paris “Light” Ramirez, but he overcame Light in the second set.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Street Fighter V players competed in invitational brackets to raise money for Goodwill of Orange County in Santa Ana, California. This organization helps “people who are facing barriers to get and keep jobs, which provides purpose, pride and dignity.” The event raised over $6,000 in total.
Five Smash Ultimate players were initially invited to attend the event. Fans then voted an additional six into the event. Salem “Saleem” Young won a last chance qualifier event in order to secure the final slot.
The Goodwill Charity Invitational marks VoiD’s first tournament victory since SoCal Chronicles in January. This also makes it his first tournament win of the current season, which began in February with GENESIS 6.
Upsets at GOC’s charity fundraiser
Though it was only a twelve-person invitational, this bracket was not without its upsets. WaDi made an impressive run to winners finals, defeating Salem and Light. Both sets went to Game 5, and WaDi earned his victories using R.O.B. and Wii Fit Trainer, his newest character. WaDi then lost to VoiD in winners finals and Light in losers finals, placing third overall.
Meanwhile, after his loss to Light in the winner’s bracket, Guillermo “Stroder” Martinez scored a win over Salem in losers. Stroder ended up losing to Marss to finish in fifth place. In Smash 4, Stroder’s highest ranking was in the PGR’s “Area 51,” just outside of the Top 50 worldwide. But with his win on Salem, along with previous wins against the likes of ESAM and Gavin “Tweek” Dempsey, Stroder is primed to break into the Top 50 for the first time in Smash Ultimate.
