The #MPGR2018 ranking season spans the end of 2017 (after the Holiday Bash Smash Invitational) to December 16, 2018 (Don’t Park on the Grass 2018)

PGstats has asked 43 top players, community leaders, tournament organizers, and analysts to rate the quality of play for each qualifying player during the 2018 ranking season. They were prompted with the following statement:

“Based on quality and quantity of results in 2018, rate each player on a scale of 1 to 10. A tournament is held every weekend during the ranking period, and all players on the list are able to attend every event. Over the course of the season, who performs the best? You may give the benefit of the doubt to players who attended more events during the ranking period if you so choose.”

Each panelist gives each player a score from 1 to 10, and the ratings are compiled into one overall average after suppressing the effect of outliers. Finally, scores were rescaled to a 1-100 rating, which is displayed under each player’s graphic.

One quick note: for the players ranked 51 through 100, we’ve changed the format of their blurbs; instead of the traditional short paragraph, these players will have highlight lists under their player cards. This lets us emphasize these players’ strengths as they move into the new year.

#MPGR2018 No. 30: Colbol © Kelly Goodchild (@polarity_kupo)

Rating: 75.3 | SSBMRank2017: 30

Colin "Colbol" Green continued to be one of the most proficient Foxes in the game when it comes to unconventional matchups. At Evo 2018, he upset both Axe and aMSa to place 13th. Elsewhere, Colbol also managed to take sets from Wizzrobe, Duck, N0ne, Captain Smuckers, lloD, and Ginger, and he held a dominant 11-0 set count over Gahtzu. Rumors of his demise are greatly exaggerated—this Central Florida veteran is still a deadly bracket threat.

Written by: Akhil Silla | Edited by: Darren Lynch

#MPGR2018 No. 29: Shroomed © William Kwon (@KwonSSB)

Rating: 77 | SSBMRank2017: 13

DaJuan “Shroomed” McDaniel, the nicest guy in NorCal, took a step back from Melee this year to focus on his career. Despite his decreased attendance, however, he still showed up when it counted. His best event this year was Shine 2018, where he rode a massive losers' run to 7th place; Moky, drunksloth, PewPewU, KJH, and n0ne were all eliminated at the Sheik's hands. At Runback 2018, Shroomed took 4th place, besting Westballz, Duck, and Bladewise on his way there.

Written by: Darren Lynch | Edited by: Andrew Nestico

#MPGR2018 No. 28: Fiction © Todd Gutierrez (@TGphoto_)

Rating: 78.1 | SSBMRank2017: N/A

Everything you've heard about Shephard “Fiction” Lima is true—he’s back, and with a vengeance. Though he hasn't quite eclipsed his top-20 peak from 2014, that seems to only be a matter of time. On the road to restoring his former stature, Fiction finished 9th at The Big House 8, and claimed wins over Wizzrobe, S2J, AbsentPage, Rishi, Lucky, and more within the past six months.

Written by: Jonah Fritz | Edited by: Darren Lynch

#MPGR2018 No. 27: Gahtzu © Rudolph Gonzalez (@Rudvgonz), AyeFilmSudio (ayefilmstudio.com), Full Bloom 4

Rating: 79.1 | SSBMRank2017: 43

The first half of Jason “Gahtzu” Diehl's year was quiet. The second half was quietly phenomenal. He found himself tearing through losers’ bracket at Shine 2018, eliminating six top players including ARMY and SFAT to finish at a stellar 5th place. He followed this up at The Big House 8, taking out Zain and Lucky to land at 9th. All in all, Gahtzu racked up five top-20 wins between late June and early October; can he keep up the momentum in 2019?

Written by: Darren Lynch | Edited by: Dylan Tate

#MPGR2018 No. 26: Rishi © Jeff M. (@Delta52_) via https://www.flickr.com/photos/144847199@N02/albums

Rating: 79.3 | SSBMRank2017: 36

Rishi "Rishi" Malhotra continues to impress. The rising Marth main scored a massive upset over Mew2King at Evo 2018, taking a game each from his Marth and Sheik for the victory en route to 17th place. He later went on to take 7th at Smash Summit 7, scoring wins over Swedish Delight and Bananas. With additional wins over PewPewU, Westballz, Slox, and La Luna, who knows how far Rishi can go?

Written by: Akhil Silla | Edited by: Darren Lynch

#MPGR2018 No. 25: KJH © Todd Gutierrez (@TGphoto_)

Rating: 80.8 | SSBMRank2017: 34

In Melee's current era of optimization, Kalindi “KJH” Henderson is leading the way to 20XX. One of the game’s top minds at pushing the limits of Fox, KJH's technical playstyle and brutally efficient punish game netted him wins over Duck, Crush, Swedish Delight, lloD, and many more in 2018. Not only that, but he seems almost immune to upsets; he placed 33rd or better at everything he entered, including a top 16 finish at Shine 2018 with a win over Ryan Ford.

Written by: Darren Lynch | Edited by: Andrew Nestico

#MPGR2018 No. 24: AbsentPage © Tram Tram (@TramTramPhotos)

Rating: 81.6 | SSBMRank2017: 74

Charlie “AbsentPage” McKinley is one of melee’s fastest-improving players, and it shows in his rank—at this time last year, he was 74th, 50 spots away from where he is now. How’d he make that jump? 2nd at The Scarlet Classic IV, taking sets from Swedish Delight, Rishi, and Crush. 7th at The Big House 8, defeating Trif, S2J, ChuDat, and Gahtzu. And the cherry on top, a tournament win at DreamHack Atlanta 2018, where he double eliminated S2J. Don’t be surprised if you see his meteoric rise continue into the new year.

Written by: Darren Lynch | Edited by: Andrew Nestico

#MPGR2018 No. 23: HugS © Todd Gutierrez (@TGphoto_)

Rating: 82.3 | SSBMRank2017: 23

The new-sponsor blessing was in full effect for Hugo “HugS” Gonzalez, who tore through Kels, Moky, Syrox, Duck, and aMSa to make top 8 at Genesis 5 right after signing with his new team. HugS stayed solid throughout the year, defeating PewPewU and AbsentPage at Smash ‘N’ Splash 4 and upsetting Zain at EGLX 2018. He was highly consistent year-round, placing top 24 at every event he attended.

Written by: Darren Lynch | Edited by: Chris Matis

#MPGR2018 No. 22: Westballz © Todd Gutierrez (@TGphoto_)

Rating: 83 | SSBMRank2017: 18

While some may label him inconsistent, Weston “Westballz” Dennis remains as deadly as ever. On the year, he boasts positive or even records against Wizzrobe, S2J, Duck, Lucky, and PewPewU. Two of those three Wizzrobe wins came at Noods Noods Noods: Oakland Edition, where Westballz also defeated Rocky and Shroomed before finishing 3rd. He also had a solid showing at Evo 2018, defeating Eddy Mexico, HugS, and MikeHaze en route to top 16.

Written by: Akhil Silla | Edited by: Darren Lynch

#MPGR2018 No. 21: lloD © phphotography.org (@princesshyruie)

Rating: 83.8 | SSBMRank2017: 26

Despite his grueling medical school schedule, Arjun “lloD” Malhotra still found the time to be America’s best Peach in 2018. He scored 1st place at The Even Bigger Balc, taking out Squid, Captain Faceroll, SFAT, and two sets over S2J for the gold. At Smash ‘N’ Splash 4, he tore through Bladewise, Shroomed, and Lucky in the loser’s bracket to take 9th. No matter what the future might hold for lloD, the resume he built up over the last year comfortably lands him at number 21.

Written by: Darren Lynch | Edited by: Andrew Nestico

Administrative Team:

Head Editor and Statistician: Andrew “PracticalTAS” Nestico

Graphics: Nick “DarkDragoon” Konstantino

Fact-Checking: Brendan “GimmeDatWheat” Malone

PGstats Director: Luis “suar” Suarez