Zain (gamer) explained

Id:Zain
Zain Naghmi
Birth Date:11 June 1996[1]
Nationality:American
Team:Moist Esports
Game:Super Smash Bros. Melee
Career Start:2014
Years1:20182019
Team1:Panda Global
Years3:20202023
Team3:Golden Guardians
Highlights:
  • 2x Shine champion (2018, 2022)
  • 2x GENESIS champion (2020, 2022)
  • 2x LACS Champion (2020, 2022)
  • Smash Summit 10 champion (2020)
  • Pound champion (2022)
  • Ludwig Smash Invitational champion (2022)
  • Tipped Off 14 Champion (2023)
  • Fête 3 Champion (2023)
  • 2x Get On My Level champion (2023, 2024)
  • Super Smash Con champion (2023)
  • Collision champion (2024)
  • Pat's House 4 champion (2024)
Module1:
Subbox:yes
Zain Naghmi
Channel Name:ZainNaghmi
Channel Url:https://twitch.tv/zainnaghmi
Followers:73,700
Stats Update:April 12, 2024
Team4:Moist Esports
Years4:2023present

Zain Naghmi (or,[2] born June 11, 1996), more commonly known by his tag Zain, is an American Super Smash Bros. Melee player from Reston, Virginia. Beginning his career in 2014, he rapidly climbed the ranks, becoming a ranked top 100 player in the world within only two years, a top 10 player since 2018 and was ranked the number one player in the world in 2022. Naghmi plays Marth and is currently considered the best Marth player in the world.[3] [4] He was sponsored by Golden Guardians from February 2020 to March 2023. In April 2023, he was signed by Moist Esports.

His most notable tournament placings include first at GENESIS 7 and GENESIS 8, second at The Big House 9 and Smash Summit 11 and third at Smash Summit 12 and Super Smash Con 2019. A 2021 list compiled by PGstats ranked Naghmi as the ninth-greatest Melee player of all time.[5]

Career

2013–2017: Non-ranked beginnings

Zain first began competing in Melee tournaments in May 2014, with his first tournament being at "Smash @ Clarendon", a popular weekly event in Arlington, Virginia.[6] He largely competed in local tournaments while in his first year at Virginia Tech, and had soon established himself as a formidable opponent among the Maryland/Virginia scene.[6] Zain's breakout performance at a major tournament came in 2015, when he placed 33rd at Super Smash Con 2015, which was followed by a 1st-place finish at the MD/VA Fall Arcadian,[7] the highest non-ranked tournament in the region.

2017–2018: Beginning of professional career

Zain's 2017 season began with an appearance on the SSBMRank, a semiannual power ranking presented by Red Bull, where he was ranked as the 66th best Melee player for his performance in 2016.[8] A heavy influence on the ranking was his performance at The Big House 6, where he placed 17th overall including a 2–0 victory over Justin "Plup" McGrath,[9] who was ranked 6th in the world at the time.[10] Zain's placing earned him some interest from Plup's team, Panda Global, who offered him a sponsorship; however, the deal never went through.[6] 2017 saw high placements at several major tournaments which included 5th place at Super Smash Con 2017, bumping Zain up to 22nd on the SSBMRank 2017.[11] He was again approached by Panda Global who offered him a full sponsorship - this time, Zain accepted, with the team officially announcing the signing on April 12, 2018.[12]

2018–2019: Panda Global and the rise to the top

Under Panda Global, Zain enjoyed success at major tournaments including first-place finishes at *Pound* Underground,[13] OMEGA II,[14] and Shine 2018.[15] However, despite his success, Zain parted ways with the team on November 8, 2019, along with teammates Cosmos and Kelazhur[16] - no explanation for Zain's departure was given by either the organisation or Zain himself.

Zain also played for the MUN Huskies in the Collegiate Starleague (CSL), an intercollegiate esports league. The CSL hosted its grand final for the 2018 competitive season at Shine 2018, where the Hokies ultimately placed in second after losing to the University of Central Florida.

2020–present: Mogul Moves, Golden Guardians and Slippi

Following his departure from Panda Global, Zain only competed in one tournament as a free agent. Two days prior to GENESIS 7, Twitch streamer Ludwig Ahgren announced his sponsorship of Zain for the tournament under his "Mogul Moves" clothing brand on January 22, 2020.[17] [18] Zain won Melee singles without losing a set, defeating Hungrybox - the number-one player in the world - in grand finals. As Zain's Mogul Moves sponsorship only lasted for the tournament, he became a free agent following GENESIS, but was soon signed by the Golden Guardians, the official esports organisation of the Golden State Warriors, on February 6, 2020. Since the signing, Zain has only competed in a few major tournaments - this was due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which prevented many live Melee events from taking place.[19] However, with the release of the Project Slippi mod for Melee, matches and tournament could take place online. During the pandemic, Zain has won Pound Online,[20] the Ludwig Ahgren Championship Series 2,[21] and Smash Summit 10,[22] all three of which took place online.

On April 17, 2022, Zain won GENESIS 8, his second consecutive GENESIS title.[23] With this win, he became the first player since Adam "Armada" Lindgren to repeat as GENESIS champion.[24] [25] Zain would be ranked as the number 1 player in the world on PGstats Summer 2022 MPGR.[26]

On October 23, 2022, Zain won the Melee portion of the Ludwig Smash Invitational.[27]

In 2022, Zain was ranked as the number one Melee player in the world. [28]

On March 29, 2023, Zain's contract with Golden Guardians ended. Shortly afterwards, on April 6, he signed with Moist Esports, under the Moist Moguls brand co-owned by MoistCr1TiKaL and Ludwig Ahgren.[29]

Notable tournament placings

Only Majors and Supermajors are listed.

Offline tournamentOnline tournament

Super Smash Bros. Melee

Tournament[30] Date1v1 placement2v2 placementPartner
Super Smash Con 2015August 6–9, 201533rd
EVO 2016July 15–17, 201649th
Super Smash Con 2016August 11–14, 201633rd17thSypherPhoenix
The Big House 6October 7–9, 201617th33rdSypherPhoenix
GENESIS 4January 20–22, 201733rd17thRedd
CEO DreamlandApril 14–16, 201717th9thSypherPhoenix
Super Smash Con 2017August 10–13, 20175th13thSypherPhoenix
The Big House 7 October 6–8, 201717th7thMilkMan
DreamHack Denver 2017October 20–22, 20177th
GENESIS 5January 19–21, 201813th33rdR2DLiu
Smash Summit 6May 3–6, 20183rd7thHugS
CEO 2018June 29 – July 1, 20185th25thMilkMan
EVO 2018August 3–5, 20189th
Super Smash Con 2018August 9–12, 20189th7thMilkMan
Shine 2018August 24–26, 20181st
The Big House 8October 5–7, 20184th
GameTyrant Expo 2018November 2–4, 20183rd1stSFAT
Smash Summit 7November 15–18, 20187th7thRishi
GENESIS 6February 1–3, 20199th65thArris
Pound 2019April 19–21, 20194th4thChillindude
Smash Summit 8June 13–17, 20195th2ndPlup
Super Smash Con 2019August 8–11, 20193rd5thMilkMan
The Big House 9October 4–6, 20192nd
DreamHack RotterdamOctober 18–20, 20191st1stS2J
GENESIS 7January 24–26, 20201st5thHungrybox
Smash Summit 9February 13–16, 20204th
Pound OnlineApril 24–26, 20201st - -
LACS 2July 25–26, 20201st - -
Smash Summit 10 OnlineNovember 19–22, 20201st - -
LACS 3December 19–20, 20205th - -
Smash Summit 11July 15–18, 20212nd
Smash Summit 12December 9–13, 20213rd
LACS 4January 29–30, 20221st
GENESIS 8April 15–17, 20221st
Pound 2022April 22–24, 20221st
Smash Summit 13May 12–15, 20225th
Battle of BC 4June 10–12, 20222nd
Get On My Level 2022July 1–3, 20223rd
Double Down 2022July 8–10, 20225th
Super Smash Con 2022August 11–14, 20224th5thRishi
Shine 2022August 26–28, 20221st
Riptide 2022September 9–11, 20225th
The Big House 10October 7–9, 20224th33rdMichael Quiggles
Ludwig Smash InvitationalOctober 21–23, 20221st
Smash Summit 14November 3–6, 20225th
Apex 2022November 19–20, 20222nd
GENESIS 9January 20–22, 20235th
Collision 2023March 10–12, 20232nd
Battle of BC 5May 19–21, 20233rd
Tipped Off 14June 3–4, 20231st5thmoky
LACS 5July 7–9, 20232nd
Fête 3: By the SeaJuly 14–16, 20231st
Get On My Level 2023July 21–23, 20231st
Super Smash Con 2023August 10–13, 20231st
Shine 2023August 25–27, 20232nd
The Big House 11October 20–22, 20234th
GENESIS XFebruary 16–18, 20243rd

Notes and References

  1. 1006327178513059847 . zainnaghmi . This shirt is an amazing birthday gift @MilkMan_SSBM!!! I'm the happiest 22 year old around . September 7, 2020 . June 12, 2018.
  2. 1305206033648881664 . zainnaghmi . Zain (Like the beginning of Xanax) . October 24, 2022 . September 13, 2020.
  3. Web site: MPGR Melee Power Rankings . smash.gg . smash.gg.
  4. Web site: Michael . Cale . iBDW comments on the evolution of the Fox matchup in Super Smash Bros. Melee . DotEsports.com . 16 February 2020 . Dot Esports . 29 August 2020.
  5. Web site: The Melee Stats Top 100: The Top 10. PGstats. November 22, 2021. en. November 22, 2021.
  6. Web site: Lee . Alexander . New challenger approaching: The rise of Zain . ESPN.com . 29 August 2018 . ESPN Enterprises, Inc. . 4 September 2020.
  7. Web site: The Fall Arcadian Melee Top 16 . Challonge . xanaduarcadian.
  8. Web site: Craytor . John . Fellner . Henry . SSBMRank 2016: 61-70 . Redbull.com . Red Bull . 4 September 2020.
  9. Web site: MacPherson . Kate . The beginning of 2020: Zain wins Genesis 7 . Tempostorm.com . Tempo Storn . 4 September 2020.
  10. Web site: Palakurthi . Anokh . SSBMRank 2016: 4-6 . Redbull.com . Red Bull . 4 September 2020.
  11. Web site: Yang . Rui . Lynch . Darren . SSBMRank 2017: 30-21 . Redbull.com . Rd Bull . 4 September 2020.
  12. Web site: Global . Panda . Welcome to the Plup Club, @PG_Zain . We were going to wait until Summit started, but looks like we might need your Ki for a spirit bomb to push him through to Summit! . Twitter.com . Twitter . 4 September 2020.
  13. Web site: Kassel . Josh . *Pound* Underground - Melee Singles . smash.gg . 7 September 2020.
  14. Web site: LaBombard . Michael . OMEGA II - Melee Singles . smash.gg . 7 September 2020.
  15. Web site: Zaborowski . Matthew . Shine 2018 - Melee Singles . smash.gg . 7 September 2020.
  16. Web site: Michael . Cale . Panda Global parts ways with Smash Bros. players Zain and Cosmos . DotEsports.com . 9 November 2019 . Dot Esports . 7 September 2020.
  17. News: Michael . Cale . February 6, 2020 . Golden Guardians signs Super Smash Bros. Melee pro Zain, Teamfight Tactics streamer DogDog . . January 29, 2021.
  18. Web site: Ahgren . Ludwig . HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE I AM SIGNING @ZainNaghmi TO MOGUL MOVES FOR @Genesis_Smash . Twitter.com . Twitter . 7 September 2020.
  19. News: Michael . Cale . Super Smash Bros. PGR season to be frozen due to coronavirus and travel concerns . . January 29, 2021 . March 12, 2020.
  20. Web site: Robertson . Scott . Pound Online - Melee Singles . Smash.gg . Smash.gg . 7 September 2020.
  21. Web site: Collier . Brandon . Ludwig Ahgren Championship Series 2 - Melee Singles . Smash.gg . smash.gg . 7 September 2020.
  22. Web site: Smash Summit 10 Online. 2021-02-01. smash.gg.
  23. Web site: Genesis 8 . 2022-04-20 . smash.gg . en-us.
  24. Web site: GENESIS 2: Melee Singles Bracket . 2022-09-28 . Smashboards . en-US.
  25. Web site: Genesis 3 . 2022-09-28 . start.gg . en-us.
  26. Web site: PGstats MPGR Early 2022: Top 10 . 2022-09-28 . pgstats.com . en.
  27. Web site: Ludwig Smash Invitational - Melee Singles (Main Event). start.gg. 24 October 2022.
  28. Web site: GimmeDatWheat . 2023-01-21 . SSBMRank 2022: The Top Ten . 2023-02-12 . Medium . en.
  29. News: Cale . Michael . April 6, 2023 . Fated reunion: Ludwig, Moist Esports sign top Smash Melee player Zain . . April 7, 2023.
  30. Web site: Melee - Zain. SmashBoards. 6 December 2021.