About Melee Tennis Rankings (MTR)
What is MTR?
Melee Tennis Rankings (MTR) is a results-based ranking system for the competitive esport Super Smash Bros. Melee. It is inspired by the ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) ranking system used in professional tennis.
How does the point system work?
Points are awarded based on placement at tournaments, following a half-life structure similar to the ATP Grand Slam system. A Super Major awards up to 2,000 points for 1st place, 1,200 for 2nd, 720 for 3rd, and so on. Only a player's best results from the year count toward their total score — by default, approximately the top half of available Majors.
| Placement | Tennis (Grand Slam) | Melee (Super Major) | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Winner | Winner – Grand Finals | 2000 |
| 2nd | Runner-up | 2nd – Grand Finals | 1200 |
| 3rd | Semi Finals | 3rd – Losers Finals | 720 |
| 4th | Quarter Finals | 4th – Losers Semis | 360 |
| 5th–6th | Round of 16 | Losers Quarters | 180 |
| 7th–8th | Round of 32 | Top 8 Round 1 Losers | 90 |
What are tournament tiers?
Tournaments are classified as Super Major, Major, or regional/other events. Tier is determined by prize pool, entrant count, top-player attendance, and frequency. Higher-tier events award more points.
What are Divisions?
Once a player achieves a Top 8 finish at a Major or Super Major, they are placed into Division 1 for that year. Division 1 rankings weight Major results more heavily, reducing the influence of regional wins on a player's overall standing.
Where does the data come from?
All tournament results are sourced from Liquipedia and SmashWiki. Results are maintained manually by tracking every major since 2013.
Why tennis ATP?
Tennis has always had a recognizable "tier" of elite players (Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, Murray) that nobody else can consistently beat — mirroring Melee's "Five Gods" and the upper tier that persists today. The ATP system felt like a natural fit for quantifying that hierarchy in a competitive gaming context.
Contact
Feedback and bug reports are welcome at meleetennisrankings@gmail.com.