Hey guys unfortunately since Ill be attending Texas showdown, the third stop on the Mortal Kombat 1 Pro komp I was unable to get the preview show video recorded and made but I still have the script and figure that beats doing nothing at all so here it is, hope you enjoy!
Intro
Texas showdown has become a staple in the Mortal Kombat community hosting a tournament in the heart of one of the biggest states for Mortal Kombat in the US. Last years tournament was an insane event which showed the first offline tournament for prodigy Hourglassofrain, an insane losers run from Arrona which started after losing round 2 of pools to hourglass just for them to meet again in losers finals where he won the run back and got to face Dyloch in grand finals who eventually went on to win the tournament. This year the event is even bigger being the 3rd stop on the MK pro kompetition. This event is stacked with talent traveling from all over the United states to attend. Let's start off by taking a look at the potential winners side top 8 qualifying matches.
SonicFox vs King Gambler
SoniceFox truly needs no introduction being the returning pro komp winner, evo champion and winning the pro komps first stop in Mexico sonicfox is looking all but unstoppable and is the favorite to win the tournament this weekend. In their way to a winner side top 8 spot is Damascus Gamings own KingGambler who fell one spot short of qualifying for final kombat in season 1. Gambler made top 8 of the first pro komp event in Season 1 at ECT and made another at the Brazil pro komp. He also won MK1 majors Dreamhack Dallas and Dreamcon before taking a break to pursue his career. Now Gambler is back to compete and although this feels like a warmup event for Gambler to see where he is for the pro komp you can never count this man out, if this set happens it should be a good one!
Bustman vs Onlinecale
After a few shaky performances, bustman exploded into the MK top player spotlight winning MK major frosty faustings without losing a set. Being a Havik loyalist paid off for Bustman and he is hoping to further cement himself as a top player in Mortal Kombat 1 with a top 8 at Texas showdown. However on the other side of the projected bracket for top 8 is STG teammate onlinecale who has made a name for themselves in online bracket winning the demon lobby multiple times, winning the most recent SRS season finale and winning 20 consecutive online brackets Cale is a true x factor this weekend and can beat anyone on any given day. If this match between Bustman and Cale is to happen it would be a very good one!
Grr vs HourGlassOfRain
After making top 8 at the Mexico pro komp event Grr fell just short of top 8 at Viennality getting 9th losing two close sets to NRS legend a foxy grandpa. Grr is looking for revenge and to claim a winners side top 8 spot at Texas showdown but if he is to do that he will likely have to go through NA west pro komp final kombat qualifier HourGlassOfRain. HourGlass got 3rd place at Texas showdown last year showing that his online prowess translated perfectly to offline play. HourGlass has wins in basically every online event you can think of and is notorious for double eliminating sonicfox in the online pro komp NA west qualifier #2 in season one. This set is sure to be a war of attrition between two of the most patient players in MK1.
Dyloch vs WizeGeMini
Dyloch won Texas showdown last year as well as winning CEO and a top 8 at Evo Dyloch is a top 10 player in the world and with the newly buffed shao there is not reason he should not be able to win Texas showdown again however he has a tough match against Damascus gaming's WizeGemini. WizeGemini is known as a silent grinder, not someone you see compete much but when he does he is always ready. He got 9th place at ECT 2023, finished 2nd in the NA West pro komp qualifier finale which allowed him to compete in final kombat where he got 9th. Now he is back with buffed Havik and a Ghostface that is one of the best in the world. Whoever wins this set if it is to happen is sure to pop off like a desert eagle.
Projected 9th placers
These are the players who are projected to get 9th place at the Texas showdown but with 1 upset win can see themselves in top 8!
Han Rashid
Han Rashid is an evo finalist Combo breaker finalist, lvl up expo champion and grand finalist of frosty faustings 2025 Han has been playing NRS games at an elite level for a long time being in the heart of one of the most active regions for fighting games socal. Han Rashid has been most recently seen playing Havik but has a slew of characters winning lvl up expo with the recently buffed Reiko. Han Rashid is a player we can definitely see in the top 8 this weekend.
Pulse
After exploding on to the Mortal Kombat 1 scene getting top 8 of ECT 2023, winning 3 straight Shirai Ryu sundays and getting second at lvl up expo Pulse has slowed down a bit from his top player ways getting some really good but not up to his standard results more recently. Pulse is looking to bounce back with a big performance this weekend. With his track record and his plethora of characters a top 8 is certainly a possibility for him this weekend.
Enzo
Being from Texas Enzo will get the patented home field advantage this weekend and he will need playing the low tier Quan Chi. After getting 9th place at Texas showdown and Dreamhack Dallas Enzo followed it up with an insanely impressive 9th at Evo, an event 10 times the size of the previous getting wins on Konquoror, Grr and King Gambler and also starting the infamous 9th place curse. However he followed it up with a 4th place finish at dreamcon just a few weeks later. Enzo will have to take out an absolute killer out if he is to make top 8 at Texas showdown but that is something he can certainly do.
Mari
Mari is one of my favorite stories when we talk about MK1 journeys after going 0-2 at ECT 2023 Mari vouched to never go 0-2 again. He got an impressive 33rd at combo breaker then followed it up with at top 8 at LCQ winning his run back against Hayatei he then went on to get 13th at evo and rounded out the year getting 2nd at ECT the event he 0-2d just a year before. Mari's story is great but it is just getting started, if I was a betting man I would have Mari in top 8 this weekend.
The Dark Horses
In this section I will list some players that I think can make it really far this weekend but are projected to finish 13th or worse.
Dexydawg won week 3 of the NA west pro kompetition, got 17th at Combo Breaker and got 9th at Evo. He is one of the best Mileena players in the world with an insane level of innovation for the character with Khameleon.
JustNasty is a smoke loyalist who has pushed the character further than anyone getting 33rd at evo, 5th at Dreamhack ATL 2023 and a spot in the top 8 final for NA East online the most stacked region for MK1. Although we have not seen a ton from Justnasty recently do not be surprised at all if you see him make a run this weekend.
Pure is a player we do not see compete a ton but much like wize when he shows up he always seems to do well with what seems like a mastery over the entire cast of characters. Tournament wins in ShiraiRyuSundays, TNS and a 17th place at combo breaker pure is not a player you should be sleeping on this weekend.
Stryker won the first MK1 major CEOTaku but after that has not seen the same level of success in offline tournaments however he has won multiple really big online events. Having found success with DLC character Ermac and later Ghostface Stryker has insane technical prowess and game knowledge that can be difficult for anyone who faces him this weekend. Stryker could very easily be in top 8 at Texas Showdown.
The Field
This tournament is stacked and I simply cannot touch on everyone who will be competing but here are some players who you could see on stream later in the tournament. PerfectShini, Mist, Krytis, NoGreen, 2eZ, Herkuhlez, Six, Trash, Plus, Whits, YoAJ, Prospect, Vyletz, Jusmeezy, Euphoring, Dezda, Kelz and even me will all be in attendance and could make some deep runs this weekend. With a tournament this stacked this it is sure to be an insane weekend of Mortal Kombat 1! I cannot wait.
Intro
Texas showdown has become a staple in the Mortal Kombat community hosting a tournament in the heart of one of the biggest states for Mortal Kombat in the US. Last years tournament was an insane event which showed the first offline tournament for prodigy Hourglassofrain, an insane losers run from Arrona which started after losing round 2 of pools to hourglass just for them to meet again in losers finals where he won the run back and got to face Dyloch in grand finals who eventually went on to win the tournament. This year the event is even bigger being the 3rd stop on the MK pro kompetition. This event is stacked with talent traveling from all over the United states to attend. Let's start off by taking a look at the potential winners side top 8 qualifying matches.
SonicFox vs King Gambler
SoniceFox truly needs no introduction being the returning pro komp winner, evo champion and winning the pro komps first stop in Mexico sonicfox is looking all but unstoppable and is the favorite to win the tournament this weekend. In their way to a winner side top 8 spot is Damascus Gamings own KingGambler who fell one spot short of qualifying for final kombat in season 1. Gambler made top 8 of the first pro komp event in Season 1 at ECT and made another at the Brazil pro komp. He also won MK1 majors Dreamhack Dallas and Dreamcon before taking a break to pursue his career. Now Gambler is back to compete and although this feels like a warmup event for Gambler to see where he is for the pro komp you can never count this man out, if this set happens it should be a good one!
Bustman vs Onlinecale
After a few shaky performances, bustman exploded into the MK top player spotlight winning MK major frosty faustings without losing a set. Being a Havik loyalist paid off for Bustman and he is hoping to further cement himself as a top player in Mortal Kombat 1 with a top 8 at Texas showdown. However on the other side of the projected bracket for top 8 is STG teammate onlinecale who has made a name for themselves in online bracket winning the demon lobby multiple times, winning the most recent SRS season finale and winning 20 consecutive online brackets Cale is a true x factor this weekend and can beat anyone on any given day. If this match between Bustman and Cale is to happen it would be a very good one!
Grr vs HourGlassOfRain
After making top 8 at the Mexico pro komp event Grr fell just short of top 8 at Viennality getting 9th losing two close sets to NRS legend a foxy grandpa. Grr is looking for revenge and to claim a winners side top 8 spot at Texas showdown but if he is to do that he will likely have to go through NA west pro komp final kombat qualifier HourGlassOfRain. HourGlass got 3rd place at Texas showdown last year showing that his online prowess translated perfectly to offline play. HourGlass has wins in basically every online event you can think of and is notorious for double eliminating sonicfox in the online pro komp NA west qualifier #2 in season one. This set is sure to be a war of attrition between two of the most patient players in MK1.
Dyloch vs WizeGeMini
Dyloch won Texas showdown last year as well as winning CEO and a top 8 at Evo Dyloch is a top 10 player in the world and with the newly buffed shao there is not reason he should not be able to win Texas showdown again however he has a tough match against Damascus gaming's WizeGemini. WizeGemini is known as a silent grinder, not someone you see compete much but when he does he is always ready. He got 9th place at ECT 2023, finished 2nd in the NA West pro komp qualifier finale which allowed him to compete in final kombat where he got 9th. Now he is back with buffed Havik and a Ghostface that is one of the best in the world. Whoever wins this set if it is to happen is sure to pop off like a desert eagle.
Projected 9th placers
These are the players who are projected to get 9th place at the Texas showdown but with 1 upset win can see themselves in top 8!
Han Rashid
Han Rashid is an evo finalist Combo breaker finalist, lvl up expo champion and grand finalist of frosty faustings 2025 Han has been playing NRS games at an elite level for a long time being in the heart of one of the most active regions for fighting games socal. Han Rashid has been most recently seen playing Havik but has a slew of characters winning lvl up expo with the recently buffed Reiko. Han Rashid is a player we can definitely see in the top 8 this weekend.
Pulse
After exploding on to the Mortal Kombat 1 scene getting top 8 of ECT 2023, winning 3 straight Shirai Ryu sundays and getting second at lvl up expo Pulse has slowed down a bit from his top player ways getting some really good but not up to his standard results more recently. Pulse is looking to bounce back with a big performance this weekend. With his track record and his plethora of characters a top 8 is certainly a possibility for him this weekend.
Enzo
Being from Texas Enzo will get the patented home field advantage this weekend and he will need playing the low tier Quan Chi. After getting 9th place at Texas showdown and Dreamhack Dallas Enzo followed it up with an insanely impressive 9th at Evo, an event 10 times the size of the previous getting wins on Konquoror, Grr and King Gambler and also starting the infamous 9th place curse. However he followed it up with a 4th place finish at dreamcon just a few weeks later. Enzo will have to take out an absolute killer out if he is to make top 8 at Texas showdown but that is something he can certainly do.
Mari
Mari is one of my favorite stories when we talk about MK1 journeys after going 0-2 at ECT 2023 Mari vouched to never go 0-2 again. He got an impressive 33rd at combo breaker then followed it up with at top 8 at LCQ winning his run back against Hayatei he then went on to get 13th at evo and rounded out the year getting 2nd at ECT the event he 0-2d just a year before. Mari's story is great but it is just getting started, if I was a betting man I would have Mari in top 8 this weekend.
The Dark Horses
In this section I will list some players that I think can make it really far this weekend but are projected to finish 13th or worse.
Dexydawg won week 3 of the NA west pro kompetition, got 17th at Combo Breaker and got 9th at Evo. He is one of the best Mileena players in the world with an insane level of innovation for the character with Khameleon.
JustNasty is a smoke loyalist who has pushed the character further than anyone getting 33rd at evo, 5th at Dreamhack ATL 2023 and a spot in the top 8 final for NA East online the most stacked region for MK1. Although we have not seen a ton from Justnasty recently do not be surprised at all if you see him make a run this weekend.
Pure is a player we do not see compete a ton but much like wize when he shows up he always seems to do well with what seems like a mastery over the entire cast of characters. Tournament wins in ShiraiRyuSundays, TNS and a 17th place at combo breaker pure is not a player you should be sleeping on this weekend.
Stryker won the first MK1 major CEOTaku but after that has not seen the same level of success in offline tournaments however he has won multiple really big online events. Having found success with DLC character Ermac and later Ghostface Stryker has insane technical prowess and game knowledge that can be difficult for anyone who faces him this weekend. Stryker could very easily be in top 8 at Texas Showdown.
The Field
This tournament is stacked and I simply cannot touch on everyone who will be competing but here are some players who you could see on stream later in the tournament. PerfectShini, Mist, Krytis, NoGreen, 2eZ, Herkuhlez, Six, Trash, Plus, Whits, YoAJ, Prospect, Vyletz, Jusmeezy, Euphoring, Dezda, Kelz and even me will all be in attendance and could make some deep runs this weekend. With a tournament this stacked this it is sure to be an insane weekend of Mortal Kombat 1! I cannot wait.
