​Ever since the resolution of his long-standing visa issues and return to competition in the US in time for The Big House 6, William "Leffen" Hjelte has been unable to show and maintain the stellar mentality and punish game that led to his streak of dominance during the first half of 2015.





After Smash 'N' Splash 3, however, Leffen has reached a close version of his 2015 peak twice now, with the other time being at Don't Park on the Grass.





Here's how and who he played from June 2-4 to kick off the Summer of Smash.

The smasher life is dope — William Hjelte (@TSM_Leffen) June 3, 2017

​​Though he didn't give any indication of how well he felt he was playing, June 2 was an easy day for Leffen. He dominated ​pool E10 without dropping a single game to move on to his round two pools on Saturday.





Leffen continued dominating lower players during his round two pools on Saturday, securing a trio of 2-0 wins in ​pool J1 to advance to the winners side of the top 64 bracket, where everything else he played would be a best-of-five set.

​​To kick off top 64, Leffen had to play against Zain "Zain" Naghmi. Zain kept game one against Leffen very close, but it looked like curtains for him after Leffen steamrolled game two on FD.





Zain, however, didn't lose his composure. For the next three games, he consistently outplayed Leffen in the neutral thanks to his incredible dash dances. On top of that, his setups for tippers and other kills were immaculate.

Seeing the situation that the set was in, Juan "Hungrybox" DeBiedma actually requested that he and his opponent pause right before the third game of their set to watch the end of the set.





The set was so big that he even popped off for Zain.





In order to make it even to top eight, Leffen would have to make a legendary losers bracket run through a gauntlet of tried and true killers.

Ah, good games Zain. Sorry once again to everyone I let down.

I'll try my best in losers. — William Hjelte (@TSM_Leffen) June 4, 2017

​​And try he did. In losers round one, Leffen faced Minnesota's own Ethan "Nakamaman" Xiong, and beat him in a ​3-0. He was taken to last stock the third game, but a win is a win.





After Nakamaman, Leffen had to play against Aaron "Professor Pro" Thomas in the Fox ditto. Although Professor Pro took game two with a two-stock, Leffen won the set ​3-1.

​​In order to qualify for top 16, Leffen then had to play against yet another fellow European Fox main -- this time it was Mustafa "Ice" Akcakaya. Throughout the 3-1 set, Leffen did what he needed to win.





His dash dancing, punishes, and recoveries were all roughly standard for him, and he just solidly outplayed the best player in Germany.

​​As the second-to-last set he had to play in order to qualify for top eight, Leffen was pitted against Edgard "n0ne" Sheleby. Though Leffen started the set with a win, it looked like n0ne was about to beat him 3-1 until this pivotal moment.





Leffen had just mounted a comeback after starting down in game four, and one dropped edgeguard let him turn the tables on n0ne and bring the set to game five, ​which he won while exerting a surprising amount of dominance over every aspect of the game.

On a positive note, really proud of myself for today. I feel like I learned a lot about my own mentality and put it all together in losers. — William Hjelte (@TSM_Leffen) June 4, 2017

​​To qualify for top eight, Leffen then beat Weston "Westballz" Dennis 3-0. Though the third game was close, Leffen pulled through confidently.





Leffen said it all in his tweet -- he was putting it all together in losers. Especially come game five vs. n0ne, he started showing shades of the old Leffen that you see in VODs from CEO 2015.





He didn't do anything "special," he just adapted well and played a clean Fox neutral game that led smoothly into a solid punish game.





​​To ensure he would place at least fifth, Leffen started off top eight by playing against Jeffrey "Axe" Williamson. The performance was strong from Leffen, including a four-stock against Axe on Fountain of Dreams, which is traditionally one of Axe's best stages.





Winning 3-1, Leffen advanced to losers quarters, where the winners bracket made it such that he played against Joseph "Mang0" Marquez.

​​Headed into game three against Mang0, it looked like curtains for Leffen. Mang0 is the probably the best player in the world at Falco vs. Fox, and started off the set up 2-0.





However, Mang0 made a crucial mistake in giving Leffen a homie stock near the end of game three. Leffen capitalized on the kindness to take a game for himself, and ended up heading Mang0 a reverse 3-0 for the gesture.

What a set. Gotta keep on going for everyone I've beat a long the way. Shroomed next! — William Hjelte (@TSM_Leffen) June 5, 2017

​​In losers semis, Leffen ultimately ended the long run of DaJuan "Shroomed" McDaniel with a three stock during game five on Pokemon Stadium. Both of the games that Shroomed earned were courtesy of his Marth, which originally gave Leffen a fair bit of trouble.





Based on the results of game five, though, Leffen didn't mind too much.

​​In losers finals, Leffen proved his mental fortitude and in-game capability with a 3-1 victory over Adam "Armada" Lindgren, despite getting three stocked in game two.





Like all of their sets, the games against Armada were back and forth, but Leffen consistently out-punished Armada and got more stable neutral openings.

Nakamaman

Prof Pro

Ice

n0ne

Westballz

Axe

Mang0

Shroomed

Armada

Hungrybox



Shoutouts to Leffen man, hell of a run, but "@LiquidHbox said no" pic.twitter.com/InOXQGCakQ — Practical TAS (@PracticalTAS) June 5, 2017

​​In grand finals, Leffen managed to reset the bracket against Juan "Hungrybox" DeBiedma in a rather close 3-1. Come the second set, though, Hungrybox turned the tables and won the final set of the tournament 3-1, sending Leffen home at second place.





Whether his performance at this tournament was an anomaly from Leffen or something that we can expect more consistently is yet to be seen, but this was easily the best losers in modern Smash.