Super Smash Bros. Competitor Mew2King Excluded from Tournament Following Health Issues

Professional Super Smash Bros. player Jason ‘Mew2King’ Zimmerman has been excluded from a competitive tournament due to health concerns he expressed on social media, particularly regarding a skin condition linked to bug bites in his living environment. On October 16, 2026, Zimmerman gained significant attention after sharing a series of alarming posts on Twitter/X. In these posts, he detailed the swelling in his hands, suggesting it might be a result of excessive gameplay or insect bites occurring at home. He stated, "My hands are slightly swollen (could be from all the SSBM Fox or from the bugs in the house that bite me each day), like pink/red and puffy/fatter than usual, is there a way to fix this ASAP? I'm boarding my flight to Texas now." Alongside this, he uploaded images showcasing the affected areas of his body, including his leg, which was marked with red, inflamed bumps resembling bug bites. He mentioned that these bites have been a recurring issue for him, contributing to his decision to relocate from Ohio to California. "I had like a hundred of these on my body two months ago. Like, my entire body. This isn’t even nearly the worst picture, not even close," he added in another update. "It’s all bug bites from the house. Lived like that for all year. Or recent months." His revelations sparked widespread concern among fans regarding his health and living situation, with many speculating about a potential bed bug infestation. Some followers even advised him against traveling by plane or staying in hotels, fearing he could inadvertently spread bed bugs, which are notorious for hitching rides in luggage. The situation escalated quickly, leading to the tournament he was set to participate in, Xtreme Fighters Showdown, formally banning him from the event. The CEO of the tournament took to Twitter/X to announce that Mew2King would not be allowed to compete due to his reported health issues. "For the safety of our event, XFS 2026, we have politely informed Mew2King he will not be able to participate or attend our event this weekend due to a self-reported health concern," the statement explained. "The health and wellbeing of our attendees is our priority. Thank you, and we’ll see you this weekend." As of now, Zimmerman has not commented further on the matter and has removed all tweets related to his health concerns. This incident marks another notable moment in the competitive gaming scene, following a recent occurrence where professional DotA 2 player '23savage' had to play under police supervision during a training camp raid. Additionally, in September, Pokémon VGC regional champion Donghun Youm claimed he lost a match due to the overwhelming odor of his opponent, igniting discussions about the need for players to maintain personal hygiene at tournaments.