This weekend was packed with fighting game excitement thanks to CEO 2024’s livestream in the US. However, amidst many tight matches from Street Fighter VI to Tekken 8, one Mortal Kombat 1 player shattered expectations with an overeager outburst.
Dyloch is one of the best General Shao players in the world and has won several major tournaments, including the Mortal Kombat 1 CEO Championship belt and a cool $565. However, a few matches ago, during the winner’s final, he celebrated his victory by lifting a chair and throwing it over the wrestling ring ropes surrounding the console. The chair was in the air, clearly juggling, and then fell onto the Elation Chorus Line 16 LED Light. You can buy one right now for the low price of $2,992.
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In response, event organizer Alex Jebailey posted multiple tweets, including one (perhaps jokingly) asking Dyloch for Paypal because “someone was paying for that broken light fixture, and it wasn’t me”, before stating: “If one more person jumps out and throws anything, you will be banned from any event I host. This is a final warning to everyone in the future. Do not throw anything”. Back in 2021, Jebailey took similar action against an attendee who pulled the fire alarm at the event, resulting in a mass evacuation and a large rock-paper-scissors exhibition.
It’s unclear whether DiRoch actually had to pay for the new lights, netting Daytona Beach $2,427, or whether his sponsors would cover the expense, or even whether the lights’ insurance would cover the cost. Neither DiRoch nor Jabaly have shed further light on the matter since it occurred.
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In fact, this isn’t the first time a chair has caused controversy in the fighting game space in recent weeks. Just back in May, legendary Smash Bros competitor and anti-crabbing advocate Hungrybox broke a hotel chair during a match of Get On My Level. The player has a habit of throwing furniture (see two more examples here), but luckily, he doesn’t have a history of causing major equipment damage.
These actions are often justified as hype or energy for a crucial win, which are all well and good if you don’t have to pay for them. But with this latest incident of chair-blitz violence putting a rather large dollar sign next to the act, maybe we can go back to the good old days of calling your opponents bums, giving them the middle finger, or high-fiving all your friends in the crowd.
Let us know what you think about this below. Should things remain as they are, leaving the responsibility to professional video game players, or should certain players be put on rosters and have their seats confirmed before tournament play? Either way, spare a thought for tournament organizers, who often have to pick up the pieces after such messes.