We dont careOh wow, never did I think I'd be here. After getting snubbed last year, I was frankly pretty down in the dumps, and I languished around for a bit. I know it might seem a little crazy, but I staked a lot emotionally on getting in for my first time ever, and I was disappointed. I spent the entire year just waiting, waiting for 2026 to roll around and finally get my shot on the big stage. I poured everything I had into RBY, and while I still came short a few times, I really think it paid off overall. I'm extraordinarily happy with how this season went for me. I've always been extremely confident in my abilities, and it feels amazing to see that reflected in my performance, especially as a rookie, where almost nobody else was expecting anything.
I'd like to thank everyone who supported me and was friends with me along the way.
To my very best friends on Smogon, the people I've been talking to every single day for a long time:
DAWNBUSTER Without you, I wouldn't be who I am right now. Without you, I never would've gotten so into GSC, never would've gotten so invested into this game, never would've had that spark lit to try to become the very best. You've made me laugh so many times and you helped me discover my forever favorite tier, GSC NU.
第二十五夜 To the man who has with me in RBY OU since almost the very start, finding me after I debuted in pre-Smogon ADPL in RBY OU with zero prior experience, who offered to help me out: without you, I'm not the player I am now. You've been the best helper and friend I could've ever asked for. You constantly pushed me to be better, to see the mistakes in the games and builds of others and myself, gave me a fresh perspective that nobody else in the entire community could've offered, worked with me even when you should've been sleeping. I truly feel that my success is a mutual victory for the two of us. There have been many others I've come into contact with that have helped advance my game for sure, and I'm grateful to them, but I'll always come back to you. Thank you for supporting me this season JVG.
MrSoup My fellow GSC NU enjoyer. You helped keep my passion alive for this tier. I've spent so much time talking with you about it, feeding my interest and always trying to craft some grand new meta-defining technology. I could talk and build out stuff with you all day long, even if it's complete bullshit. I always enjoy having you both as my greatest rival and ally, and I look forward to trying to defeat you every time. Maybe one day I'll surpass you there as well aha.
To my friends in the Ruins of Alph Community:
susciety Links TPH BluBirD Zerkas Waves Tranquility TDR TGA SEA RichardMillePlain Rage Monai you guys are all goobers.
To all the Pampu Primeapes that have teamed with me across 3 RBYPLs:
View attachment 821328
Free ping gastlies The Strap Acetylaldehyde TyCarter Ctown6 Deezcastforms Maris Bonibell Shitrock enjoyer Egor Tree69420
To the RBY superstars I've talked to more than anyone else:
Amaranth You took a chance on me in RoAPL and worked with me the whole way through. I dragged you along back with me in the RBYPL immediately following. I've been talking to you ever since, including a couple times this season. You've helped me advance my game a ton, really nailing in on refining my prep and my lines even further. You've been instrumental to my growth as a player, and I appreciate all the times you vouched for me, trying to get others to see what you saw in me. I'm eternally grateful. I'd like to finally play you in a serious setting one day and really put our skills to the test against one another in an all-out mind game.
Serpi The boogeyman. I've played you a LOT in RBY, and you were always the one to beat. I failed a lot, and I succeeded a few crucial times. I didn't think I'd end up on your side ever, until I got the opportunity in RBYPL this past year. You really helped enlighten me on a lot of things. I love getting a fresh new perspective and genuinely see it come to fruition. Your sense for the game is unmatched. I've loved working alongside you. Thanks for coming along to support me and the Raiders in playoffs after your team got eliminated, it was immensely useful. All that's left now is to get my revenge for Week 3 next time I see you, heh. I'm coming for your throne.
Sceptross Even though you've always been on the opposite side of the battlefield from me, I've still ended up talking to you a lot. I know life's busy for you, and I appreciate the time you've made to discuss the game with me. Frankly, I didn't think I'd learn too much from you when we first came into contact considering how different so many of your perspectives are, but I really have. I really enjoyed facing you at both the very beginning and very end of this tournament - you were not at all an easy opponent. You're a great player and a great guy, and I hope to see you again next year in SPL.
To my other great friends, Amity Dababy2 pp's splash town Ainzcrad evakiyama! NoName6293 LHF JensenDale and too many more to list:
Thank you guys. I wish you all the best.
To my managers, Laurel twash and MAVERICK SHOOTERS, who believed in me enough to pay fucking 10.5k for a rookie, who believed in me enough to let me continue playing after starting off 2-3 with Vileman on the bench, who believed in me enough to genuinely consider giving the go-ahead on an RBY tiebreaker pick in fucking SPL Finals: thank you. I will truly cherish this opportunity that you guys gave me forever. You guys embody the spirit of Team Raiders.
And of course, to Team Raiders:
Star zS Skyrio Ash KetchumGamer Endill JJ09LIE tier Ruffles Eternal Spirit Underlying Fc Charmflash, and yes, even you, Vileman and MANNAT, every single one of you are fucking amazing. Every single win mattered. Every drop of blood, sweat, and tears mattered. We fucking did it. WE'RE SMOGON PREMIER LEAGUE CHAMPIONS!!!!!!
I don't intend to stop at all. It's only up from here. We're just getting started. I intend to prove this was not a fluke.
GO TEAM RAIDERS!
View attachment 821327
There are very few people on this website who deserve it more than you - working hard to keep a sector of lower tiers alive that very few people even give a passing thought, managing multiple teamtours on end and doing your best to be a positive presence in the RBY/GSC communities, and so on.Oh wow, never did I think I'd be here. After getting snubbed last year, I was frankly pretty down in the dumps, and I languished around for a bit. I know it might seem a little crazy, but I staked a lot emotionally on getting in for my first time ever, and I was disappointed. I spent the entire year just waiting, waiting for 2026 to roll around and finally get my shot on the big stage. I poured everything I had into RBY, and while I still came short a few times, I really think it paid off overall. I'm extraordinarily happy with how this season went for me. I've always been extremely confident in my abilities, and it feels amazing to see that reflected in my performance, especially as a rookie, where almost nobody else was expecting anything.
I'd like to thank everyone who supported me and was friends with me along the way.
To my very best friends on Smogon, the people I've been talking to every single day for a long time:
DAWNBUSTER Without you, I wouldn't be who I am right now. Without you, I never would've gotten so into GSC, never would've gotten so invested into this game, never would've had that spark lit to try to become the very best. You've made me laugh so many times and you helped me discover my forever favorite tier, GSC NU. Words can't express how much I appreciate the time I've spent talking and playing with you. I'd like to see you in SPL for GSC OU one day.
第二十五夜 To the man who has with me in RBY OU since almost the very start, finding me after I debuted in pre-Smogon ADPL in RBY OU with zero prior experience, who offered to help me out: without you, I'm not the player I am now. You've been the best helper and friend I could've ever asked for. You constantly pushed me to be better, to see the mistakes in the games and builds of others and myself, gave me a fresh perspective that nobody else in the entire community could've offered, worked with me even when you should've been sleeping. I truly feel that my success is a mutual victory for the two of us. There have been many others I've come into contact with that have helped advance my game for sure, and I'm grateful to them, but I'll always come back to you. Thank you for supporting me this season JVG.
MrSoup My fellow GSC NU enjoyer. You helped keep my passion alive for this tier. I've spent so much time talking with you about it, feeding my interest and always trying to craft some grand new meta-defining technology. I could talk and build out stuff with you all day long, even if it's complete bullshit. I always enjoy having you both as my greatest rival and ally, and I look forward to trying to defeat you every time. Maybe one day I'll surpass you there as well aha.
To my friends in the Ruins of Alph Community:
susciety Links TPH BluBirD Zerkas Waves Tranquility TDR TGA SEA RichardMillePlain Rage Monai you guys are all goobers.
To all the Pampu Primeapes that have teamed with me across 3 RBYPLs:
View attachment 821328
Free ping gastlies The Strap Acetylaldehyde TyCarter Ctown6 Deezcastforms Maris Bonibell Shitrock enjoyer Egor Tree69420
To the RBY superstars I've talked to more than anyone else:
Amaranth You took a chance on me in RoAPL and worked with me the whole way through. I dragged you along back with me in the RBYPL immediately following. I've been talking to you ever since, including a couple times this season. You've helped me advance my game a ton, really nailing in on refining my prep and my lines even further. You've been instrumental to my growth as a player, and I appreciate all the times you vouched for me, trying to get others to see what you saw in me. I'm eternally grateful. I'd like to finally play you in a serious setting one day and really put our skills to the test against one another in an all-out mind game.
Serpi The boogeyman. I've played you a LOT in RBY, and you were always the one to beat. I failed a lot, and I succeeded a few crucial times. I didn't think I'd end up on your side ever, until I got the opportunity in RBYPL this past year. You really helped enlighten me on a lot of things. I love getting a fresh new perspective and genuinely see it come to fruition. Your sense for the game is unmatched. I've loved working alongside you. Thanks for coming along to support me and the Raiders in playoffs after your team got eliminated, it was immensely useful. All that's left now is to get my revenge for Week 3 next time I see you, heh. I'm coming for your throne.
Sceptross Even though you've always been on the opposite side of the battlefield from me, I've still ended up talking to you a lot. I know life's busy for you, and I appreciate the time you've made to discuss the game with me. Frankly, I didn't think I'd learn too much from you when we first came into contact considering how different so many of your perspectives are, but I really have. I really enjoyed facing you at both the very beginning and very end of this tournament - you were not at all an easy opponent. You're a great player and a great guy, and I hope to see you again next year in SPL.
To my other great friends, Amity Dababy2 pp's splash town Ainzcrad evakiyama! NoName6293 LHF JensenDale and too many more to list:
Thank you guys. I wish you all the best.
To my managers, Laurel twash and MAVERICK SHOOTERS, who believed in me enough to pay fucking 10.5k for a rookie, who believed in me enough to let me continue playing after starting off 2-3 with Vileman on the bench, who believed in me enough to genuinely consider giving the go-ahead on an RBY tiebreaker pick in fucking SPL Finals: thank you. I will truly cherish this opportunity that you guys gave me forever. You guys embody the spirit of Team Raiders.
And of course, to Team Raiders:
Star zS Skyrio Ash KetchumGamer Endill JJ09LIE tier Ruffles Eternal Spirit Underlying Fc Charmflash, and yes, even you, Vileman and MANNAT, every single one of you are fucking amazing. Every single win mattered. Every drop of blood, sweat, and tears mattered. We fucking did it. WE'RE SMOGON PREMIER LEAGUE CHAMPIONS!!!!!!
I don't intend to stop at all. It's only up from here. We're just getting started. I intend to prove this was not a fluke.
GO TEAM RAIDERS!
View attachment 821327
Third year in a row where the winning team has a 3k DPP player that managed to get 6+ wins. Crazy...View attachment 821357
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