The annualCEO fighting game tournamenttook place this past weekend in Florida, and the event is making headlines for some of the intense pop offs that occurred. Pop offs, for those unfamiliar with fighting game community terminology, refers to the end of a match when players let off tension by loudly celebrating. But sometimes pop offs go too far, as was the case with the pop off by professionalSuper Smash Bros. Ultimateplayer Eric “ESAM” Lew after he defeated Antony “MuteAce” Hoo, where ESAM actually injured his own hand in the midst of his celebration.
ESAM, who mains Pikachu, had been struggling in matches against Princess Peach for quite some time. As a result, he became understandably emotional after defeating MuteAce, considered one of the top Peach mains in the world when it comes toSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate. The match came down to the wire, and when ESAM won, he picked up his chair and started slamming it repeatedly on stage.
ESAM appeared to clip a CEO staff member in the leg while he was slamming his chair, and he also apparently injured his own hand in the process as well. This is according to ESAM’s own Twitter page, though he noted that the injury did not have an impact on his pro play. ESAM ended up finishing theSuper Smash Bros. Ultimatetournament at CEO in ninth place when it was all said and done.
To see ESAM’s pop off, skip to about the 9:00 minute mark.
ESAM’s pop off wasn’t the only notable pop off that came out of the CEO fighting game tournament this past weekend. An even more infamous pop off occurred at the conclusion of theMortal Kombat 11match between Buffalo and Scar. The two competitors had legitimate animosity for each other stemming from a Twitter confrontation, and so after Buffalo picked up the victory, he aggressively yelled in Scar’s face and the two flipped each other off before eventually being separated by event staff.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimateis out now, exclusively for the Nintendo Switch.
