Smash legend Mang0 has “no intention” of playing Melee professionally again after his ban

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Top Super Smash Bros. player Mang0 has announced he’s retiring from Melee after losing his sponsorship with Cloud9 and being temporarily banned from events due to disruptive behavior while intoxicated at a Ludwig-hosted event.

In June 2025, Joseph ‘Mang0’ Marquez was removed from the Cloud9 organization due to his inappropriate behavior at Ludwig’s Beerio Kart event, where he harassed several streamers, including ExtraEmily.

Ludwig faced criticism for seemingly joking about Smash player Mang0’s intoxication, even using a breathalyzer. However, Mang0, whose real name is Marquez, accepted full responsibility for his actions and committed to getting sober. As a result, he was banned from competing in Melee tournaments for one year.

After a few months, Mang0 has indicated that he probably won’t return to professional Super Smash Bros. Melee when his ban ends, and plans to focus on streaming instead.

Mang0 says he plans to drink again and won’t play Melee unless he needs money

Mang0 recently shared on Twitch that any future Melee appearances will be motivated by financial need.

I’ve decided to stop playing Super Smash Bros. Melee. I’m only willing to compete again if I have a sponsor, because I’m not going to spend my own money on travel and tournament fees just to win a small amount. Since leaving the competitive Melee scene, my life has been really good, though I do earn less money now.

Mang0 says his mental health is much better since he stopped traveling full-time, though he does miss it a little. He points out that he traveled constantly for ten years.

Mang0 mentioned that maintaining his sobriety has been challenging lately, and he’s starting to feel bored with it.

He admitted he doesn’t plan to stay sober forever, explaining that he thinks alcohol can enhance certain experiences. He specifically mentioned wanting to enjoy birthdays and family celebrations, like Christmas, with a drink, saying he’d prefer to be drinking on those occasions.

Marquez shared that he’s committed to staying alcohol-free for a full year, and he’s already found the experience really insightful. He explained that while he doesn’t need a drink for everything, some activities are definitely more enjoyable with one.

I think the only way I’d be able to stay sober is if I started playing Super Smash Bros. Melee again, but I’ve decided not to return to the game. I’m content staying home for now.

When the Super Smash Bros. community learned of the passing of another member of the famous “Five Gods,” fans shared their sadness and frustration online, and the news quickly spread.

With Armada, PPMD, Mew2King, and Mang0 no longer competing, Hungrybox of Team Liquid is the last player remaining from the group known as the ‘Five Gods’.

After video clips from Mang0’s stream went viral on social media, Marquez responded to the comments and the public’s reaction with a short post on X.

It’s amusing to see people talking about me and what I might do next. Going from being a public figure my entire life to just a regular streamer is a big change.

That’s likely why I wouldn’t return to playing Melee competitively – dealing with strange people online is just… weird.

— 🦅🦅 GO BIRDS 🦅🦅 (@C9Mang0) January 15, 2026

It’s amusing to see people talking about me and what I might do next, especially considering I went from being a public figure my whole life to just a regular streamer. That’s likely why I wouldn’t return to competitive Super Smash Bros. Melee – dealing with strange people online is just too much.

It’s unclear what Mang0’s future holds. He’s stepped away from playing Melee for now, but a new Smash game could potentially bring him back to competitive play sometime in the future.

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2026-01-16 19:19