Super Smash Bros. Ultimate player Zack “CaptainZack” Lauth will not be allowed to compete at Super Smash Con 2019. While Super Smash Con’s Twitter account did not publicly announce the decision, CaptainZack relayed the news on his own Twitter. The event will take place next weekend, from August 8 – 11.
I was informed that I will not be allowed to compete at this year's Smash Con. I completely agree with the decision and I will gladly take responsibility for my actions. I will still attend the event, but I'll simply be there as a spectator. Thank you for reading this.
— CaptainZack (@CaptainZack_) August 4, 2019
The news follows CaptainZack’s recent admission to bracket manipulation. While in a relationship with Elliot “Ally” Carroza-Oyarce, CaptainZack coaxed Ally into throwing significant tournament sets. Ally was largely condemned for their relationship, as Ally is over 10 years older than CaptainZack.
However, CaptainZack’s admission has brought him into the controversy as well. Polar Ace, his patron, dropped him because of his actions. Though he did compete at EVO, Super Smash Con has already confirmed that he will not have this opportunity again.
Despite his ban from entering the bracket, CaptainZack will still attend Super Smash Con as a spectator. He has stated his willingness to accept responsibility for his actions. He also agreed that his ban from competition at Smash Con was justified. However, his presence at the event shows that he does not yet wish to distance himself from the Smash community.
CaptainZack before Super Smash Con
Before his Super Smash Con ban, CaptainZack had permission to compete in Smash Ultimate at EVO 2019. This is likely because he responded to his controversy the afternoon of day one of EVO. There was not sufficient time to reach a decision during EVO, so he decided to compete himself.
At EVO, CaptainZack placed 33rd. He defeated Shimizu “Umeki” Masaki in winners brackets. He faced elimination from the tournament after dropping sets to Samuel “Dabuz” Buzby and Ricardo “Sinji” Mathison.
Even though his main, Bayonetta, was nerfed in the transition from Smash 4, CaptainZack has had solid results in Ultimate. He is No. 32 on the Spring 2019 PGRU and has wins over Nairoby “Nairo” Quezada, Saleem “Salem” Young, Rasheen “Dark Wizzy” Rose, and Pedro “Prodigy” Alonso.
Despite his success thus far, it is unclear what CaptainZack’s future in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate will look like. Other tournaments may follow the example of Super Smash Con and bar him from competing. As it stands, no official governing body has made a ruling about his right to compete. So for the time being, individual tournament organizers have the discretion to decide whether CaptainZack can attend their events.
