Here’s a change of pace from the street fighter players. I’ve taken the time and interviewed a Smash Brothers player. In my opinion he’s one of the best if not currently the best player in the city. He’s one of my favourite players to watch and he’s a cool guy to talk to. On a side note I’ve noticed DMCI has produced some great players. GO Maroons J To those of you outside the city he’s got some words for you guys as well(Nothing mean just some words).

Name: Russel Racca
Alias: Lickuid
Age 18

nYo:
What games do you play?

Lickuid:
I play Smash Brothers Melee, halo 3, and I enjoy playing rpgs

nYo:
So you compete in ssbm and halo then?

Lickuid:
I play SSBM competitively and i play halo for fun. Not really serious with halo.

nYo:
How did you get into Smash?

Lickuid:
I got into SSBM back in 04 when I saw world record times on break the targets on youtube

nYo:
Nice. How did that inspire you to start playing competitively?

Lickuid:
It didn’t actually , but the advanced terms I had been reading about on forums. I was wondering what they were but never really looked into them until I saw a pro match on youtube. I decided to learn the advanced techniques and started using them in my game play

nYo:
How did you learn to do the techniques?

Lickuid:
I learned most by watching an advanced how to play on youtube. Some I read explanations of the forums

nYo:
Develop anything techniques on your own?

Lickuid:
Not really my own techniques, but I’ve been able to incorporate the falcon moonwalk into my game play, which not very many players do.

nYo:
Who are your main characters?

Lickuid:
My mains are Captain Falcon and Falco.

nYo:
Why do you main them?

Lickuid:
Their combo ability on most of the characters.

nYo:
I’ve seen you use other characters to win before like young link. Did you give up on them?

Lickuid:
Pretty much , the use of higher tiers in tournaments and the meta game make my young link pretty useless. I’ll use Young Link if it’s situational though or if it’s against a scrub

nYo:
What do you think of the current tiers for melee? Does it affect how you select your character?

Lickuid:
I agree with the current tier list. It somewhat affects how I select my character, The only matchup I’m scared of is Falcon vs Sheik.

nYo:
How did you train to get to your current level?

Lickuid:
Playing with my crew mostly. tournies also helped a lot because of the experience with different players. i also improved a lot playing with the central cali players, watching videos and reading matchups also helped

nYo:
How did you do against the central cali guys?

Lickuid:
I was able to keep up with them, our skill level was pretty much the same. I went to a smashfest and we had a little 10 person tournament. i placed 3rd

nYo:
Awesome, did you get to play anyone notable there?

Lickuid:
Nope, they’re probably only known on smashboards , but nothing big. They’ve had experience with the high level players , though

nYo:
Do you think the other top players in the city can compete against other cities?

Lickuid:
Definitely, honestly we are underrated just cause our name isn’t out there. Wilson plays a beastly fox and I think I play a pretty high level Falcon. That’s my personal opinion, Most definitely I think we can take on the other cities for sure. We’ll find out soon when BC top player blunted object comes to town, He placed 4th at the “At Melee’s end” tournament(Big Canadian tournament).

nYo:
Who do you consider the top 4 players in the city? What do you think makes them so good?

Lickuid:
Top 4 would have to be Wilson Tieu, Janos Saluta, William Giang and myself. Ii would place Adam Hayes there but he’s too inconsistent with his play, No offence to him or anything. I think he’s still a very talented player. Wilson is an insane player. He can pretty much play every character and dominate with all the top and high tiers. Janos is a smart player and he’s been one of the few to take Wilson out in tournaments. William plays a good Marth, he’s really good at hitting the tippers.

nYo:
You’ve done very well in the tournaments here. Which ones of your performances stand out

Lickuid:
I would have to say the most recent tourney(TST III). I got knocked to losers pretty early and had to work my way back up to play Wilson in the grand finals. I lost only 1 round in the first set , and taking all then went undefeated in the second set. My Falcon was pretty boss that day. I’ve been patiently waiting to watch those matches and see how well I did. I was in my own zone that day and didn’t realize how bad I beat Wilson.

nYo:
How’d you hear about the competitive scene?

Lickuid:
Jeremy had an account on smashboards and Rex invited him to Baselan. Most of us couldn’t make it but Aris and my brother Nico went.

nYo:
How do you prepare yourself for tournaments?

Lickuid:
Before every tourney I play till like 4 am with whoever is at my house. Normally Janos is the one I practice with. We have like little to no sleep for every tourney

nYo:
I dunno how you two manage to place so well with so little sleep. What is your mindset when you’re playing in a tournament match? Do you play differently from casuals?

Lickuid:
Play to win. Play like a bitch if you have to, Just don’t think about losing, don’t mess up most definitely. During casuals I like to play around, it’s nothing serious but you get a feel from that persons play style and how to prepare yourself for an actual tourney match

nYo:
What are your thoughts on brawl?

Lickuid:
It sucks, It’s wack , there’s like no skill involved to win. Metaknight is the most broken character ever. The gap between casuals and competitive players skill isn’t very large. The only redeeming factor for brawl right now are the hacks that have been made. So far there is no tripping. L cancelling , melee air dodge (wavedash included) have been added, I still have yet to try it out. Either way, melee will still be the better game

nYo:
Would you play brawl with the hacks that are coming out?

Lickuid:
Once it’s polished, possibly.

nYo:
Thats probably gonna be a tough thing for us to pull off. Who would you consider your rival in the scene?

Lickuid:
Wilson for sure

nYo:
With new games coming out next year, anything else you plan to pick up competitively?

Lickuid:
I’ve actually put some thought into street fighter 4. The game looks promising, and a lot of my friends will be getting the game as well. I could maybe start up a crew and play competitively. We’ll see though. Tekken 6 too, If I ever get a PS3.

nYo:
FYI both games are coming to 360. What are your plans concerning melee over the next year? Planning to travel out?

Lickuid:
Ohh well that’s news to me. I thought it was a ps3 exclusive. I’ll probably go to California again. This coming summer and play with the same guys. If I have enough money I’d go to Alberta where the “top players” are located.

nYo:
Theres a group of us planning on heading to WCC2 in March care to join us and show them what Winnipeg smashers are about.

Lickuid:
What is WCC2 exactly? Is there a smash tourney being hosted there?

nYo:
Its Western Canadian Championships in Edmonton. I’d assume theres a smash tournament if not you can at least play some of the players there.

Lickuid:
Ohh I would go then, we’ll have to see though , march is still a ways away

nYo:
Agreed, lets conclude this with you talking some shit to other cities, just kiddin, anything you’d like to say to the locals and others around the country?

Lickuid:
To the locals - let’s get our name out there and good job keeping the smash scene alive.To other cities - we’re good players, Don’t judge us just because you haven’t seen us. A lot of your top players are overrated in my opinion , but we’ll see when we actually play each other.