{{short description|American professional esports player}} {{Infobox Pro Gaming player | ID = Zain | name = Zain Naghmi | image = Zain at Genesis 9.jpg | caption = Naghmi in 2023 | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1996|6|11}} | birth_place = | nickname = | nationality = American | game = ''Super Smash Bros. Melee'' | career_start = 2014 | career_end = | years1 = 2018{{ndash}}2019 | team1 = Panda Global | years2 = 2020{{ndash}}2023 | team2 = Golden Guardians | years3 = 2023{{ndash}}2025 | team3 = Moist Esports | years4 = 2025{{ndash}}present | team4 = Shopify Rebellion | highlights = (26 majors won) * 2x Shine champion (2018, 2022) * 2x GENESIS champion (2020, 2022) * 2x Ludwig Ahgren Championship Series champion (2020, 2022) * 2x Super Smash Con champion (2023, 2025) * 3x Get On My Level champion (2023, 2024, 2025) * 2x Collision champion (2024, 2025) * 2x Riptide champion (2024, 2025) * 2x Pats House Champion (2024, 2026) * Smash Summit 10 champion (2020) * Four Loko Fight Night champion (2020) * Pound champion (2022) * Ludwig Smash Invitational champion (2022) * Tipped Off 14 champion (2023) * Fête 3 champion (2023) * Wavelength champion (2024) * Luminosity Makes Moves Miami champion (2024) * Battle of BC 7 champion (2025) | module1 = {{infobox social media personality |child = yes | twitch_handle = ZainNaghmi | twitch_display_name = | twitch_years_active = | twitch_genre = | twitch_game = | twitch_followers = 95,000<!-- PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE WITHOUT UPDATING stats_update BELOW --> | stats_update = May 2026 }} | signature = Zain sig.svg }}
'''Zain Naghmi''' ({{IPAc-en|z|æ|n}} or {{IPAc-en|z|eɪ|n}},<ref>{{cite tweet |number=1305206033648881664 |user=zainnaghmi |title=Zain (Like the beginning of Xanax) |access-date=October 24, 2022 |date=September 13, 2020<!-- In UTC -->}}</ref> born June 11, 1996), better known as '''Zain''', is an American professional ''Super Smash Bros. Melee'' player from Virginia. Beginning his career in 2014, he rapidly climbed the ranks, becoming a top 100 player in the world within only two years, a top 10 player since 2018, and was ranked the number one player in the world in 2022, 2024 and 2025. Naghmi plays Marth and is currently considered the best Marth player in the world.<ref>{{cite web |title=MPGR Melee Power Rankings |url=https://smash.gg/rankings/melee/series/mpgr |website=smash.gg }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Michael |first1=Cale |title=iBDW comments on the evolution of the Fox matchup in Super Smash Bros. Melee |url=https://dotesports.com/fgc/news/ibdw-comments-on-the-evolution-of-the-fox-matchup-in-super-smash-bros-melee |website=DotEsports.com |date=16 February 2020 |publisher=Dot Esports |access-date=29 August 2020}}</ref> He was sponsored by Golden Guardians from February 2020 to March 2023. In April 2023, he was signed by Moist Esports.
His most notable tournament placings include first at GENESIS 7 and GENESIS 8, second at The Big House 9 and Smash Summit 11 and third at Smash Summit 12 and Super Smash Con 2019. A 2021 list compiled by PGstats ranked Naghmi as the ninth-greatest ''Melee'' player of all time.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pgstats.com/articles/the-melee-stats-top-100-the-top-10|title=The Melee Stats Top 100: The Top 10|website=PGstats|date=November 22, 2021|language=en|access-date=November 22, 2021|archive-date=November 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211122010405/https://www.pgstats.com/articles/the-melee-stats-top-100-the-top-10|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==Early life== Naghmi was born on June 11, 1996,<ref>{{cite tweet |number=1006327178513059847 |user=zainnaghmi |title=This shirt is an amazing birthday gift @MilkMan_SSBM!!! I'm the happiest 22 year old around |access-date=September 7, 2020 |date=June 12, 2018<!-- In UTC -->}}</ref> and grew up near Chantilly, Virginia.<ref name="WashingtonPost">{{cite news |last1=Melnick |first1=Kyle |title=Life of a retro video gamer: Fans, money and a boa constrictor |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2025/08/16/zain-naghmi-super-smash-bros-melee/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=26 August 2025 |date=16 August 2025}}</ref> He is of Pakistani descent; his father Hasan emigrated to the United States from Pakistan in 1972 and works in real estate, while his mother Fatima works in cybersecurity.<ref name="WashingtonPost"/> He has an older sister, Hena. In his youth, his sister purchased a GameCube and ''Melee'', which they played together, sparking his interest in the game.<ref name="WashingtonPost"/>
==Career== ===2013–2017: Non-ranked beginnings=== Zain first began competing in ''Melee'' tournaments in May 2014, with his first tournament being at "Smash @ Clarendon", a popular weekly event in Arlington, Virginia.<ref name="new challenger">{{cite web |last1=Lee |first1=Alexander |title=New challenger approaching: The rise of Zain |url=https://www.espn.co.uk/esports/story/_/id/24514667/super-smash-bros-melee-zain |website=ESPN.com |date=29 August 2018 |publisher=ESPN Enterprises, Inc. |access-date=4 September 2020}}</ref> He largely competed in local tournaments while in his first year at Virginia Tech, and had soon established himself as a formidable opponent among the Maryland/Virginia scene.<ref name="new challenger"/> Zain's breakout performance at a major tournament came in 2015, when he placed 33rd at Super Smash Con 2015, which was followed by a 1st-place finish at the MD/VA Fall Arcadian,<ref>{{cite web |title=The Fall Arcadian Melee Top 16 |url=http://xanaduarcadian.challonge.com/tfameleetop16 |website=Challonge |publisher=xanaduarcadian |access-date=2022-05-19 |archive-date=2018-02-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180219041155/http://xanaduarcadian.challonge.com/tfameleetop16 |url-status=dead }}</ref> the highest non-ranked tournament in the region.
===2017–2018: Beginning of professional career=== Zain's 2017 season began with an appearance on the SSBMRank, a semiannual power ranking presented by Red Bull, where he was ranked as the 66th best ''Melee'' player for his performance in 2016.<ref name="SSMBRank">{{cite web |last1=Craytor |first1=John |last2=Fellner |first2=Henry |title=SSBMRank 2016: 61-70 |url=https://www.redbull.com/us-en/ssbmrank-2016-70-61-red-bull-esports |website=Redbull.com |publisher=Red Bull |access-date=4 September 2020}}</ref> A heavy influence on the ranking was his performance at The Big House 6, where he placed 17th overall including a 2–0 victory over Justin "Plup" McGrath,<ref>{{cite web |last1=MacPherson |first1=Kate |title=The beginning of 2020: Zain wins Genesis 7 |url=https://tempostorm.com/articles/zain-wins-genesis-7 |website=Tempostorm.com |publisher=Tempo Storn |access-date=4 September 2020}}</ref> who was ranked 6th in the world at the time.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Palakurthi |first1=Anokh |title=SSBMRank 2016: 4-6 |url=https://www.redbull.com/us-en/ssbmrank-2016-4-6-red-bull-esports |website=Redbull.com |publisher=Red Bull |access-date=4 September 2020}}</ref> Zain's placing earned him some interest from Plup's team, Panda Global, who offered him a sponsorship; however, the deal never went through.<ref name="new challenger"/> 2017 saw high placements at several major tournaments which included 5th place at Super Smash Con 2017, bumping Zain up to 22nd on the SSBMRank 2017.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Yang |first1=Rui |last2=Lynch |first2=Darren |title=SSBMRank 2017: 30-21 |url=https://www.redbull.com/us-en/ssbmrank-2017-30-21 |website=Redbull.com |publisher=Rd Bull |access-date=4 September 2020}}</ref> He was again approached by Panda Global who offered him a full sponsorship - this time, Zain accepted, with the team officially announcing the signing on April 12, 2018.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Global |first1=Panda |title=Welcome to the Plup Club, @PG_Zain . We were going to wait until Summit started, but looks like we might need your Ki for a spirit bomb to push him through to Summit! |url=https://twitter.com/PandaGlobal/status/984521696957870080 |website=Twitter.com |publisher=Twitter |access-date=4 September 2020}} </ref>
===2018–2019: Panda Global and the rise to the top=== Under Panda Global, Zain enjoyed success at major tournaments including first place finishes at Pound Underground,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kassel |first1=Josh |title=*Pound* Underground - Melee Singles |url=https://smash.gg/tournament/pound-underground/event/melee-singles/overview |website=smash.gg |access-date=7 September 2020}}</ref> OMEGA II,<ref>{{cite web |last1=LaBombard |first1=Michael |title=OMEGA II - Melee Singles |url=https://smash.gg/tournament/omega-ii/event/melee-singles/overview |website=smash.gg |access-date=7 September 2020}}</ref> and Shine 2018.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Zaborowski |first1=Matthew |title=Shine 2018 - Melee Singles |url=https://smash.gg/tournament/shine-2018/event/melee-singles/overview |website=smash.gg |access-date=7 September 2020}}</ref> However, despite his success, Zain parted ways with the team on November 8, 2019, along with teammates Cosmos and Kelazhur<ref>{{cite web |last1=Michael |first1=Cale |title=Panda Global parts ways with Smash Bros. players Zain and Cosmos |url=https://dotesports.com/dota-2/news/panda-global-parts-ways-with-smash-bros-players-zain-and-cosmos |website=DotEsports.com |date=9 November 2019 |publisher=Dot Esports |access-date=7 September 2020}}</ref> - no explanation for Zain's departure was given by either the organisation or Zain himself.
Zain also played for the MUN Huskies in the Collegiate Starleague (CSL), an intercollegiate esports league. The CSL hosted its grand final for the 2018 competitive season at Shine 2018, where the Hokies ultimately placed in second after losing to the University of Central Florida.<ref name="new challenger" />
===2020–present: Mogul Moves, Golden Guardians and Slippi=== Following his departure from Panda Global, Zain only competed in one tournament as a free agent. Two days prior to GENESIS 7, Twitch streamer Ludwig Ahgren announced his sponsorship of Zain for the tournament under his "Mogul Moves" clothing brand on January 22, 2020.<ref name="GoldenGuardians">{{cite news |last1=Michael |first1=Cale |date=February 6, 2020 |title=Golden Guardians signs Super Smash Bros. Melee pro Zain, Teamfight Tactics streamer DogDog |work=Dot Esports |url=https://dotesports.com/news/golden-guardians-signs-super-smash-bros-melee-pro-zain-teamfight-tactics-streamer-dogdog |access-date=January 29, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Ahgren |first1=Ludwig |title=HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE I AM SIGNING @ZainNaghmi TO MOGUL MOVES FOR @Genesis_Smash |url=https://twitter.com/LudwigAhgren/status/1220132370101047296 |website=Twitter.com |publisher=Twitter |access-date=7 September 2020}}</ref> Zain won ''Melee'' singles without losing a set, defeating Hungrybox - the number-one player in the world - in grand finals.<ref name="GoldenGuardians" /> As Zain's Mogul Moves sponsorship only lasted for the tournament, he became a free agent following GENESIS, but was soon signed by the Golden Guardians, the official esports organisation of the Golden State Warriors, on February 6, 2020.<ref name="GoldenGuardians" /> Since the signing, Zain has only competed in a few major tournaments - this was due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which prevented many live ''Melee'' events from taking place.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Michael |first1=Cale |title=Super Smash Bros. PGR season to be frozen due to coronavirus and travel concerns |url=https://dotesports.com/fgc/news/super-smash-bros-pgr-season-to-be-frozen-due-to-coronavirus-and-travel-concerns |work=Dot Esports |access-date=January 29, 2021 |date=March 12, 2020}}</ref> However, with the release of the Project Slippi mod for ''Melee'', matches and tournament could take place online. During the pandemic, Zain has won Pound Online,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Robertson |first1=Scott |title=Pound Online - Melee Singles |url=https://smash.gg/tournament/the-quarantine-series/event/pound-online-melee-singles/overview |website=Smash.gg |access-date=7 September 2020 |archive-date=6 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200706073943/https://smash.gg/tournament/the-quarantine-series/event/pound-online-melee-singles/overview |url-status=dead }}</ref> the Ludwig Ahgren Championship Series 2,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Collier |first1=Brandon |title=Ludwig Ahgren Championship Series 2 - Melee Singles |url=https://smash.gg/tournament/ludwig-ahgren-championship-series-2/event/melee-singles/overview |website=Smash.gg |access-date=7 September 2020}}</ref> and Smash Summit 10,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Smash Summit 10 Online|url=https://smash.gg/tournament/smash-summit-10-online/event/melee-singles/overview|access-date=2021-02-01|website=smash.gg}}</ref> all three of which took place online.
On April 17, 2022, Zain won GENESIS 8, his second consecutive GENESIS title.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Genesis 8 |url=https://smash.gg/tournament/genesis-8/event/melee-singles/brackets/1042260/1637144 |access-date=2022-04-20 |website=smash.gg |language=en-us}}</ref> With this win, he became the first player since Adam "Armada" Lindgren to repeat as GENESIS champion.<ref>{{Cite web |title=GENESIS 2: Melee Singles Bracket |url=https://smashboards.com/rankings/events/genesis-2-melee-singles-bracket.386/ |access-date=2022-09-28 |website=Smashboards |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-09-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220928023511/https://smashboards.com/rankings/events/genesis-2-melee-singles-bracket.386/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Genesis 3 |url=https://www.start.gg/tournament/genesis-3/event/melee-singles/brackets/3861/15834/ |access-date=2022-09-28 |website=start.gg |language=en-us}}</ref> Zain would be ranked as the number 1 player in the world on PGstats Summer 2022 MPGR.<ref>{{Cite web |title=PGstats {{!}} MPGR Early 2022: Top 10 |url=https://pgstats.com/ |access-date=2022-09-28 |website=pgstats.com |language=en}}</ref>
On October 23, 2022, Zain won the Melee portion of the Ludwig Smash Invitational.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ludwig Smash Invitational - Melee Singles (Main Event)|url=https://www.start.gg/tournament/ludwig-smash-invitational/event/melee-singles-main-event|website=start.gg|access-date=24 October 2022}}</ref>
In 2022, Zain was ranked as the number one Melee player in the world.<ref>{{Cite web |last=GimmeDatWheat |date=2023-01-21 |title=SSBMRank 2022: The Top Ten |url=https://blog.start.gg/ssbmrank-2022-the-top-ten-dd20add1d177 |access-date=2023-02-12 |website=Medium |language=en}}</ref>
On March 29, 2023, Zain's contract with Golden Guardians ended. Shortly afterwards, on April 6, he signed with Moist Esports, under the Moist Moguls brand co-owned by MoistCr1TiKaL and Ludwig Ahgren.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Cale |first=Michael |date=April 6, 2023 |title=Fated reunion: Ludwig, Moist Esports sign top Smash Melee player Zain |work=Dot Esports |url=https://dotesports.com/fgc/news/ludwig-moist-esports-sign-top-smash-melee-player-zain |access-date=April 7, 2023}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == * {{YouTube|c=UC7NKYPjnASCDr2mTWnGRnhg}}
{{Competitive Super Smash Bros.}} {{Authority control}}
Category:1996 births Category:Living people Category:American esports players Category:Super Smash Bros. Melee players Category:Project M players Category:People from Reston, Virginia Category:Golden Guardians players Category:Virginia Tech alumni Category:Virginia Tech Hokies athletes Category:American people of Pakistani descent