SSBU Varsity Jamar: "You’re there to win, everything else is noise."

Jamar (left) & Tristian (right)

Tristan, you end up opening a lot of our crew battles and getting us off to a strong start, sometimes reaching heights of 7 stock leads. You actually anchored the finishing round of this set to give us the win. What do you need to consider at the start of every game when it comes to who they lead and the matchups that follow? Why is starting important to you and important to the team?

Tristan: “For me, I think starting is the most practical because my character doesn’t really have really hard/unwinnable matchups. Compared to other characters we have like jigglypuff and donkey kong, some characters can shut them down really easily whereas I do decently into everyone. When I see what character they pick, i mentally prepare myself whether I need to play slowly or cautiously, or rush the opponent down. I think being able to take a large stock lead at the start of games helps our team's mental and makes it harder for the opposing team if they have a tough start.”

What goes through your mind before, during, and after play?

Tristan: “Before games, I make sure to think about what character the opponent is playing, and go over what tips and strategies I could use while fighting them. During games, I look out for opponents' habits and think about how I can punish them, along with possible hail mary plays I want to make in dire situations. After games, if I win, I focus on what character is coming next, and try to best prepare myself for them. If I lose, I think about the losing sequence, and what I did wrong that lost me the game.”

With crazy wait times as team managers decide who goes next, map bans, and connection issues, is there a real opportunity to get "iced out" in the middle of your play time? How do you stay locked in?

Jamar: Yeah, you can definitely get iced out. Long waits can pull you out of your rhythm, but only if you let it. The way I look at it, you can’t give the other team that power. You’re there to win, everything else is noise. For me it’s about staying loose and staying adaptable. Be like water. If the pace slows down, I slow down. If it’s time to go, I flip the switch. Smash is just as much a mental game as it is ‘physical’. If you let frustration in, the other team has already won.

Tristan: “Getting iced out is definitely a real thing, but it’s important to just focus on the current game at hand. Usually after each game I think about the ways I took/lost each stock, and how I can use that information in future games. I try and stay locked in by focusing completely on the game at hand the second I start playing, and only stop when all my stocks are gone or the game is over.”

What's your proudest moment from this series? What was the best moment from one of your teammates?

Tristan: “For me, it was definitely taking out the entire opposing team in game 1. It’s the first time I took all 12 stocks in the crew battle, which is extremely hard to do and definitely was a big confidence boost in our team. As for my teammates, seeing Tyler (CRUSADER) take 4 stocks was great to see, as it showed great improvement and overall just solid play.”

Jamar, a frustrating lag spike caused an early loss for you during one of your games tonight. How do you see connection issues affecting the match during play? Who does it tend to favor?

Jamar: It’s definitely disappointing. I felt like I couldn’t show my full ability out there. Connection issues throw off your timing, reactions, and becomes a completely different game. If you’re used to that kind of lag, it can actually work in your favor. But I came in ready to play clean and fast, so I didn’t adapt quick enough. Luckily, the team had my back and closed it out 2-0. That kind of talent, trust, and chemistry is what’s carried us far this season.