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Adam "Armada" Lindgren, one of the best Super Smash Bros. Melee players of all time, announced Tuesday that he will retire in singles competition for the second time in his career, citing a difficult past year filled with motivational issues. Armada will continue to compete in Melee doubles -- where he has continually played at the highest level, mostly alongside his brothers Andreas "Android" Lindgren and Alexander "Aniolas" Lindgren. Armada said he may consider entering Super Smash Bros. Ultimate for Nintendo Switch, which releases December 7, as well as commentating large Smash events, which he has done sporadically throughout his career. "I know it's a big decision, but it's not a rushed one by any means," Armada said in a YouTube video regarding the decision. "It's been like a year in the making, more or less. I would look at it more like one year of a huge struggle trying to get [motivated again], but at this point, I feel that no matter what I try or what I do, I can't get there. You can't force motivation." Armada was dubbed as one of the "Five Gods" of the game -- and the only one of those five who hails from Europe. He previously took a year hiatus from singles competition in 2013-2014, before returning to competing and immediately regaining one of the top spots within the industry. Armada took the No. 1 spot on the Melee It On Me annual Super Smash Bros. rankings in 2015 and 2016. He is one of two players to win two Evolution Championship Series Super Smash Bros. Melee titles, alongside Joseph "Mang0" Marquez. "I put everything I could into Melee to reach my goal but to do that for more than half my life is a long commitment," Armada said in a tweet on Tuesday following the announcement. "I might be the person on the planet with the most hours in Melee or at the very least close to it. I hope you all can understand." Armada had won three major tournaments this year: Smash 'N' Splash 4 in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin in June; DreamHack Summer 2018 in Jönköping, Sweden, also in June; and Super Smash Con 2018 in Chantilly, Virginia, last month. At Evo 2018 in August, he placed second after falling to Swedish elite player William "Leffen" Hjelte in the grand finals. Several top players throughout the Super Smash Bros. Melee community voiced their support for Armada following the announcement. "Dude, you're amazing," Sami "Druggedfox" Muhanna, who was ranked 17th in the world in January, wrote on Twitter. "Everything you've done has been incredible and I hope you feel at peace with yourself with this decision." "This is so saddening. Nothing but respect for you man," Hugo "HugS" Gonzalez, ranked by Panda Global as the 15th best player in the world in August, replied to Armada. "The best to ever do it, and one of my favorite players ever. I hope to see you put your talents and work ethic elsewhere. Thanks for everything."
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