Professional Super Smash Bros. Melee player Juan ‘Hungrybox’ Debiedma experienced a dramatic fainting spell while celebrating a hard-fought victory at the Supernova tournament in Baltimore. The incident occurred during a critical match against Hugh ‘SluG’ Hegarty for a spot in the Top 16 bracket. Hungrybox described the game as an extremely close 3-2 set, reaching his last stock in the final game.
Following the win, as is customary in the fighting game community, Hungrybox reacted with an intense celebration. This pop-off, however, led to him stumbling and falling to the floor, unconscious. Videos of the moment quickly circulated online, raising concerns about his health. Fortunately, Hungrybox confirmed he was unharmed, stating he had consumed water and a lobster roll prior to the match. He later clarified that the fainting was likely caused by screaming intensely for an extended period while jumping up from his seat. This is not the first time such an event has occurred; a similar incident happened in 2021 when he won a set against Avery ‘Ginger’ Wilson.
Hungrybox, one of the revered ‘Five Gods’ of competitive Melee, explained his fainting spells are not related to standing up too quickly but rather prolonged vocal exertion. He mentioned a doctor's visit after the first incident revealed a slightly elevated red blood cell count, though his blood pressure remained normal. He plans to undergo further checks to ensure his well-being.
Despite the dramatic fainting spell, Hungrybox continued his tournament run, eventually reaching the Top 8 bracket and finishing in 4th place after a loss to Zain. The Supernova event also saw another unusual moment for Hungrybox when he reportedly forgot his event badge and was granted entry after security recognized his face from a Zenni eyewear advertisement. This event follows a significant achievement in the Smash community where two women secured a victory in Doubles at a SuperMajor for the first time in history, an accomplishment Hungrybox publicly celebrated.