EURank 2024: 10-1
Let's get straight to the point. Four new players have entered the top 10, and a new #1 player has fought their way to the top. Congratulations to everyone who made it onto EURank 2024, thank you to everyone who was a part of this project, and see you all next year!
EURank2024 Honourable Mentions
#10: astar
Score: 10.92
Readers of last year’s EU rankings may have had an idea of where this German Fox was headed in terms of his potential for the 2024 season, but few would’ve accurately predicted how far he would actually go. Southern German staple astar stunned the competition on a regular basis throughout the entire year, taking sets from Europe’s finest with almost unparalleled consistency.
With wins over fellow Southern German top-level EU spacies kins0 and Rikzz, as well as LunarySSF2, Raptori, and perhaps most notably Jah Ridin', astar truly proved to be the tournament threat we all knew he could be. And after a year of amazing performances, the narrative around Germany’s favorite degen has shifted—from him being the eternal underdog, who is seeded a bit too low because nobody knows what he’s capable of, to him being an internationally renowned top 10 player.
As astar continues traveling and competing in 2025, he will have to fulfill the role of the favorite a lot more than he ever had to. Having established himself as a player who can threaten virtually anybody’s tournament run, we’re looking forward to seeing what the future holds for this Fox, whose breakneck-paced neutral game shook the upper echelon of the continent’s competition in 2024.
- yung Ullrich
#9: Rikzz
Score: 8.82
Rankings like these are perfect for shining a spotlight on players whose achievements might otherwise slip under the radar. A #9 finish in Europe for Rikzz might come as a surprise to some—but for those in the know, it’s a long-overdue recognition of his stellar performances this year.
His best run this year? It came at the same event that marked i4's first big win, meaning Rikzz's massive victories over kins0 and Jah Ridin' en route to a 2nd-place finish at The 2nd Gallery didn’t quite get the attention they deserved. This is especially impressive considering his grueling 0-9 record against Jah. Rikzz finally managed to take his first set at the NDM Finals and continued this momentum to finish with a 2-2 record in 2024 against the Jmook slayer.
His other standout result came at Melee im Kornspeicher, where he carved through a stacked bracket with wins over max, DerFasan, and RestlessWhale. However, once again, the spotlight evaded him as Skullbro’s legendary run through the German spacies gauntlet at the same event took center stage.
But no one can take away this peak career ranking from Rikzz. Maybe this Top 10 placement is powerful enough to put an end to his infamous yet cheeky cycle of announcing his retirement and then beating the best players in Europe in the same week.
Whether it’s his newfound ability to pull off clutch wins or his habit of lurking in the shadows of bigger narratives, Rikzz is proof that sometimes the players just outside the spotlight are the ones worth keeping your eyes on. A Top 10 finish in Europe feels not only well-deserved but perhaps even overdue for this German Fox main—and with momentum like this, maybe the retirement teases will finally take their turn to stay in the shadows. The fans would love to see it!
- lil froozy
#8: max
Score: 7.70
max can randomly be found in any part of the US, entering pre-locals and regionals in between majors. A passionate grinder, max’s body has endured the miles, earning him yet another spot in the Top 10 of the EU rankings. But don’t let his sweet demeanor fool you—beneath that charming exterior, the green Sheik is an absolute beast on the sticks, a true champion of the people. So beloved and well-regarded, anyone would count themselves lucky to host him.
Where do we even begin with his amazing year? max entered an incredible number of tournaments across NA and EU. For starters, the newly ranked #2 player of the UK snagged wins against some of Europe’s finest—Frenzy, Fat Tino, astar, Aaron, $TYN, Sharp, Skullbro, kins0, Happymealz, and King. These victories helped cement his place in the Top 10 EU rankings for the second year in a row. He was able to finish 7th at Valhalla, 2nd at Somnio 5, and a massive 1st place at DSEA Winter 2024. But that’s just the beginning for this fan-favorite Sheik main.
Across the pond, max made splashes like Ecco the Dolphin. He secured victories over some of North America’s finest players—Salt, Blue, Sirmeris, JChu, Kalvar, Kevbot, Lowercase Hero, Ober, and bonfire10. His results at majors and regionals indicate the kind of potential he possesses. With placements like 17th at The Function 4, 49th at GOML X, 25th at Full Bloom 2024, and 33rd at Tipped Off, he is showing signs of rapid growth and improvement.
This man even enjoys studying his opponents before playing them and tends to ask his friends for advice on how to beat certain options. A studious player like him has no limitations to what he can achieve.
The moment max begins surmounting the upper echelon of Top 100 players (especially the spacies) is the moment he’s off to the stars, because he truly is a superstar inside and outside the game. max is dedicated to Melee, as evidenced by his attendance across the globe. There’s no question that he’s got the chops for a breakout performance at a major.
- lovestory4a
#7: Fat Tino
Score: 6.67
The crown prince of the UK’s Melee scene has once again delivered. Continuing an upward stride from the last ranking period, this season witnessed Fat Tino attend even more events across Europe. Sightseeing benefits aside, Tino’s continental excursion across Denmark, Sweden, Germany, and Switzerland reaped another reward: top 8 performances at every major- and regional-designated event in Europe. The portfolio largely speaks for itself. With a 5th-place finish at SAPF, 4th at Valhalla IV, and 3rd at FESTA 2024, Tino picked up wins over $TYN, i4, Frenzy, max, and Jah Ridin’ to add to the seasonal record books. Outside of Europe, Tino also found the time to defeat Shroomed at Don’t Park on the Grass 2024.
Tino’s meteoric ascent in the current era is nothing short of spectacular. With his scene loudly cheering his name wherever he goes, there is little doubt that Tino’s best years are ahead of him.
- NotEnder
#6: i4
Score: 6.26
The meteoric rise of i4 was not foretold. Her rapid ascension to becoming a top player has brought both historic and iconic moments to the Melee scene, leaving an everlasting mark on the game’s legacy. The world wasn’t prepared for what i4 would achieve in 2024. While her success in singles felt inevitable, what actually transpired was nothing short of stunning. i4’s Cinderella run at The 2nd Gallery will forever be remembered as one of the greatest breakout tournaments in Melee history.
Considering she was ranked #13 on the France 2023 PR and wasn’t even on the Top 50 EU Rank last year, her performance was breathtaking. i4 defeated LunarySSF2 in WR2 before being sent to the losers’ bracket by Kins0. Once there, she went on an insane losers’ run, defeating irfan (3-1), Fat Tino (3-1), Sharp (3-0), astar (3-2), and Jah Ridin’ (3-2) to reach grand finals. Riding a wave of momentum and absorbed in Mihaly’s flow, i4 kept the pressure on against Rikzz and delivered a flawless 6-0 victory. In doing so, she became the first woman from France to win an event of this magnitude.
Her tenacity to keep pushing forward, fast and relentless, is on another level. On top of her iconic run, she sprinkled her year with 5th place at SAPF and 4th at FESTA 2024, collecting wins against Kins0, $TYN, Irfan, Rikzz, and Sharp. Her losses remained minimal, falling to only six European players, further cementing her status as an elite player and a tournament threat.
As 2025 unfolds, i4’s journey is the story to watch. With every appearance, she’s never the same Sheik as last time. Her tag team with Fecfec showcases a synergy rooted in love and trust, captivating audiences through their electrifying sets. Despite being a new-generation player, i4’s achievements are inspirational, paving the way for women in the scene. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see her achieve Top 100 status and continue striving for greatness.
i4 is the future. She is iconic and could very well become a role model for women who see themselves in her. Allez i4! Allez i4!
- lovestory4a
#5: Kins0
Score: 4.96
Game 5 (and Rank 5) master. The kins0at. ...Secret Bowser main?
At some point or another, all of these words have been used to describe kins0, who has quietly established himself in the post-COVID era as Germany’s premier space animal. Solidly holding onto the title once held by Ice (now a doubles player in retirement) and Nicki (now a doubles player in singles), kins0 has continued to turn heads in 2024. In Europe, he earned respectable 2nd-place finishes at Melee im Kornspeicher and Avant Deux. He was also the only EURanked player this year to take a set (and then a second set, as a treat) from Nicki.
Perhaps more notably, kins0 also saw great success out of region. At Get On My Level X, he took down Preeminent and BING as part of a formidable losers’ bracket run, which was ended by Morsecode762 in a fifth-game, last-stock heartbreaker. Even still, finishing 17th at a supermajor as the 41st seed is no small feat. Only time will tell where kins0 ascends next.
- NotEnder
#4: Jah Ridin'
Score: 3.84
Wahoo! After being ranked in the top 100 on SSBMRank last year, the Luigi ace from **NEUUCHÂTEEEEELLL**, Switzerland, was reinvigorated to spend another year contending to be the world's best Luigi main, and continuing to be a threat to win any tournament in Europe. His efforts were rewarded with a victory at FESTA 2024, with two wins over American top ICs player MOF. Jah Ridin' also claimed victory at Somnio 5, defeating Athos, Fout NL, Sharp, and max twice. He capped off the season with a 4th-place finish at SAPF, defeating Yogurt, DerFasan, Kins0, and Fat Tino, only losing to Frenzy and Nicki.
These are just a few highlights of a busy year in Europe. I could go on all day about the long list of big wins he accumulated, with further top 4 finishes at The 2nd Gallery, Let's Eat the Grass, Avant Deux, Neue Deutsche Melee, and more. At nearly every major European tournament, Jah Ridin' was there—always a force to be reckoned with.
Jah Ridin' also made waves across the pond. At SoCal Star League Championship he played a gauntlet of sets with wins over Kalvar, Slowking, Kacey, and Yamasaki. Days later, he followed up at a top 100-counting Verdugo local, where he defeated Beezy, Salami, and, most notably, Jmook, only being stopped by the legendary *Fiction at Verdugo*.
This year, Jah Ridin' has secured his place as highest-ranked Luigi main worldwide, but his journey is far from over. We look forward to seeing him continue to pop off at major events, both in Europe and overseas.
- Noxxa
#3: Frenzy
Score: 2.57
He’s big! He’s red! He’s putting Phillip to bed!
Many storylines in Smash are characterized by attempts to reach a coveted throne. Fewer are defined by successful attempts to defend it. In a post-Professor Pro landscape, the ever-vigilant Frenzy did just that. During an era of Melee increasingly swept by tides of volatility and uncertainty, Frenzy is the only top 3 player from last year’s rankings to hold on to his spot.
Within the UK, the Pistol from Bristol further bolstered his impressive résumé of results. Outside of a 2nd place finish at Nangest National 2 to Max, Frenzy won every other large-scale European event hosted on his turf. His Avant Deux victory featured 3-0 sets over kins0, Fat Tino, and Jah Ridin’. Defending the crown was not limited to his European rivals either; his win at Combos & Cocktails 2 was accompanied by taking two sets over America’s own MOF in grand finals.
Overseas, Frenzy also had solid showings at North America’s supermajors, securing 25th at Get On My Level X and 33rd at Don’t Park on the Grass 2024. If consistency truly signals success, then Frenzy remains poised as its torchbearer heading forward.
- NotEnder
#2: Solobattle
Score: 2.49
Solobattle is a machine that turns European events into top 3 results. Finland’s 3rd best Yahtzee player started off the season by finishing 3rd at Valhalla IV, proceeding to never go below that placement across all events he entered this year. Overtaking many of Europe’s established roster of top Melee players (whether in the form of Fout NL, NinjagoFan72, Jadde, or Fat Tino), it took two close sets with Nicki’s newly established Ice Climbers to end Solobattle’s warpath that weekend. What followed was a remarkable journey up the EU stratosphere, even by the bair extraordinaire’s standards; beyond Nicki and compatriot Raptori, Solobattle dropped no other sets to fellow Europeans in 2024.
Where, then, lies the secret to becoming Europe’s greatest? For Solobattle, a multi-character specialist and dedicated labber across multiple Smash titles, that answer may come from within. Adjusting to a meta with rises in character counterpicks, Solobattle has expressed interest in further honing his already potent secondaries, including his former Marth. As he scales the pantheon of Europe’s best players, he sees nothing but opportunity ahead.
Old or new, floatie or fastfaller, be on the lookout. Solobattle is coming.
- NotEnder
#1: Nicki
Score: 1.00
Nicki, Nicki, Nicki, can’t you see? The only complaint Europeans had about *that* run at Don’t Park on the Grass 2024 was that we weren’t there to sing our iconic chants. This marked not just the best run of any German Melee player in history, but the best of any German Smash player across all titles, period.
Waking up at 7 AM in Europe to Nicki battling Aklo in Losers Finals of a supermajor in Seattle felt surreal enough. But looking up the bracket—and almost waking up your neighbors upon realizing the path it took—was something different entirely.
Mostly, it wasn’t shock but rather relief that it had finally happened. After all, those of us European players who have been subjected to the monstrosity that is Nicki’s Ice Climbers on a regular basis were just waiting for a catalyst event to unlock his true potential. It could all be traced back to his first big top player win over Wizzy at the Eggdog Invitational two and a half months prior. Barely losing set after set against the likes of Zain, Hbox, and aMSa in grueling game 5s, that one win was all he needed to gain the confidence to beat literally anyone.
When Nicki’s on the screen, the flashy rhythm game that is Melee transforms into a nerve-wracking grappling fight, where his opponents must always fear a takedown. So after climbing through Axe, Aura, and Swedish Delight at Don’t Park and wrestling down the full current Top 3 in Zain, Cody, and Jmook, the run culminated in a 3rd-place finish.
Playing in Europe—and especially at the biggest German Melee event of all time, held in his hometown—was probably even more meaningful to Nicki. Struggling with health issues on the first day, he persevered and claimed 1st place at SAPF, toppling Solobattle and Jah Ridin’ and showing his grit and determination, no matter the stage.
Nicki might be the only player to get ranked first in Europe after a legendary run at a supermajor and still make all of us feel like, with this new Nouns sponsorship on the horizon for 2025, that this is still somehow only the beginning.
- lil froozy
With that, EURank 2024 is concluded. Just like last year, this project was only possible due to the large number of individuals who dedicated their time and effort into making it happen. Thank you all again, and if you read this and would like to help out with EURank 2025, do not hesitate to reach out. I'll see you all next year!
The EURank Team
Dominik "Nicki" Kunze — Director & Project Lead
Wout "Noxxa" van Poppel — Assistant Director & Data Lead
Filip "Flippy" Tengwall - Graphics Lead
NVZ - Data Collection
nago - General Support
zondy - chill viber
Ambisinister - Data Processing
Brendan "GimmeDatWheat" Malone - Consultation
Ranking Panel
Acke (Finland)
Lukas "astar" Kremer (Germany)
Bura (Italy)
Justin "DarkGenex" Cohen (United States of America)
Filip "Flippy" Tengwall (Sweden)
Henrik "Henke" Kristoffersen (Norway)
Yann "Jah Ridin'" Girardin (Switzerland)
Maunorr (Finland)
nago (Netherlands)
Nuckels (Netherlands)
Francisco "Roryx" Guerreiro (Austria/Portugal)
Danny "s-f" Levy (United States of America)
Ember "Sharp" L (Sweden)
Jasper "skullbro" Claessen (Netherlands)
Sean "stocmoney" Thomas O'Connor (United States of -merica)
Thore (Denmark)
Dennis "yung Ullrich" (Germany)
zondy (United Kingdom)
Lukas "Zorniborni" Florian (Austria)
Blurb Writers
astar
Charon
Nicki
Filip "Flippy" Tengwall
lovestory4a
Maxi "lil froozy" Rose
May (King's roommate)
nago
NotEnder
Noxxa
sp0derr
Triangulum
yung Ullrich
Special Thanks
Jim Morrison - Data Collection Support
Noxxa - Going above and beyond, sharing the load of being the "person for everything" with me. Seriously, I can't thank you enough. Everyone say "thank you Noxxa" please