Key Takeaways:
- The Mana Summit is scheduled for September 6–7 and will feature eight banned Melee players.
- The event is a tribute to HAX$, a former pro who died following mental health struggles linked to his ban.
- The tournament has sparked intense debate, with some praising it for offering redemption and others criticizing it for giving a platform to problematic individuals.
A highly controversial Super Smash Bros. Melee tournament is making waves across the competitive gaming community. Dubbed The Mana Summit, the invitational event will take place on September 6–7 and exclusively feature eight players who were previously banned from the Melee scene. The tournament is both a tribute and a protest — honoring the late Aziz ‘HAX$’ Al-Yami and challenging the community’s existing ban policies.
A Tribute to HAX$ and a Protest Against the Smash Establishment
Organized by banned player TheManaLord, the event memorializes HAX$, a talented Melee competitor who passed away earlier this year. HAX$ had long struggled with mental health after being banned for threatening fellow pro William ‘Leffen’ Hjelte. His death has become a flashpoint for discussions around mental health, exclusion, and redemption in the Smash scene.
TheManaLord criticized the current leadership in the community, calling it “an exclusionary social club” driven by cancel culture and discrimination. “They’ve killed the spirit of Smash Bros,” he declared, positioning The Mana Summit as a revivalist effort.
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Banned Players Return to Compete
The roster for The Mana Summit includes a mix of known and lesser-known banned players: Zion, Mekk, DaShizWiz, Westfallz, Chevy, Mura, Eikelmann, and TheManaLord himself. Many of these players were removed from traditional tournaments over accusations ranging from harassment to controversial speech — including views labeled by some as transphobic.
Despite widespread condemnation from parts of the community, others view the event as a necessary stand for due process and inclusivity from a different perspective. A GoFundMe campaign for the event has already raised $2,000.
A Community Divided Over Accountability and Redemption
The Smash Bros. community is now deeply split. Some, like Cody Schwab, are threatening to boycott events that don’t take a hard stance on behavioral standards — including bans. Others see The Mana Summit as a space for second chances and critique what they see as unchecked social judgment.
“This is not the time to play favourites,” Schwab said recently, signaling the high tensions that remain.
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