Smash pro Hungrybox borrows controller to win CEO 2025 after his exploded

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In the Grand Finals of CEO 2025, Juan ‘Hungrybox’ Debiedma needed to borrow a controller, and it ended up serving him quite well in the end.

In certain eSports games, it’s crucial to use the equipment you’re most comfortable with. Comfort is essential for performance, which explains why many professional gamers in titles like Counter-Strike and Valorant have significant sponsorship agreements with their preferred mouse and keyboard manufacturers.

In terms of Smash, there’s an unusual side to it – players sometimes opt for unconventional controls. These range from Guitar Hero guitars, Donkey Kong bongo drums, and even keyboards instead of the typical GameCube controllers or fight sticks.

During the Grand Finals of CEO 2025, Hungrybox’s usual controller malfunctioned, prompting him to borrow one from the audience since his preferred option was no longer functional.

At the pinnacle of his career as the most accomplished Super Smash Bros. Melee professional ever, Hungrybox clinched victory in his 37th major tournament. In an unexpected turn of events during the CEO 2025 Grand Final, his controller malfunctioned, forcing him to borrow one from another player to see the match through to its conclusion.

— TopMob (@TopMob) June 15, 2025

Hungrybox responds after Smash controller ‘explodes’

The top player from Team Liquid managed to use a controller very much like his regular one, and despite causing some confusion for other players, this change ultimately helped him secure a win, coming back from a 3-0 deficit.

Hungrybox successfully overcame Wizzrobe in a bracket reset, earning him his 37th major tournament win and marking his first CEO title since 2020, as he clinched the series with a 3-2 victory in the second round of matches.

He wrote on X (previously known as Twitter), “Here’s how you bounce back. I am once again your CEO Champion. Rest in peace, my foolish phobic, forever,” after the victory.

* THATS HOW YOU BOUNCE THE FUCK BACK: That’s how you rebound or come back from a setback.
* I AM YOUR (FINALLY ONCE AGAIN) YOUR CEO CHAMPION: I am again your champion, the leader of our organization as CEO.
* RIP MY DUMBASS PHOB FOREVER: Long live my dear friend, forever and always, even though he was a bit foolish at times.

— hungrybox (@LiquidHbox) June 15, 2025

In a show of sportsmanship, the Smash champion who has won 37 majors commended MOF for permitting a controller change during their match, since he had been experiencing issues with it before the finals.

Incredibly, I managed to win the game thanks to @Mast3rofFlavor1’s unparalleled sportsmanship. She graciously let me swap controllers during play, even mid-stock, and even went as far as giving me another handwarmer. I feel undeserving of her kindness, but her actions only highlight what an extraordinary person she is.

Debiedma mentioned his intention to revert to using authentic Nintendo controllers again following this incident. However, only time will tell if he actually follows through with it.

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2025-06-16 17:18