{{Short description|Mexican esports player}} {{Multiple issues| {{Lead too short|date=March 2025}} {{Unreliable sources|date=March 2025}} }} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2020}} {{family name hatnote|López|Pérez|lang=Spanish}} {{Infobox Pro Gaming player | ID = MkLeo | name = Leonardo López Pérez | image = MKLeo at Frostbite 2020 (cropped).jpg | caption = MKLeo at Frostbite 2020 | nickname = MkLeo, Leo | name_trans = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|2001|1|20}} | birth_place = | nationality = Mexican | leagues = | games = ''Super Smash Bros. for Wii U'' <br> ''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate'' | career_start = 2009 | career_end = present | years1 = 2017–2019 | team1 = Echo Fox | years2 = 2020–2023 | team2 = T1 | years3 = 2023–present | team3 = Luminosity Gaming | highlights = ;''Super Smash Bros. for Wii U'' (12 majors won) * 2x Genesis champion (2017, 2018) * 2GGT: ZeRo Saga champion (2016) * Umebura Japan Major champion (2017) * GameTyrant Expo champion (2017) * IBP Masters Showdown champion (2017) * 2GG Championship champion (2017) * Evo Japan 2018 champion * SwitchFest champion (2018) * Get On My Level champion (2018) * Community Effort Orlando champion (2018) * Super Smash Con champion (2018) ;''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate'' (26 majors won) * 3× Genesis champion (2019, 2022, 2023) * 2x Smash Ultimate Summit champion (2019) * MomoCon champion (2019) * Smash 'N' Splash 5 champion (2019) * Community Effort Orlando champion (2019) * Evo champion (2019) * Super Smash Con champion (2019) * Ultimate Fighting Arena champion (2019) * 2GG: Kongo Saga champion (2019) * Frostbite champion (2020) * Riptide champion (2021) * Low Tide City champion (2021) * Port Priority 6 champion (2021) * Mainstage champion (2021) * Smash World Tour 2021 champion (2021) * Delfino Maza RETA 2022 champion * e-Caribana champion (2022) * COLOSSEL 2022 champion * Smash Factor 9 champion (2022) * Rise 'N Grind champion (2022) * Ludwig Smash Invitational champion (2022) * King Con champion (2024) * EugeneBound Summers champion (2025) | signature = MkLeo sig.svg }}
'''Leonardo López Pérez''' (born January 20, 2001),<ref>{{cite web |title=Super Smash Bros Ultimate: MkLeo |url=https://t1.gg/teams/smash |website=T1 |access-date=May 11, 2021 |archive-date=April 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210419003715/https://t1.gg/teams/smash |url-status=dead }}</ref> better known as '''MkLeo''' and sometimes '''Leo''', is a Mexican professional ''Super Smash Bros.'' player. He was the most successful ''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate'' player in the world during the pre-COVID era,<ref name="ESPN-Evo">{{Cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/esports/story/_/id/27342603/mkleo-talks-winning-evo-being-best-smash-bros-ultimate-tacos |title=MKLeo talks winning Evo, being the best in Smash Bros. Ultimate and tacos |last=Wolf |first=Jacob |date=August 7, 2019 |website=ESPN |publisher=ESPN Enterprises, Inc. |access-date=February 27, 2020}}</ref> and was ranked #1 in the Panda Global Rankings for the first and second half of 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |title=PGRU Season 1 & 2 - YouTube |url=https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLxSQSzL-eddH78paYcgRK8dmjWJh_k0I |access-date=2024-07-21 |website=www.youtube.com}}</ref>
Prior to the release of ''Ultimate'', he was ranked as the best player in the world at ''Super Smash Bros. for Wii U'' for the first half of 2018.
==Career==
=== Early life and ''Super Smash Bros. for Wii U''===
MkLeo won his first ''Smash Bros.'' tournament at the age of eight when he took first place at the ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl'' competition at Anime Expo Mexico TNT 2009.<ref name=":0">{{Cite tweet |number=888138837943365633 |user=ArathGG |title=This is the super old clip when @Mkleosb won his first tournament. 2009 TNT (Anime Expo) Smash Bros. Brawl. Mexico City. |date=July 20, 2017 |access-date=March 3, 2019 |link=https://twitter.com/ArathGG/status/888138837943365633 |last=Gonzalez |first=Arath}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite tweet |number=888141683023634434 |user=ArathGG |title=He was 8 indeed. |date=July 20, 2017 |access-date=March 3, 2019 |link=https://twitter.com/ArathGG/status/888141683023634434 |last=Gonzalez |first=Arath}}</ref><!--Arath is a Spanish professional Smash commentator.--> At 14, he rose to prominence in ''Super Smash Bros. for Wii U'' after defeating Ramin "Mr. R" Delshad to win Smash Factor 4, right after Delshad took 2nd place at Evo 2015.<ref name="Dot-Players-to-Watch">{{Cite web |url=https://dotesports.com/fgc/news/best-super-smash-bros-ultimate-players |title=Top Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Players to Watch in 2019 |last=Newell |first=Adam |date=December 29, 2018 |website=Dot Esports |access-date=March 4, 2020}}</ref> He began competing internationally in 2016, culminating with a win at 2GGT: ZeRo Saga in December. At that event, he defeated several of the game's prominent players, including Gonzalo "ZeRo" Barrios, Larry "Larry Lurr" Holland, and James "Void" Makekau-Tyson.<ref name="ESPN-T1">{{Cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/esports/story/_/id/28789918/t1-sign-top-smash-player-mkleo |title=T1 sign top Smash player MkLeo |last=Wolf |first=Jacob |date=February 26, 2020 |website=ESPN |language=en |access-date=February 27, 2020}}</ref><ref name="ESPN-Genesis-4">{{Cite web |url=https://www.espn.co.uk/esports/story/_/id/18515668/fifteen-year-old-leonardo-mkleo-lopez-prove-genesis-4 |title=MKLeo has something to prove at Genesis 4 |last=Lee |first=Daniel |date=January 20, 2017 |website=ESPN UK |language=en |access-date=March 4, 2020}}</ref> Following the win at 2GGT, MkLeo was jointly signed by Echo Fox – who signed him and six other fighting game players at the same time to build the largest roster of fighting game players in esports – and Most Valuable Gaming.<ref name="ESPN-Genesis-4" /><ref name="Mashable-Echo-Fox">{{Cite web |url=https://mashable.com/2017/01/04/echo-fox-fgc-roster/#A_ErQO4O25qk |title=Echo Fox signs 7 players to build largest fighting game roster in esports |last=Beck |first=Kellen |date=January 4, 2017 |website=Mashable |language=en |access-date=March 4, 2020}}</ref>
MkLeo, who was not able to obtain a travel visa to attend Genesis 3 at the start of 2016, announced after his win at 2GGT that he would go on to win Genesis 4, which was to be held the next month.<ref name="ESPN-Genesis-4" /> At Genesis 4, he again finished in 1st place, defeating Elliot "Ally" Carroza-Oyarce, who had won the ''Smash'' tournament at Evo 2016. He was the youngest player to make the top 8 in the tournament series' history. Playing alongside Ally, the pair also won the tournament's doubles competition.<ref name="Kotaku-Genesis-4">{{Cite web |url=https://kotaku.com/a-16-year-old-smash-bros-player-is-beating-the-biggest-1791842091 |title=A 16-Year-Old Smash Bros. Player Is Beating The Biggest Pros On The Scene |last=D'Anastasio |first=Cecilia |date=January 31, 2017 |website=Kotaku |language=en-us |access-date=March 4, 2020}}</ref> MkLeo had mixed results throughout the rest of 2017, with disappointing results including taking 13th place at Frostbite 2017 in February,<ref name="Frostbite-17">{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=724&v=hp2LRqTKo60&feature=emb_logo |title=Frostbite 2017 TOP 16 LOSERS – CLG {{pipe}} VoiD (Sheik) vs Echo Fox MVG {{pipe}} MKLeo (Cloud, Marth) |date=February 26, 2017 |time=11:40 |access-date=March 3, 2019 |format=Video |medium=Video}}</ref> and 65th place at Evo 2017 in July.<ref name="ESPN-Evo" /> However, he won GameTyrant Expo 2017 at the start of October,<ref name="LevelUp-17">{{Cite web |url=https://www.levelup.com/noticias/449355/Mexicano-se-corona-campeon-en-torneo-de-Super-Smash-Bros-for-Wii-U |title=Mexicano se corona campeón en torneo de Super Smash Bros. for Wii U |last=Pérez Cesari |first=Pedro |date=December 4, 2017 |website=LevelUp |language=es |access-date=March 4, 2020}}</ref> and took second place at CEO 2017, falling to ZeRo.<ref name="ESPN-CEO-17">{{Cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/esports/story/_/id/19683897/a-hometown-hero-major-upset-highlight-ceo-orlando |title=A hometown hero and a major upset highlight CEO Orlando |last=Alonzo |first=Damian |date=June 19, 2017 |website=ESPN |language=en |access-date=March 4, 2020}}</ref> At the end of the year, MkLeo won the 2GGC Championship, this time defeating ZeRo in the finals, and claimed the tournament's $20,000 first place payout.<ref name="2GGC-Champ-17">{{Cite web |url=https://www.shacknews.com/article/102333/mkleo-wins-2ggc-championship-for-super-smash-bros-for-wii-u |title=MKLeo Wins 2GGC Championship for Super Smash Bros. for Wii U |last=Mejia |first=Ozzie |date=December 3, 2017 |website=Shacknews |language=en |access-date=March 4, 2020}}</ref>
thumb|MkLeo placed first at Get On My Level as part of a string of major tournament wins in 2018.
In January 2018, ZeRo announced his retirement from professional ''Smash'' competition. As ZeRo had long been considered the best ''Super Smash Bros. for Wii U'' player in the world, this created an opening for MkLeo to seize the top spot.<ref name="ESPN-Evo" /><ref name="ESPN-GOML-18-PreEvent">{{Cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/esports/story/_/id/23529094/contenders-left-prove-get-my-level-2018 |title=Contenders have something left to prove at Get On My Level 2018 |last=Banusing |first=Justin |date=May 17, 2018 |website=ESPN |language=en |access-date=March 4, 2020}}</ref> He put together a string of impressive performances over the year, including wins at Genesis 5,<ref name="Genesis-5">{{Cite web |url=http://gametyrant.com/news/genesis-5-features-stunning-upsets-auspicious-absences |title=GENESIS 5 Features Stunning Upsets In Melee, Unanticipated Absences In Smash 4 |last=Lee |first=Alex |website=GameTyrant |date=January 22, 2018 |access-date=March 4, 2020}}</ref> Evo Japan 2018,<ref name="Evo-Japan-18">{{Cite web |url=https://www.dbltap.com/posts/5961443-mkleo-dominates-the-smash-4-scene-at-evo-japan |title=MKLeo Dominates the Smash 4 Scene at EVO Japan |last=William |first=Guzman |date=January 28, 2018 |website=dbltap.com |language=en |access-date=March 4, 2020 |archive-date=March 4, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200304052412/https://www.dbltap.com/posts/5961443-mkleo-dominates-the-smash-4-scene-at-evo-japan |url-status=dead }}</ref> CEO 2018,<ref name="CEO-18">{{Cite web |url=https://www.eventhubs.com/news/2018/jun/29/ceo-2018-live-stream-ft-sonicfox-tokido-hungrybox-go1-infiltration-daigo-mkleo-qudans-nairo-dragon-kazunoko-mew2king-hookganggod-and-more/ |title=CEO 2018 results |last=Taylor |first=Nicholas |date=July 1, 2018 |website=EventHubs |language=en |access-date=March 4, 2020}}</ref> Get On My Level 2018,<ref name="GOML-18-Results">{{Cite web |url=https://www.eventhubs.com/news/2018/may/18/get-my-level-2018-live-stream-ft-hungrybox-mew2king-nairo-plup-tweek-mkleo-dabuz-axe-wizzrobe-sfat-amsa-larry-lurr-mr-r-and-more/ |title=Get On My Level 2018 results ft. Hungrybox, Mew2King, Nairo, Plup |last=Taylor |first=Nicholas |date=May 18, 2018 |website=EventHubs |language=en |access-date=March 4, 2020}}</ref> and SwitchFest 2018.<ref name="SwitchFest-18">{{Cite web |url=http://gametyrant.com/news/weekend-recap-axe-goes-off-at-flatiron-3-mkleo-wins-switchfest |title=Super Smash Bros. weekend recap: Axe goes off at Flatiron 3, MkLeo wins Switchfest |last=Lee |first=Alex |website=GameTyrant |date=April 24, 2018 |access-date=March 4, 2020}}</ref> MkLeo was unable to attend Evo 2018 due to chickenpox,<ref name="ESPN-Evo" /> but was able to attend Super Smash Con 2018 shortly thereafter, where he claimed another 1st-place finish.<ref name="SSC-18">{{Cite web |url=https://www.eventhubs.com/news/2018/aug/10/super-smash-con-2018-live-stream-ft-leffen-armada-hungrybox-mkleo-mango-mew2king-tweek-plup-nairo-dabuz-salem-wizzrobe-sfat-and-more/ |title=Super Smash Con 2018 results |last=Taylor |first=Nicholas |date=August 12, 2018 |website=EventHubs |language=en |access-date=March 4, 2020}}</ref> These wins resulted in MkLeo taking the top spot in the final bi-annual Panda Global rankings of ''Wii U'' players before the release of ''Ultimate''.<ref name="PGR5-WiiU-18">{{Cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wm2Omg_NqKo|title=TOP 50 SMASH 4 PLAYERS: PGRv5 1–10|date=August 6, 2018|publisher=Panda Global|time=14:05|access-date=February 27, 2020|medium=Video}}</ref>
In the five semi-annual Panda Global rankings released over the competitive lifespan of ''Super Smash Bros. for Wii U'', MkLeo was ranked 19th,<ref name="PGR-WiiU-1">{{Cite web |url=http://panda.esportsify.com/articles/news/gaming/37/panda-global-rankings-20-11 |title=Panda Global Rankings: 20–11 – Articles – Panda Global |last=Suarez |first=Luis |date=May 25, 2016 |website=panda.esportsify.com |access-date=March 4, 2020 |archive-date=March 4, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200304055044/http://panda.esportsify.com/articles/news/gaming/37/panda-global-rankings-20-11 |url-status=dead }}</ref> 8th,<ref name="PGRv2">{{cite AV media | date = January 19, 2017 | title = TOP 50 SMASH 4 PLAYERS: Panda Global Rankings v2 – 1 – 10| medium = Video | url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cSGrtX7BDs | access-date = June 1, 2020 | format = Video | time = 3:11 | publisher = YouTube }}</ref> 2nd,<ref name="PGR-Wii-3">{{Cite web |url=https://panda.gg/blogs/smash-bros/pgrv3-1-10-top-smash-bros-wii-u-players-in-the-world |title=PGRv3 #1–10 Top Smash Bros Wii U Players In The World |last=Banusing |first=Justin |date=June 26, 2017 |website=Panda Global |language=en |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170913044143/https://panda.gg/blogs/smash-bros/pgrv3-1-10-top-smash-bros-wii-u-players-in-the-world |archive-date=September 13, 2017 |access-date=March 4, 2020}}</ref> and 4th before taking first place in the final ranking.<ref name="PGR5-WiiU-18" /><ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aV2B1-Qhab0 |title=TOP 50 SMASH 4 PLAYERS: Panda Global Rankings v4 1–10 |date=January 12, 2018 |publisher=Panda Global |time=17:06 |format=Video |medium=Video}}</ref> The Panda Global Rankings 100, which listed the Top 100 ''Wii U'' players from the game's release through the release of ''Ultimate'', placed MkLeo as the 3rd best player of all time behind ZeRo and Nairoby "Nairo" Quezada.<ref>{{Cite tweet |number=1070863114210607105 |user=pgstats |title=The #PGR100 All Time is complete and an era has ended. |author=PGstats |date=December 6, 2018 |access-date=March 3, 2019 |link=https://twitter.com/pgstats/status/1070863114210607105}}</ref> The final Panda Global rankings for ''Super Smash Bros. for Wii U'' listed Marth as the main character that he played and Cloud Strife and Bayonetta as his secondary characters.<ref name="PGR5-WiiU-18-Character-Timestamp">{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wm2Omg_NqKo |title=TOP 50 SMASH 4 PLAYERS: PGRv5 1–10 |date=August 6, 2018 |publisher=Panda Global |time=12:40 |access-date=February 27, 2020 |medium=Video}}</ref>
=== ''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate''===
''Smash Ultimate'' was released in December 2018, and MkLeo had strong showings at several tournaments held shortly after the game's launch. He won one of the first ''Ultimate'' tournaments, Smash Conference United, and took fourth place at Glitch 6, both in the month of January.<ref name="GameTyrant-Glitch-6">{{Cite web |url=http://gametyrant.com/news/tweek-earns-a-second-major-victory-at-glitch-6 |title=Tweek earns a second major victory at Glitch 6 |last=Lee |first=Alex |website=GameTyrant |date=January 21, 2019 |access-date=February 27, 2020}}</ref> The following month, he won Genesis 6, considered the first premier tournament in ''Ultimate''. The win was his third consecutive title at that tournament series and made him a front-runner for best player in the world at the new game.<ref name="PGRU-Spring-19">{{Cite web|title=Spring 2019 #PGRU: 10–1|url=https://www.redbull.com/us-en/pgru-spring-2019-10-1|last=Banusing|first=Justin|date=August 1, 2019|website=Red Bull|access-date=February 27, 2020}}</ref><ref name="ESPN-Genesis-6">{{Cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/esports/story/_/id/25933136/super-smash-bros-mkleo-elevated-smash-dynasty-status-genesis-6 |title=MKLeo elevated to Smash dynasty status at Genesis 6 |last=Wolf |first=Jacob |date=February 5, 2019 |website=ESPN |language=en |access-date=February 27, 2020}}</ref> In the first half of 2019 he won three other major tournaments, MomoCon 2019, CEO 2019, and Smash 'N' Splash 5, and placed second in another, Frostbite 2019. His weakest performance in a major tournament came at Umebura Major in Japan, where he placed 33rd; this was also the first tournament where he used Joker, newly released character, competitively. His success against the scene's other top players earned MkLeo the top position in the inaugural Panda Global rankings for ''Ultimate''.<ref name="PGRU-Spring-19" />
thumb|left|upright|MkLeo won the Super Smash Con 2019 Ultimate singles event.
MkLeo opened the second half of 2019 with a second-place finish at Smash Factor 8, held in Mexico, falling to Tyler "Marss" Martins.<ref name="ESPN-Pre-Genesis-7">{{Cite web |url=https://www.espn.co.uk/esports/story/_/id/28540409/can-anybody-beat-mkleo-smash-genesis-7 |title=Can anybody beat MkLeo in Smash at Genesis 7? |last=Wolf |first=Jacob |website=ESPN |date=January 23, 2020 |access-date=February 29, 2020}}</ref> Shortly after, MkLeo won Evo 2019, the largest tournament by number of entrants in the ''Smash Bros.'' franchise's history (excluding online tournaments).<ref name="Hollywood-Evo-19">{{Cite web|title='Smash Bros.' Evo Record, 'Fortnite's' New Frontier|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/esports-arena-smash-bros-evo-record-fortnites-new-frontier-1229831|last=Fanelli|first=Jason|date=August 7, 2019|website=The Hollywood Reporter|language=en|access-date=February 27, 2020}}</ref> After losing in the round of 16 to Takuto "Kameme" Ono, MkLeo defeated a number of other elite players in the losers' bracket and reached the tournament's grand finals, where he defeated Gavin "Tweek" Dempsey twice – first to reset the bracket, and then to win the tournament, and with it a grand prize of over $21,000.<ref name="Dot-Evo-19">{{Cite web |url=https://dotesports.com/fgc/news/mkleo-wins-super-smash-bros-ultimate-at-evo-2019 |title=MkLeo wins Super Smash Bros. Ultimate at Evo 2019 |last=Michael |first=Cale |date=August 5, 2019 |website=Dot Esports |access-date=February 29, 2020}}</ref> In addition to Evo, he won two other premier tournaments – Super Smash Con 2019 and 2GG: Kongo Saga – and placed second at the major tournaments Shine 2019 and Mainstage 2019. His high placings in these events secured him a second term as the best ''Ultimate'' player in the world in the bi-annual Panda Global rankings.<ref name="Dot-Evo-19" /><ref name="PGRU-Fall-19">{{Cite web |url=https://www.redbull.com/us-en/pgru-fall-2019-10-1 |title=Fall 2019 #PGRU: 10–1 |last=Laguna |first=Jose |website=Red Bull |access-date=February 29, 2020}}</ref>
In January 2020, MkLeo placed second at Genesis 7, again falling to Marss, who deprived MkLeo of a fourth straight Genesis title.<ref name="USC-Genesis-7">{{Cite web |url=http://www.uscannenbergmedia.com/2020/01/28/marss-starts-the-year-strong-with-his-convincing-upset-over-mkleo-at-genesis-7/ |title=Marss Starts the Year Strong with His Convincing Upset Over MKLeo at Genesis 7 |last=Palacios |first=Dylan |date=January 28, 2020 |website=USC Annenberg Media |publisher=Arc Publishing |access-date=February 29, 2020}}</ref> On February 21, just prior to Frostbite 2020, he announced on Twitter that he had departed Echo Fox.<ref name="Depart-Echo-Fox">{{Cite web |url=https://www.esportstalk.com/news/sonicfox-and-mkleo-leave-echo-fox/ |title=SonicFox and MKLeo Decide to Part Ways With Echo Fox |last=Chandler |first=Issac |date=February 26, 2020 |website=EsportsTalk.com |access-date=February 29, 2020}}</ref> The organization had dissolved in late 2019,<ref name="PC-Gamer-Echo-Fox">{{Cite web |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/echo-fox-is-gone-investor-rep-says/ |title=Echo Fox 'is gone,' investor rep says |last=Chalk |first=Andy |date=November 12, 2019 |website=PC Gamer |access-date=February 29, 2020 |archive-date=February 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200229195856/https://www.pcgamer.com/echo-fox-is-gone-investor-rep-says/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> and MkLeo and fighting game player SonicFox were the last two players on their roster.<ref name="Depart-Echo-Fox" /> At Frostbite, after falling to Pedro "Prodigy" Alonso in the round of 96, MkLeo won the next 11 straight sets, defeating the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 6th, 7th, 9th, 12th, 22nd, and 30th best players in the Panda Global rankings during his run to win the tournament.<ref name="State-News-Frostbite-20">{{Cite web |url=https://statenews.com/article/2020/02/mkleo-wins-frostbite-2020 |title=No. 1 MKLeo wins Frostbite 2020 after dramatic losers' bracket run |last=Schmucker |first=Matt |date=February 27, 2020 |website=The State News |language=en-us |access-date=February 29, 2020}}</ref> A few days after the tournament, multi-esport organization T1 announced that they had signed him.<ref name="ESPN-T1" />
As of the second half of 2019, MkLeo was listed in the Panda Global rankings as using Joker as his main character and Ike, Lucina, and Wolf as secondary characters.<ref name="PGRU-Spring-19" /> At Frostbite 2020, he played part of the grand finals match with Byleth, who had been released as a playable character in ''Ultimate'' only weeks earlier.<ref name="State-News-Frostbite-20" />
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, most of the tournaments scheduled for the first half of 2020 were cancelled or moved online. In May 2020, MkLeo tied for 33rd out of 8,192 participants at the Hungrybox-organized The Box tournament.<ref name="The-Box-Results">{{cite web |last1=Taylor |first1=Nicholas |title=The Box results |url=https://www.eventhubs.com/news/2020/may/09/box-results/ |website=EventHubs |access-date=June 4, 2020 |language=en |date=May 9, 2020}}</ref> Despite input delays and lag caused by competing online, he placed Top 8 in online majors and 2nd at Alpharad and Cr1TiKaL's tournament, The Quarantine Series: Major Tournament 1, losing to Carlos "Sonix" Pérez in Grand Finals.<ref name="The-Quarantine-Series-Major-Tournament-#1-Results">{{cite web |last1=Taylor |first1=Nicholas|title=The Quarantine Series: Major Tournament 1 results |url=https://www.eventhubs.com/news/2020/may/02/quarantime-series-major-tournament-1-results/ |website=EventHubs |access-date=January 8, 2021 |language=en |date=May 3, 2020}}</ref> He was ranked 11th out of 75 players in Wi-Fi Warrior Rank v5.<ref name="Wi-Fi-Warrior-Rankings-v5:-20-11-#WWRv5">{{cite web |last1=Tate |first1=Dylan|title=Wi-Fi Warrior Rank v5: 20–11 #WWRv5 |url=https://www.dailyesports.gg/wi-fi-warrior-rank-v5-rankings-20-11-wwrv5/ |website=Daily Esports |access-date=January 8, 2021 |language=en |date=July 29, 2020}}</ref>
In the second half of 2020, MkLeo began to use Byleth as his primary character and produced solid results placing top 8 in online tournaments. He won the major online tournament Ultimate 32, placing first out of 1,277 players. While down two games against Enrique "Maister" Hernandez Solís in Grand Finals, he switched characters to Ike, a difficult matchup for Maister's character. He won the set with three straight wins and won the Grand Finals Reset with another three.<ref name="MkLeo-wins-Super-Smash-Bros.-Singles-at-Ultimate-32">{{cite web |last1=Tate |first1=Dylan |title=MkLeo wins Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Singles at Ultimate 32 |url=https://www.dailyesports.gg/mkleo-wins-super-smash-bros-ultimate-singles-at-ultimate-32/ |website=Daily Esports |access-date=January 8, 2021 |language=en |date=November 16, 2020 |archive-date=January 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210110234941/https://www.dailyesports.gg/mkleo-wins-super-smash-bros-ultimate-singles-at-ultimate-32/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> Despite being an online tournament, several players compared MkLeo's performance to his runs at EVO 2019 and Super Smash Con 2019. Despite attending fewer tournaments, his great results overall throughout the season allowed MkLeo to rank 6th out of 50 players in Wi-Fi Warrior Rank v6.<ref name="Wi-Fi-Warrior-Rankings-v6:-10-1-#WWRv6">{{cite web |last1=Tate |first1=Dylan |title=Wi-Fi Warrior Rank v6: 10–1 #WWRv6 |url=https://www.dailyesports.gg/wi-fi-warrior-rank-v6-10-1-wwrv6/ |website=Daily Esports |access-date=February 10, 2021 |language=en |date=January 28, 2021 |archive-date=January 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128210140/https://www.dailyesports.gg/wi-fi-warrior-rank-v6-10-1-wwrv6/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
In the first half of 2021, MkLeo continued to play in online tournaments and placed well. As offline tournaments slowly returned, MkLeo decided to commit to primarily using Byleth. MkLeo attended his first offline tournament since Frostbite 2020 at the SWT: Central America Ultimate Regional Finals, where he won the event without dropping a set. His next tournament, Smash Ultimate Summit 3, saw him and his longtime rival Tweek in the Grand Finals set. For the first time since Frostbite 2019, Tweek managed to defeat MkLeo 3–0 in two different sets with his new main, leaving MkLeo at 2nd.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://dotesports.com/fgc/news/tweek-sweeps-mkleo-twice-to-win-smash-ultimate-summit-3|title=Tweek sweeps MkLeo twice to win Smash Ultimate Summit 3|first=Cale|last=Michael|date=August 30, 2021}}</ref> Two weeks later, they met again in the Winners' Finals at Riptide. Although Tweek was up two games against him, MkLeo won the next three to take the set. He would then defeat Tweek again in the Grand Finals. These placements re-established MkLeo as the best in the world and shifted the general perception of Byleth, who was previously considered a weak character. MkLeo continued to place top 2 at every major event he attended, winning Riptide, Low Tide City 2021, Port Priority 6, and Mainstage 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://dotesports.com/fgc/news/mkleo-wins-super-smash-bros-ultimate-low-tide-city-with-perfect-series-against-dabuz#:~:text=In%20one%20of%20the%20most,months%20at%20Low%20Tide%20City.|title = MKLeo wins Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Low Tide City with perfect series against Dabuz|date = October 4, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://dotesports.com/fgc/news/mkleo-takes-super-smash-bros-ultimate-at-riptide-with-3-1-win-over-tweek#:~:text=Super%20Smash%20Bros.-,Ultimate%20at%20Riptide%20with%203%2D1%20win%20over%20Tweek,script%20was%20flipped%20at%20Riptide.&text=For%20the%20second%20time%20in,in%20a%203%2D1%20victory.|title = MKLeo takes Super Smash Bros. Ultimate at Riptide with 3–1 win over Tweek|date = September 13, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.upcomer.com/three-takeaways-from-mainstage-2021-smash-ultimate-singles/|title=Three takeaways from Mainstage 2021 Smash Ultimate Singles|date=November 15, 2021}}</ref> In December 2021, MkLeo became the first World Champion by winning the Smash World Tour 2021 Championships.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://dotesports.com/fgc/news/mkleo-pulls-off-last-second-win-beats-sparg0-to-win-super-smash-bros-ultimate-at-mainstage-2021|title=MKLeo pulls off last second win, beats Sparg0 to win Super Smash Bros. Ultimate at Mainstage 2021|first=Cale|last=Michael|date=November 15, 2021}}</ref>
MkLeo did not attend any major tournaments for the first few months of 2022. In March, he competed in the Smash Ultimate Summit 4 invitational, where he fell to Japanese player Protobanham in the Losers' Semifinals match. This marked the first time that MkLeo had placed lower than 2nd at an ''Ultimate'' major since Get On My Level 2019 in May 2019, a streak of over 35 tournaments.<ref>{{Cite web |date=7 March 2022 |title=ProtoBanham vs MkLeo – Ultimate Singles: Bracket Losers Semis – Ultimate Summit 4 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txNbHSEEcOs&feature=youtu.be |access-date=2 May 2022 |website=YouTube}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Wilson |first=Robert |date=7 March 2022 |title=Storylines From Smash Ultimate Summit 4: Featuring Sparg0at |url=https://www.pgstats.com/articles/storylines-from-smash-ultimate-summit-4-featuring-sparg0at |access-date=2 May 2022 |website=PGstats}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Player Database – MkLeo |url=https://smashdata.gg/smash/ultimate/player/MkLeo?id=222927&online=False |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220402013226/https://smashdata.gg/smash/ultimate/player/MkLeo?id=222927 |archive-date=2 April 2022 |access-date=14 May 2022 |website=smashdata.gg}}</ref> This occurred for a second time at Collision 2022 later that same month, where he was defeated by Tweek in Losers Finals.<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 March 2022 |title=Collision 2022 – MkLeo (Byleth) vs Tweek (Diddy Kong) – Top 8 – Losers Finals |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVWCOl96nZc&feature=youtu.be |access-date=2 May 2022 |website=YouTube}}</ref> In April, he made a return to form by winning the Mexican invitational Delfino Maza's RETA 2022 as well as Genesis 8 over French player Glutonny.<ref>{{Cite web |date=17 April 2022 |title=MKLeo vs Glutonny – Grand Finals Ultimate Singles – Genesis 8 {{!}} Byleth vs Wario |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3T4d3Q-85I&feature=youtu.be |access-date=2 May 2022 |website=YouTube}}</ref> He used Corrin for the first time at RETA 2022, using it to beat fellow Mexican player Edgar "Sparg0" Valdez, who was by now considered the second best player in the world, in Grand Finals.<ref>{{Cite web |date=3 April 2022 |title=RETA 2022 GRAND FINALS – MkLeo (Corrin) Vs. Sparg0 (Cloud) SSBU Ultimate Tournament |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbGTN1LvVtY&feature=youtu.be |access-date=2 May 2022 |website=YouTube}}</ref> MkLeo and Glutonny would meet again in the Grand Finals of Pound 2022, although Glutonny would be victorious this time.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Moore |first=Jack |date=29 April 2022 |title=How Glutonny Figured Out MkLeo At Pound 2022 |url=https://www.pgstats.com/articles/how-glutonny-figured-out-mkleo-at-pound-2022 |access-date=2 May 2022 |website=PGstats}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Michael |first=Cale |date=25 April 2022 |title=Glutonny gets revenge on MkLeo, wins Super Smash Bros. Ultimate at Pound 2022 |url=https://dotesports.com/fgc/news/glutonny-gets-revenge-on-mkleo-wins-super-smash-bros-ultimate-at-pound-2022 |access-date=2 May 2022 |website=Dot Esports}}</ref> At August's Super Smash Con 2022, MkLeo fell to Angel "Onin" Mireles 0–3 in the first round of Winners' Top 32, before being eliminated by Glutonny in Losers' Quarterfinals.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-08-15 |title=Steve from Minecraft was the big winner at Super Smash Con 2022 |url=https://www.destructoid.com/steve-super-smash-con-2022-big-winners/ |access-date=2022-10-13 |website=Destructoid |language=en-CA}}</ref> He appeared for Smash Ultimate Summit 5 in September where he would miss Top 8 for the second time in his ''Ultimate'' career, placing 9th after falling to Tweek.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pabriga |first=Cedric |date=2022-09-19 |title=ProtoBanham wins Smash Ultimate Summit 5, MKLeo etches unwanted moment in history |url=https://dotesports.com/fgc/news/protobanham-wins-smash-ultimate-summit-5-mkleo-etches-unwanted-moment-in-history |access-date=2022-10-13 |website=Dot Esports |language=en-US}}</ref>
MkLeo was invited to participate in Ludwig Ahgren's ''Smash'' invitational in October, winning the ''Ultimate'' bracket over Mashita "あcola" Hayato while only losing one game to Prodigy (now known as "Kurama") in the eight best-of-five sets he played.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ludwig Smash Invitational |url=https://www.start.gg/tournament/ludwig-smash-invitational/attendees |access-date=2022-10-23 |website=start.gg |language=en-us}}</ref> After Nintendo forced the Smash World Tour 2022 Championships to be cancelled, MkLeo dropped out of the Panda Cup Finale in protest and accepted Ahgren's invitation to play at his event, the "Scuffed World Tour", which was to be held on the same weekend as the Panda Cup Finale before it was indefinitely postponed.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Michael |first=Cale |date=2022-12-03 |title=Pandexodus begins: iBDW, WaDi, and more are leaving Panda after Smash World Tour cancelation |url=https://dotesports.com/pokemon/news/pandexodus-begins-ibdw-wadi-and-more-are-leaving-panda-after-smash-world-tour-cancelation |access-date=2022-12-03 |website=Dot Esports |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Ludwig announces Smash invitational on same day as Panda Cup Finale |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/cycling/ludwig-announces-smash-invitational-on-same-day-as-panda-cup-finale/ar-AA14QbHP |access-date=2022-12-03 |website=MSN |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Michael |first=Cale |date=2022-12-05 |title=Panda postpones Panda Cup Finale, ousts CEO as Smash backlash reaches fever pitch |url=https://dotesports.com/fgc/news/panda-postpones-panda-cup-finale-ousts-ceo-as-smash-community-backlash-reaches-fever-pitch |access-date=2022-12-19 |website=Dot Esports |language=en-US}}</ref> He placed 5th, losing to Tweek and Shuto "Shuton" Moriya.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Scuffed World Tour |url=https://www.start.gg/tournament/scuffed-world-tour/details |access-date=2022-12-19 |website=start.gg |language=en-us}}</ref>
In January 2023, MkLeo played in the tournament Lets Make Big Moves 2023, where he placed 4th place losing to Tweek and Carlos "Sonix" Pérez.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Let's Make BIG Moves 2023 |url=https://www.start.gg/tournament/let-s-make-big-moves-2023/event/ultimate-singles/brackets/1135869/1764699/ |access-date=2023-03-05 |website=start.gg |language=en-us}}</ref> At the end of January 2023 MkLeo participated in his next tournament Genesis 9. At Genesis MkLeo in the winners final was knocked down to the losers bracket by Antony "MuteAce" Hoo. After beating Paris "Light" Ramirez Garcia in losers finals, MkLeo took 1st place after beating MuteAce in Grand Finals and the Grand Finals Reset.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Genesis 9 |url=https://www.start.gg/tournament/genesis-9-1/event/ultimate-singles/brackets/1276350/1955949/ |access-date=2023-03-05 |website=start.gg |language=en-us}}</ref> In February 2023, MkLeo left T1, and a month later, he signed with Luminosity Gaming.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wilcon |first1=Meredith |title=Tweek And MKLeo Sign To Luminosity |url=https://esi.si.com/fgc/tweek-and-leo-sign-to-luminosity |access-date=March 25, 2023 |work=Esports Illustrated |date=March 23, 2023}}</ref> At the end of 2023, MkLeo was ranked 11th on the LumiRank Top 100,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://x.com/LumiRank/status/1751002360535548334 |title=LumiRank Top 100 2023}}</ref> his lowest ranking since the release of ''Ultimate''.
== Personal life == MkLeo has offered paid personal 1-on-1 coaching through the platform Metafy since 2020. He used money from this platform to help his family get through the COVID-19 pandemic when revenue from in-person tournaments began to be scarce. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Jr |first=Tom Huddleston |date=2021-08-01 |title=How 20-year-old ‘MkLeo’ went from poverty to top gamer with nearly half a million dollars in the bank |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/08/01/mkleo-went-from-poverty-to-top-gamer-with-six-figures-in-the-bank.html |access-date=2026-02-27 |website=CNBC |language=en}}</ref>
On October 12, 2022, MkLeo revealed via Twitter that he had been experiencing lifelong ear-related health problems, but it had worsened to the point that it began to affect his hearing and ability to travel. He subsequently dropped out of the upcoming Canadian tournament ''Battle of Z'' and took a break from competing that November, intending to prepare for the Smash World Tour 2022 Championships.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Tate |first=Dylan |date=17 October 2022 |title=The biggest storylines going into the Ludwig Smash Invitational |work=Upcomer |url=https://upcomer.com/the-biggest-storylines-going-into-the-ludwig-smash-invitational |url-status=live |access-date=18 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221018142652/https://upcomer.com/the-biggest-storylines-going-into-the-ludwig-smash-invitational |archive-date=18 October 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title='I'm the best': MKLeo wins Ludwig's stacked Smash Ultimate tournament with fiery bracket run |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/esports/im-the-best-mkleo-wins-ludwigs-stacked-smash-ultimate-tournament-with-fiery-bracket-run/ar-AA13iAO2 |access-date=2022-12-03 |website=MSN |language=en-US}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{Twitch|mkleossb}} * {{YouTube|c=UCvAR_BDFclXJ1Q9ndUhWLCA}}
{{competitive Super Smash Bros.}}
Category:2001 births Category:Living people Category:Sportspeople from Mexico City Category:Super Smash Bros. Ultimate players Category:Mexican esports players Category:Super Smash Bros. for Wii U players