While Juan ‘Hungrybox‘ DeBiedma’s emotional curse-breaking win stole the headlines from Genesis X2, Super Smash Bros. Melee player Derek ‘Aura‘ Olsen also documented an incredible run.
Peach main Aura has been the talk of the Super Smash Bros. Melee community with the player placing 9th after beating some of the scene’s top players.
Aura has gone to Genesis every year — the Major is right in his backyard as a Portland native — but this year was different. While already considered Oregon’s number one player, the 33rd player in the official SSBMRank could sense that something special was happening this time after beating Miles ‘Soonsay’ Foster, ranked 13th.
After finishing the five-game set, Aura noticed that it was more than the usual Pacific Northwest crowd forming around the chunky TV as he was asked to pose for Top 16 photos.
“I’ve played Melee for a long time and to be on the run that I have wanted for years… I had to tell production I needed a moment. And that’s when it was really starting to hit me. All these years of hard work were paying off,” Aura recalled to Esports Insider.
Auras’ Emotional Run, Early Pop-Off and Melee Career
Aura is a humble player. When asked about his Peach playstyle he said he sticks to the basics, nothing flashy, nothing out of the ordinary. When asked how he felt about beating so many top players, Aura said he overperformed, and that number two-ranked Cody Schwab was playing bad that set.
But that early moment in Top 64 was a sign of what was to come. The Portland crowd starting to form around the CRT TV noticed that Schwab was taking Aura seriously. He was feeling the pressure, even turning around and telling Aura’s supporters to be quiet, stating: “This is my job.”
It’s not hard to rile up Schwab, even so, there was no denying that Aura was dominating, crowd or no crowd.
Once Aura met Justin ‘Wizzrobe‘ Hallett in the Winners Quarters, however, he couldn’t pretend it was a normal Melee run anymore. While Wizzrobe is known for steamrolling Peach mains, commentators felt Aura was the one to beat.
During the set, Aura couldn’t hold back. The player managed to smack Wizzrobe off the stage to go 2-1. At that point, the stream captured tears in his eyes as he screamed with raw emotion and relief. It was a moment that was later criticised by some in the Melee community since the set wasn’t even done yet, but Aura had become overwhelmed by climbing Top 16 as the PNW Melee crowd cheered him on.
Wizzrobe ended up winning the match in a close 3-2 but most of the comments from the Melee community are focused on Aura’s entertaining performance and the hype of the PNW supporters. It has been cemented as one of the best moments of Genesis X2.
“I love playing Melee and competing in Melee. It’s something I am so passionate about that my emotions get the best of me and I don’t know how to act in every situation,” Aura explained to Esports Insider. “I was just being excited for myself. If people dislike me or find me cringe for crying about the set, then so be it. I’m a nerd who loves Melee.”
In the end, Aura’s run of a lifetime was cut short by Kurtis ‘moky‘ Pratt, just missing the Top 8. But it was something that the PNW Melee crowd — and the Smash community in general — won’t forget. Aura wasn’t upset, he was on cloud nine the rest of the weekend and determined to push himself even further.
Aura has quit his credit union job following the Genesis X2 run and plans to pursue Melee full-time. It was already his main passion, practising two to four hours a day and attending every Portland local (hosted in his friend’s basement every Wednesday with some beers).
His next focus is Altitude Sickness 2, Battle of BC 7 and Fight at the Museum. He hopes to beat top players he hasn’t beaten yet and place Top 8 in a Major.
“Truthfully it’s been awesome,” Aura told Esports Insider of the support he’s gotten since Genesis X2.
“I’ve felt for a long time I’ve been a pretty unrecognizable top 50 player. With this run, the amount of support and fans I’ve gotten since has been unbelievable. People have been super nice and telling me how much they loved watching me play.”
