Smarrgasm
What's a Smarrgasm?
Last night Atlanta's very own Battle and Brew gaming bar played host for their monthly Injustice Tournament. 19 players were in attendance to do battle for the title of BNB champion. Previous winners Pig of the Hut, BYS Smarr, and AK Harold were all in attendance showing that this would be a heated affair. This article will recap the action in the Top 4 of the tournament to prevent the writing of a novel yet again. (I lied, I still wrote a novel. Fail.)
After a great start to the tournament, the Top 4 was settled to be Pig of the Hut vs BYS Smarr in winners and Saltface vs Tyler Lantern in losers. The coverage begins with Winners Finals and a match that is starting to become a regular bout in the Atlanta scene with Pig of the Hut and BYS Smarr facing off. In their last clash at AKA #3 Smarr was able to win in Grand Finals with a bracket reset. Pig was looking for the runback and to show that he had learned from his mistakes. The matches began with Pig showing an incredibly different style to the Black Adam vs Zod MU than he had yet to date. He started off Game 1 very strong baffling Smarr with move after move. The game would be close but Pig would smartly close it out with time running out with a well spaced air-Zod charge to go up 1-0. Smarr went straight to the rematch only to run into much of the same. Pig playing even more commandingly, would close out Game 2 quickly to take a powerful 2-0 lead and put himself on the verge of revenge and a guaranteed top 2 finish. Smarr took a moment to think and decided to change the stage to his favorite which is well known in Atlanta, Arkham Asylum. As if somehow boosted by the stage switch, Smarr took a quick lead in Game 3 using the televisions and the ice vent to force a transition to put Pig in a bad position. The defensive game was no longer available and Pig would be closed out making the set go to 2-1 and give Smarr a glimmer of hope. Pig would then swap the stage to Strykers Island. Game 4 would swing quickly back to Pig's favor and after winning the first lifebar, Pig had Smarr's back to the wall. Keeping his defense on point Pig would close out the set and move on to Grand Finals 3-0 and making Smarr have to fight his way back from losers.
Loser's Semifinals would create the hype with two of Atlanta's lesser seen, but incredibly skilled players. Saltface vs Tyler Lantern. Saltface is known for his patented Harley Quinn (7th at CEO) and Tyler is known for being a strong player from MK backgrounds and now playing Green Lantern. Game 1 began and Tyler would get off to a strong start with Lantern's insane jump 1. The zoning battle and mind games would begin after that with tons of guns and missiles flying around. Both players chipped away at the others health until it became close to the end for both. Saltface was in need of a small comeback and did some tricky setups that Tyler was somehow able to weasel out of. Tyler would then close it out with a great B12 to open up Saltface and make it 1-0. Game 2 would begin with Saltface taking a quick lead right off the bat, but Tyler would answer quickly with a few nice setups and the use of the Atlantis water tank to make it 100% even going into the last life bars. Tyler would then turn on the power of Lantern's Light and gain the life lead by catching Saltface low multiple times with B13. The fight would get close near the end but chip damage from Oa's Rocket proved enough for Tyler to take the set 2-0 over Saltface. Tyler was now set to face Smarr in Loser's Finals in a 3/5 set and Saltface would have to go home with a 4th place finish.
Loser's Finals was set. It brought about yet another classic local rivalry from the Mortal Kombat days in Atlanta. Tyler has been known for being the master of Smarr from MK taking Smarr out in multiple locals and at MLG Raleigh in 2012. However, this was a new game, and Smarr has proven his strength thus far. Black Adam vs Green Lantern. So it began. Game 1 was a back and forth affair with each player trying to feel the other out. Rockets and lightning were flying all around as the battle came down to the wire near the end. Smarr would hit an uppercut only to drop the combo and get opened up by Tyler with B13. The combo took Smarr down to the last possible pixel and he was knocked down. By all accounts, this match was over. Tyler unfortunately tried to pressure Smarr on wakeup (a big no-no vs Black Adam) and Smarr now had the match in the bag. What a turn of events! The combo was set but as Tyler fell, Smarr then dropped the combo to win it! Tyler would then wake up lift to finish Game 1 and leave Smarr with his face in his hands visibly frustrated. Game 2 started off with a bang as Smarr took out his salt and anger on the ending of Game 1 to take the first life bar barely getting touched. Tyler quickly made the adjustment to bring the game a little closer but the lead would prove too much as Smarr closed it out to square things up and leave the set completely up in the air with Game 3 looming. Game 3 started off neck and neck with neither player showing a true advantage after the first life bar. Smarr would take a small lead but then the momentum swung heavily in Tyler's favor as he MB B3'd a wake up attempt by Smarr to send him flying to the rooftop while taking big damage. The rooftop is known for being a powerful stage for Black Adam and it would prove lucky for Smarr. The game would come down to the last 10% for both players but a well timed Black Magic into B3 and then a lightning on the knockdown was enough to close it out for Smarr and give him a 2-1 advantage going to Game 4. Tyler would take a moment to think at the character select screen and then would surprise us all by choosing Catwoman. Smarr seemed a little on edge about the change and no one knew what to expect. The match would begin with a Tyler trying to go on the offensive but a smart reversal in pressure would open up Tyler and give Smarr a huge combo to start the round. A well placed divekick after that would spell an entire life bar lead for Smarr and Tyler's hopes being put on the ropes. Tyler would then get some offense going with some smart stagger pressure showing Smarr that he would have to make another move or lose his lead. Using the power of D1-Lightning Hands, Smarr picked his spots and took Tyler down to his last bits of life and then used his Orbs of Seth to close out the set 3-1. Smarr was now back in Grand Finals and Tyler was eliminated with a nice Top 3 placing.
Grand Finals. The battle was set. The opponents were ready to duke it out. Pig in winners. Smarr in losers. Pig looking to assert his old dominance back on the Atlanta scene. Smarr looking for revenge, the runback, and the needed reset. Let's get it going. Game 1 began and Pig would pick up exactly where he ended things from the set in Winner's Finals. The Zod balls were flying around and Smarr still seemed to have no answer as the power of the Ghost of KT Smith helped to close out a decisive Game 1 for Pig. Smarr ran to his homeground in Arkham Asylum but would lose half his first bar off the start. Smarr started to slow himself down and the pace of the game slowly chipping his way back into the game taking the first lifebar. The battle would continue with a lot of the same gameplan from both players. Smarr would find an opening near the end to throw up his trait to take off the last bit of health and evening up the set 1-1. Pig would opt for a change of scenery but it would not phase Smarr as he took a quick lead and forced Pig into the corner of Ferris Aircraft. Black Adam is known for being a character that is incredible with a lead and it would show as Smarr slowly took out health piece by piece giving Pig no chance to win Game 3 and giving Smarr the lead 2-1. Smarr was now on the verge of resetting the bracket as we move on to Game 4. Pig would change the stage again giving us the setting of Lex Luthor's Lab. A few quick exchanges keeping each player even started off the game. Smarr then forced Pig into the corner and with a few nice dodges took the first lifebar and was set up very well. Pig called out KT Smith only to have him get MB B3'd and transitioned giving Smarr a huge lead and good position after as well. Pig would take advantage on some sluggish play to get the life bars much closer while also using unclashable combos. This left Smarr with a full stick of butter that Pig was unaware of. Pig shot a Zod ball at close range only to have Smarr use Black Adam's Super (who does that!) to go right through it and force a bracket reset.
The slate was now wiped clean but Smarr was definitely the one with the momentum going into the reset after winning 3 straight games. The new set would begin again with the same characters on the screen going at it. Pig would begin the reset with a few great reads and the help of KT Smith to get a nice lead. Smarr would answer right back with a few of his own using a MB interactible and then MB B3 yet again to transition Pig and take over the lead. Pig would again try to get his Zod ball game going but Smarr was having none of it as he forced him into the corner again while also somehow getting through a MB interactible. The game would then get closed out with a low lightning connecting and giving Smarr the lead at 1-0. Pig would then go back to character select. The decision this time was not a stage swap though, instead it was a reversion back to his old main in Sinestro. Sinestro has been known to give Smarr problems and Pig was hoping it would be more of the same this time around. As the match began, it seemed as if that was true. Pig would use some fearful crossup mixups to gain an early lead and taking the first bar off a drop by Smarr. Pig would extend heavily on his lead before Smarr could take off his life bar. Pig began to keep Smarr out as he looked for some way to get back in. A nice crossup by Smarr started the comeback and then two backdash reads with Ex lightning put the lifebars almost back to completely even. The true mind games began as Pig slowly chipped away but unfortunately threw a boulder on block which Smarr would punish. In a last second scramble, Smarr would rush in and kill Pig before he could react and take a 2-0 grasp on the set and put himself on the cusp of the BNB title. Pig was not done yet as Game 3 began. The beginning skirmish fell again in Pig's favor as he transitioned the match down to the pig stage. Pig would try to use the clown face interactible but Smarr punished well and forced Pig close to the corner. Pig would get his trait out after this and the momentum swayed heavily in his favor. Smarr had no answers as Pig fought and shot his way into the lead. Smarr then answered back somehow catching Pig and sending him through the transition and both players on their last bits of health. Pig is known for being clutch and knows the situations well and showed it as Smarr ran face first into a Fear Blast to send the set on tilt at 2-1. Pig now with some of the advantage was looking to take it all back from Smarr now. Game 4 started and Pig began with a huge rick in B13. Smarr aptly punished him for it taking nearly half his life for the attempt. Smarr then hit Pig with a crossover into divekick for another huge chunk of damage and then a d1 Trait throw to take the entire life bar with barely a scratch on his character. It seemed like it was all over as Pig would have to take 200% life before losing 100% against a character like Black Adam. Smarr knew the incredible position he was in and started playing lamer and lamer to force Pig to make a move. Pig got things moving for him as he got his trait out but a dropped combo and a frustrated move on Smarr's wake up would allow Smarr to get a lightning cage and convert the combo for victory 3-1.
This marks the 3rd BNB victory for Smarr and his 3rd victory in a row in Atlanta after winning the last two Atlanta Kombat Arena's as well. It seems that Smarr and all of Atlanta is gearing up for The Fall Classic and looking good with fierce competition all around. We will see what they have in store as the tournament is fast approaching. Thanks as always to those who tuned in and we will see you next time!
--------Top 8 Results/Characters--------
1- BYS Smarr 88 (Black Adam)
2- AK Pig Of The Hut (Zod, Sinestro)
3- AK TylerLantern (Green Lantern, Catwoman)
4- AK SaltFace (Harley Quinn)
5- AK Stormthegates (Superman, MMH)
5- AK Trepound380 (Hawkgirl)
7- XEN0M0RPH (Green Lantern)
7- AK Reno_Racks (Batman)
Full results at http://challonge.com/injustice_atl
Stream archive at Twitch.tv/Funkyp (Subscribe for future BNB coverage)
Youtube videos will be uploaded in time at Youtube.com/sukijones357
CrimsonShadow GamerBlake90 AK Juggs
After a great start to the tournament, the Top 4 was settled to be Pig of the Hut vs BYS Smarr in winners and Saltface vs Tyler Lantern in losers. The coverage begins with Winners Finals and a match that is starting to become a regular bout in the Atlanta scene with Pig of the Hut and BYS Smarr facing off. In their last clash at AKA #3 Smarr was able to win in Grand Finals with a bracket reset. Pig was looking for the runback and to show that he had learned from his mistakes. The matches began with Pig showing an incredibly different style to the Black Adam vs Zod MU than he had yet to date. He started off Game 1 very strong baffling Smarr with move after move. The game would be close but Pig would smartly close it out with time running out with a well spaced air-Zod charge to go up 1-0. Smarr went straight to the rematch only to run into much of the same. Pig playing even more commandingly, would close out Game 2 quickly to take a powerful 2-0 lead and put himself on the verge of revenge and a guaranteed top 2 finish. Smarr took a moment to think and decided to change the stage to his favorite which is well known in Atlanta, Arkham Asylum. As if somehow boosted by the stage switch, Smarr took a quick lead in Game 3 using the televisions and the ice vent to force a transition to put Pig in a bad position. The defensive game was no longer available and Pig would be closed out making the set go to 2-1 and give Smarr a glimmer of hope. Pig would then swap the stage to Strykers Island. Game 4 would swing quickly back to Pig's favor and after winning the first lifebar, Pig had Smarr's back to the wall. Keeping his defense on point Pig would close out the set and move on to Grand Finals 3-0 and making Smarr have to fight his way back from losers.
Loser's Semifinals would create the hype with two of Atlanta's lesser seen, but incredibly skilled players. Saltface vs Tyler Lantern. Saltface is known for his patented Harley Quinn (7th at CEO) and Tyler is known for being a strong player from MK backgrounds and now playing Green Lantern. Game 1 began and Tyler would get off to a strong start with Lantern's insane jump 1. The zoning battle and mind games would begin after that with tons of guns and missiles flying around. Both players chipped away at the others health until it became close to the end for both. Saltface was in need of a small comeback and did some tricky setups that Tyler was somehow able to weasel out of. Tyler would then close it out with a great B12 to open up Saltface and make it 1-0. Game 2 would begin with Saltface taking a quick lead right off the bat, but Tyler would answer quickly with a few nice setups and the use of the Atlantis water tank to make it 100% even going into the last life bars. Tyler would then turn on the power of Lantern's Light and gain the life lead by catching Saltface low multiple times with B13. The fight would get close near the end but chip damage from Oa's Rocket proved enough for Tyler to take the set 2-0 over Saltface. Tyler was now set to face Smarr in Loser's Finals in a 3/5 set and Saltface would have to go home with a 4th place finish.
Loser's Finals was set. It brought about yet another classic local rivalry from the Mortal Kombat days in Atlanta. Tyler has been known for being the master of Smarr from MK taking Smarr out in multiple locals and at MLG Raleigh in 2012. However, this was a new game, and Smarr has proven his strength thus far. Black Adam vs Green Lantern. So it began. Game 1 was a back and forth affair with each player trying to feel the other out. Rockets and lightning were flying all around as the battle came down to the wire near the end. Smarr would hit an uppercut only to drop the combo and get opened up by Tyler with B13. The combo took Smarr down to the last possible pixel and he was knocked down. By all accounts, this match was over. Tyler unfortunately tried to pressure Smarr on wakeup (a big no-no vs Black Adam) and Smarr now had the match in the bag. What a turn of events! The combo was set but as Tyler fell, Smarr then dropped the combo to win it! Tyler would then wake up lift to finish Game 1 and leave Smarr with his face in his hands visibly frustrated. Game 2 started off with a bang as Smarr took out his salt and anger on the ending of Game 1 to take the first life bar barely getting touched. Tyler quickly made the adjustment to bring the game a little closer but the lead would prove too much as Smarr closed it out to square things up and leave the set completely up in the air with Game 3 looming. Game 3 started off neck and neck with neither player showing a true advantage after the first life bar. Smarr would take a small lead but then the momentum swung heavily in Tyler's favor as he MB B3'd a wake up attempt by Smarr to send him flying to the rooftop while taking big damage. The rooftop is known for being a powerful stage for Black Adam and it would prove lucky for Smarr. The game would come down to the last 10% for both players but a well timed Black Magic into B3 and then a lightning on the knockdown was enough to close it out for Smarr and give him a 2-1 advantage going to Game 4. Tyler would take a moment to think at the character select screen and then would surprise us all by choosing Catwoman. Smarr seemed a little on edge about the change and no one knew what to expect. The match would begin with a Tyler trying to go on the offensive but a smart reversal in pressure would open up Tyler and give Smarr a huge combo to start the round. A well placed divekick after that would spell an entire life bar lead for Smarr and Tyler's hopes being put on the ropes. Tyler would then get some offense going with some smart stagger pressure showing Smarr that he would have to make another move or lose his lead. Using the power of D1-Lightning Hands, Smarr picked his spots and took Tyler down to his last bits of life and then used his Orbs of Seth to close out the set 3-1. Smarr was now back in Grand Finals and Tyler was eliminated with a nice Top 3 placing.
Grand Finals. The battle was set. The opponents were ready to duke it out. Pig in winners. Smarr in losers. Pig looking to assert his old dominance back on the Atlanta scene. Smarr looking for revenge, the runback, and the needed reset. Let's get it going. Game 1 began and Pig would pick up exactly where he ended things from the set in Winner's Finals. The Zod balls were flying around and Smarr still seemed to have no answer as the power of the Ghost of KT Smith helped to close out a decisive Game 1 for Pig. Smarr ran to his homeground in Arkham Asylum but would lose half his first bar off the start. Smarr started to slow himself down and the pace of the game slowly chipping his way back into the game taking the first lifebar. The battle would continue with a lot of the same gameplan from both players. Smarr would find an opening near the end to throw up his trait to take off the last bit of health and evening up the set 1-1. Pig would opt for a change of scenery but it would not phase Smarr as he took a quick lead and forced Pig into the corner of Ferris Aircraft. Black Adam is known for being a character that is incredible with a lead and it would show as Smarr slowly took out health piece by piece giving Pig no chance to win Game 3 and giving Smarr the lead 2-1. Smarr was now on the verge of resetting the bracket as we move on to Game 4. Pig would change the stage again giving us the setting of Lex Luthor's Lab. A few quick exchanges keeping each player even started off the game. Smarr then forced Pig into the corner and with a few nice dodges took the first lifebar and was set up very well. Pig called out KT Smith only to have him get MB B3'd and transitioned giving Smarr a huge lead and good position after as well. Pig would take advantage on some sluggish play to get the life bars much closer while also using unclashable combos. This left Smarr with a full stick of butter that Pig was unaware of. Pig shot a Zod ball at close range only to have Smarr use Black Adam's Super (who does that!) to go right through it and force a bracket reset.
The slate was now wiped clean but Smarr was definitely the one with the momentum going into the reset after winning 3 straight games. The new set would begin again with the same characters on the screen going at it. Pig would begin the reset with a few great reads and the help of KT Smith to get a nice lead. Smarr would answer right back with a few of his own using a MB interactible and then MB B3 yet again to transition Pig and take over the lead. Pig would again try to get his Zod ball game going but Smarr was having none of it as he forced him into the corner again while also somehow getting through a MB interactible. The game would then get closed out with a low lightning connecting and giving Smarr the lead at 1-0. Pig would then go back to character select. The decision this time was not a stage swap though, instead it was a reversion back to his old main in Sinestro. Sinestro has been known to give Smarr problems and Pig was hoping it would be more of the same this time around. As the match began, it seemed as if that was true. Pig would use some fearful crossup mixups to gain an early lead and taking the first bar off a drop by Smarr. Pig would extend heavily on his lead before Smarr could take off his life bar. Pig began to keep Smarr out as he looked for some way to get back in. A nice crossup by Smarr started the comeback and then two backdash reads with Ex lightning put the lifebars almost back to completely even. The true mind games began as Pig slowly chipped away but unfortunately threw a boulder on block which Smarr would punish. In a last second scramble, Smarr would rush in and kill Pig before he could react and take a 2-0 grasp on the set and put himself on the cusp of the BNB title. Pig was not done yet as Game 3 began. The beginning skirmish fell again in Pig's favor as he transitioned the match down to the pig stage. Pig would try to use the clown face interactible but Smarr punished well and forced Pig close to the corner. Pig would get his trait out after this and the momentum swayed heavily in his favor. Smarr had no answers as Pig fought and shot his way into the lead. Smarr then answered back somehow catching Pig and sending him through the transition and both players on their last bits of health. Pig is known for being clutch and knows the situations well and showed it as Smarr ran face first into a Fear Blast to send the set on tilt at 2-1. Pig now with some of the advantage was looking to take it all back from Smarr now. Game 4 started and Pig began with a huge rick in B13. Smarr aptly punished him for it taking nearly half his life for the attempt. Smarr then hit Pig with a crossover into divekick for another huge chunk of damage and then a d1 Trait throw to take the entire life bar with barely a scratch on his character. It seemed like it was all over as Pig would have to take 200% life before losing 100% against a character like Black Adam. Smarr knew the incredible position he was in and started playing lamer and lamer to force Pig to make a move. Pig got things moving for him as he got his trait out but a dropped combo and a frustrated move on Smarr's wake up would allow Smarr to get a lightning cage and convert the combo for victory 3-1.
This marks the 3rd BNB victory for Smarr and his 3rd victory in a row in Atlanta after winning the last two Atlanta Kombat Arena's as well. It seems that Smarr and all of Atlanta is gearing up for The Fall Classic and looking good with fierce competition all around. We will see what they have in store as the tournament is fast approaching. Thanks as always to those who tuned in and we will see you next time!
--------Top 8 Results/Characters--------
1- BYS Smarr 88 (Black Adam)
2- AK Pig Of The Hut (Zod, Sinestro)
3- AK TylerLantern (Green Lantern, Catwoman)
4- AK SaltFace (Harley Quinn)
5- AK Stormthegates (Superman, MMH)
5- AK Trepound380 (Hawkgirl)
7- XEN0M0RPH (Green Lantern)
7- AK Reno_Racks (Batman)
Full results at http://challonge.com/injustice_atl
Stream archive at Twitch.tv/Funkyp (Subscribe for future BNB coverage)
Youtube videos will be uploaded in time at Youtube.com/sukijones357
CrimsonShadow GamerBlake90 AK Juggs
