If you ever needed proof that Super Smash Bros. Melee players are built completely different, look no further than Dr. Arjun “lloD” Malhotra. While most medical professionals spend their rare weekends catching up on sleep or relaxing, lloD spent his at Get On My Level 2026 in Toronto, casually resetting the grand finals bracket and floating his way to a historic major championship.

At 31 years old, lloD officially became one of the oldest first-time major champions in Melee history. Balancing the insane grind of an orthopedic surgery career with elite-level platform fighting is already mind-boggling, but pulling it off in a game that demands lightning-fast reflexes and frame-perfect execution takes things to a whole new level.

Princess Peach Is Back on Top for the First Time Since 2018

What makes this victory even sweeter for long-time Smash fans is the character lloD used to pull it off. Princess Peach has not lifted a major trophy since legendary player Armada won Super Smash Con all the way back in 2018.

For years, many scene analysts claimed Peach simply could not keep up with top-tier fast-fallers like Fox and Falco in the modern meta. LloD completely dismantled that theory at GOML 2026.

Taking down elite titans including Zain and Juan “Hungrybox” DeBiedma before fighting through a grueling 3-2 Grand Finals set against Luigi star RapMonster, he proved that precise float-canceling and turnip management can still conquer the absolute best players in the world.

Fixing Joint Bones by Day and Breaking Controller Habits by Night

The internet wasted zero time celebrating the sheer absurdity of an active surgeon dominating an esports major. Orthopedic surgeons spend their day-to-day lives diagnosing bone fractures, operating on shattered joints, and prescribing physical therapy.

Smash fans quickly pointed out the hilarious dynamic at play:

• Pre-Handled Medical Care: If lloD gives you severe hand cramps or Carpal Tunnel Syndrome during a set, he can technically diagnose you on the spot
• Precision Control: Operating room precision translates surprisingly well into frame-tight turnip combos and turn-around edge guards
• Ultimate Time Management: If a surgical resident can find time to practice bracket matchups, nobody else in the FGC has an excuse for missing local tournaments ever again

A Monumental Moment for the Melee Scene

Melee is a game that was released in 2001, and watching its competitive ecosystem continue to deliver iconic, feel-good storylines, rivalries, and saltiness 25 years later is incredible. Between proving that Peach is still a championship threat and showing that a full-time medical career will not stop you from chasing esports glory, lloD wrote his name into the history books.

Next time you pop into an OR or visit an orthopedic specialist, just remember there is a non-zero chance your doctor might secretly be a top ten Melee player in the world.