Last night, in Laurel Park, Maryland, Xanadu Games was host to the biggest Super Smash Bros. Melee tournament of the weekend: the whimsically titled The Script - Episode 1: “Race to the Finish.” If the intention of the event’s name was to draw attention to the dynamic—and indeed almost cinematic—storylines that have organically developed within the competitive scene of the world’s most popular fighting game, then it certainly delivered. With gripping last-stock comebacks, fast-paced character matchups and an underdog victory, the tournament had all the hallmarks of a classic.

By many metrics, Edgard “n0ne” Sheleby was not the favorite to win The Script. After all, he was the event’s second seed—ranked behind Justin “Wizzrobe” Hallett on the Summer 2018 Melee Panda Global Rankings—and he had reason to fear some of the other heavy hitters present at the event. For example, he had not defeated Ryan “La Luna” Coker-Welch in over a year, losing his last two sets against the Marth main in convincing 3-0s.

But despite these disclaimers, the Canadian No. 1’s tournament victory was not entirely surprising. After defeating top Spaniard Roberto “Overtriforce” Iglesias to qualify for winner’s side of Top 8, he managed to defeat La Luna 3-1 in winner’s semi-finals.

“I played aggro, but not dumb aggro,” explained the Allegiance-sponsored Captain Falcon main in his post-tournament interview.

Once n0ne was through to winner’s finals, he arguably became the favorite to win the event. Though Wizzrobe, who had vanquished Álvaro “Trif” García Moral to make it into the other side of winner’s finals, was the tournament’s top seed, n0ne had demonstrated his ability to defeat his fellow Falcon in a recent 3-1 victory over Wizzrobe at late August’s Shine 2018. In winner’s finals of The Script, he did it again, squeaking out a 3-2 victory over the Floridian to secure himself a spot in grand finals.

Wizzrobe came back with a vengeance in grand finals, putting n0ne on his back foot for three straight games and resetting the bracket with a quick 3-0. Unfortunately for the Floridian, however, n0ne was undeterred by this loss, and in the second set of grands he upped his defensive play and punish game to earn himself a 3-1 victory—and the tournament’s Oscar-esque trophy.