PGstats is proud to present the latest Melee ranking, #MPGR2019 , in concert with Red Bull! The #MPGR2019 ranking season spans the end of 2018 (after Don’t Park on the Grass 2018) to Dec. 8, 2019 (Mang0’s Birthday Bash).

PGstats has asked 45 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 2019, 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.

New this year: We’ve tried to interview every player in the Top 100! Players in the Top 50 will still have blurbs, but the focus on the first 50 will be their interviews.

#MPGR2019 No. 60: Aura © Chime Photography (@alonelychime)

Rating: 52.8 | #MPGR2018 Rank: N/A

MPGR: What was your proudest achievement of 2019?

Aura: Taking a tournament off of FatGoku. Even though it was only a local, I've went to so many tournaments with him. I'd never won a tournament over him until this year.

MPGR: How do you feel about your 2019 in Melee, as a whole?

Aura: Very crazy, I had some insane wins that I didn't think were possible. At the same time I also had a lot of upsets in bracket. Not getting upset in bracket will be one of my main goals for melee next year.

MPGR: What's your favorite tournament series, and why?

Aura: Don't Park On The Grass. It's the only major in the PNW and I love the TO's. Plus it's the event I got my first ever top 100 win at.

#MPGR2019 No. 59: Jerry © Nicholas Kaufmann Photography (@nkp_photography)

Rating: 54.2 | #MPGR2018 Rank: 55

MPGR: At this stage in your Melee career, who would you consider your rival?

Jerry: I can't think of one...myself?

MPGR: What's your least favorite matchup, and why?

Jerry: Probably Fox dittos because of how easily the game can turn around.

MPGR: What's your favorite button on the GameCube controller, and why?

Jerry: Shield, because it gives you all the info.

#MPGR2019 No. 58: Nickemwit © Chime Photography (@alonelychime)

Rating: 55.6 | #MPGR2018 Rank: 83

MPGR: Currently, what motivates you to compete in Melee?

Nickemwit: I want to play a Captain Falcon unlike any other. Melee is so expressive that it allows people to emphasize whatever aspects of the game they love most. All the best Falcon players have their own unique take on the character, and I want to show that there's still many new things to bring to the table.

MPGR: How do you feel Melee changed in 2019?

Nickemwit: 2019 was the year of upsets. The difference between top players and upper mid level players is way smaller than ever before. The competition has finally caught up to the perennial favorites.

MPGR: Say something you want to share with your fans.

Nickemwit: Don't expect to see me at many nationals this year, but if there's ever a regional and you have a floor for me to sleep on, I'll try to be there. Thanks for being supportive of me even though I always choke. Let's play teams!!

#MPGR2019 No. 57: Kalamazhu © Evan Johnson (@EvanJPhoto)

Rating: 56.2 | #MPGR2018 Rank: 37

MPGR: What are your priorities for 2020?

Kalamazhu: Improving at tennis and Melee.

MPGR: What's your favorite tournament series, and why?

Kalamazhu: Genesis: tons of setups, all the homies go, and no flying.

MPGR: What's your least favorite matchup, and why?

Kalamazhu: Falco. He's too hard to approach and actually has good kill setups (contrary to popular belief).

#MPGR2019 No. 56: Slox © Thom Palko (@yungwingss)

Rating: 56.3 | #MPGR2018 Rank: 50

MPGR: Currently, what motivates you to compete in Melee?

Slox: 10 years into the game and the reason I compete is still the same. I want to see what I'm capable of and continue to defy even my own expectations. Apparently my favorite artistic medium is pass/failing execution tests and that's fine... I think I just want to take a step back, get my life in order, and come back with the intention to be the best I can instead half-assing it because i'm so caught up between life and smash.

MPGR: What about the year do you feel satisfied with? What about the year do you feel unsatisfied with?

Slox: Playing Kimba at my birthday tournament was a dope Christmas present. Getting reverse 3-0'd by Kimba at my birthday tournament wasn't koo.

MPGR: What's your favorite button on the GameCube controller, and why?

Slox: The control stick... it made me ambidextrous.

#MPGR2019 No. 55: Overtriforce © Carl Paradise (@SHIP_Combo)

Rating: 57.1 | #MPGR2018 Rank: 57

Unfortunately, we couldn't get a hold of Overtriforce before the rankings were published.

#MPGR2019 No. 54: Colbol © Win Condition Games (@win_condition)

Rating: 57.2 | #MPGR2018 Rank: 30

MPGR: What are your priorities for 2020?

Colbol: Finish my coding bootcamp, get a full-time job, and hopefully start travelling to nationals again (at least a few).

MPGR: What's your least favorite matchup, and why?

Colbol: I think my least favorite match-up is Jigglypuff. It feels like I have to change my playstyle/gameplan most drastically when I fight her compared to fighting other characters. My preferred aggressive style is a lot riskier than usual against her. Not to mention you can barely combo or edgeguard her!

MPGR: Say something you want to share with your fans.

Colbol: Thanks for all your support! I'm hoping to make my return to nationals next year, so keep an eye out for me :)

#MPGR2019 No. 53: La Luna © Evan Johnson (@EvanJPhoto)

Rating: 57.5 | #MPGR2018 Rank: 32

MPGR: What was your proudest achievement of 2019?

La Luna: Making top 64 in Ultimate as a Melee player. Moving forward I want to practice more of Ultimate but still compete in both games.

MPGR: What's your favorite tournament series, and why?

La Luna: Evo, because it's Vegas.

MPGR: What's your favorite button on the GameCube controller, and why?

La Luna: It’s gotta be the A button. Can’t schlice without it.

#MPGR2019 No. 52: billybopeep © Evan Johnson (@EvanJPhoto)

Rating: 58.7 | #MPGR2018 Rank: N/A

MPGR: Currently, what motivates you to compete in Melee?

billybopeep: I want to be the best! With the passing of 2019 I've made such major strides in my play and honestly that in itself is a huge motivation, but seeing how far I've come only shows me how possible it really is to reach the upper echelon of players and reach that end goal.

MPGR: What's your favorite tournament series, and why?

billybopeep: Friday Night Turnip definitely has to be my favorite tourney series. FNT is the first local I went to and there I met some of my best friends and had some of my best melee memories. At FNT I made my first steps improving as both a person and a player so it holds a lot of sentimental value.

MPGR: What's your favorite button on the GameCube controller, and why?

billybopeep: The X button has to be my favorite. The decade long argument of which jump button is superior and I have to say X is OBJECTIVELY the best. It has the least amount of inherent strain during rest, has the most ergonomic movements generally having to going to the side like a fan instead of pulling in to move the thumb down, and overall is just the sickest.

#MPGR2019 No. 51: Ice © Marie "Whim" Notot (@MarieNotot)

Rating: 58.8 | #MPGR2018 Rank: 39

Unfortunately, we couldn't get a hold of Ice before the rankings were published.

Administrative Team:

Head Editor and Statistician: Andrew “PracticalTAS” Nestico

Graphics: Nick “DarkDragoon” Konstantino

Fact-Checking: Brendan “GimmeDatWheat” Malone

PGstats Director: Luis “suar” Suarez