ZeRo
{{short description|Chilean esports player}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{About||the professional Apex Legends player|Zer0|other similar spellings|Zero (disambiguation)}}
{{family name hatnote|Barrios|Castro|lang=Spanish}}
{{Infobox Pro Gaming player
| ID = ZeRo
| name = Gonzalo Raúl Barrios Castro
| image = ZeRo in Proguides video (cropped).png
| caption =
| name_trans =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1995|4|17}}
| birth_place = Chillán, Chile
| team =
| leagues =
| career_games = {{ubl
}}
| career_start = 2006
| career_end = 2020
| years1 = 2012
| team1 = vVv Gaming
| years2 = 2014
| team2 = Clash Tournaments
| years3 = 2015–2018
| team3 = Team SoloMid
| years4 = 2018–2020
| team4 = Tempo Storm
| highlights =
;Project M
(3 majors won)
- Community Effort Orlando champion (2014)
- Zenith champion (2014)
- The Big House (2014)
;Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
(23 majors won)
- 5x 2GGS champion (2017)
- 3x Community Effort Orlando champion (2015-2017)
- 2x The Big House champion (2015, 2016)
- Apex champion (2015)
- EVO champion (2015)
- Super Smash Con champion (2015)
- Genesis champion (2016)
- 2GGT: Abadango Saga champion (2016)
- KTAR XIX champion (2016)
- UGC Smash Open champion (2016)
- Frostbite champion (2017)
- DreamHack Austin 2017 champion
- Royal Flush champion (2017)
- Smash 'N' Splash 3 champion (2017)
- Shine champion (2017)
- PAX Arena at PAX West 2017 champion (2017)
| module = {{Infobox YouTube personality
| subbox = yes
| channel_handle = ZeRoWondering
| years_active = 2012–present
| subscribers = 819 thousand
| views = 365 million
| stats_update = February 2025
}}
}}
Gonzalo Raúl Barrios Castro{{Cite web|last=Barrios|first=Gonzalo|date=May 18, 2011|title=El Momento Smash de la Semana, con ZeRo - Episodio #3 Spacing|url=http://gonzalozero.blogspot.com/2011/05/el-momento-smash-de-la-semana-con-zero_7600.html|access-date=January 3, 2021|website=El Blog de ZeRo|language=es|quote=Guia hecha, escrita e ideada por ZeRo, Copyright © Gonzalo Raul Barrios Castro}} (born April 17, 1995), known by his gamertag ZeRo, is a Chilean professional Super Smash Bros. player and streamer. He was considered the best Super Smash Bros. for Wii U player in the world throughout his career, with a record-breaking 56 consecutive tournament wins in the game from November 2014 to October 2015, including high-profile tournaments such as EVO 2015 and The Big House 5. Prior to the release of Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, he was a top ranked Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Project M player. His best known characters are Diddy Kong in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, Pit in Project M, Meta Knight in Brawl, and Fox in Melee.
ZeRo retired from professional competition in January 2018 to focus on streaming and "close the chapter" with Super Smash Bros. for Wii U.{{cite web |title=ZeRo retires from competitive Super Smash Bros. for Wii U |date=January 13, 2018 |url=https://dotesports.com/fgc/news/zero-smash-bros-retirement-20164 |publisher=Dot Esports |access-date=9 December 2022}} Following allegations of sexting two minors in 2014, ZeRo's sponsors cut ties with him in July 2020 due to his admittance to the allegations.{{cite web |title=Former Smash pro ZeRo admits to sending suggestive messages to minors |date=July 4, 2020 |url=https://www.espn.com/esports/story/_/id/29410624/former-smash-pro-zero-admits-sending-suggestive-messages-minors |publisher=ESPN |access-date=9 December 2022}} In September 2022, ZeRo settled a defamation lawsuit he had filed against Jacqueline "Jisu" Choe in response to her allegations.{{cite web |title=GONZALO BARRIOS VS JACQUELINE CHOE |url=https://unicourt.com/case/ca-la23-gonzalo-barrios-vs-jacqueline-choe-769430 |publisher=UniCourt |access-date=9 December 2022}}{{cite web |title=Former Smash pro ZeRo settles lawsuit after sexual misconduct allegations, appeals Twitch ban |date=September 11, 2022 |url=https://www.dexerto.com/smash/former-smash-pro-zero-settles-lawsuit-after-sexual-misconduct-allegations-appeals-twitch-ban-1927831/ |publisher=Dexerto |access-date=9 December 2022}}{{cite web |title=Judge Issues Mixed Ruling in Motion to Dismiss Gamer's Defamation |date=March 11, 2022 |url=https://patch.com/california/los-angeles/judge-issues-mixed-ruling-motion-dismiss-gamers-defamation |publisher=Patch |access-date=9 December 2022}}
Life and career
= 2005–2011: Early life and ''Super Smash Bros.'' tournaments =
ZeRo was born in Chillán in 1995.{{cite news |last1=Weaver |first1=Jackson |title=How one video game community is trying to 'police itself' amid sexual assault allegations |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/science/super-smash-allegations-1.5640449 |access-date=May 2, 2021 |work=CBC |date=July 9, 2020}}{{cite news |last1=Brown |first1=Desmond |title=Former Super Smash Bros. Pro ZeRo Hospitalized |url=https://screenrant.com/smash-bros-zero-hospitalized/ |access-date=May 2, 2021 |work=Screen Rant |date=March 26, 2021}} As a child, ZeRo was bullied and placed into a special needs program in school. Due to his family's financial issues and his own anxiety, he dropped out of school for three years. During this time, ZeRo received a Nintendo GameCube and would play speedruns on Super Mario Sunshine, as well as Super Smash Bros. Melee with his older sister.{{Cite web|last=D'Anastasio|first=Cecilia|author-link=Cecilia D'Anastasio|date=October 19, 2017|title=World's Best Smash 4 Player Is Worn Down By Haters And Harassment|url=https://compete.kotaku.com/worlds-best-smash-4-player-is-worn-down-by-haters-and-h-1819677035|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171020070725/https://compete.kotaku.com/worlds-best-smash-4-player-is-worn-down-by-haters-and-h-1819677035|archive-date=October 20, 2017|access-date=July 6, 2020|website=Kotaku}}
In 2006, ZeRo began competing in Melee tournaments in his Chilean hometown at a local game store.{{cite web|url=http://www.elnortero.cl/noticia/sociedad/gonzalo-zero-barrios-comence-estudiar-smash-en-un-ciber|title=Gonzalo "ZeRo" Barrios: "Comencé a estudiar Smash en un ciber"|last=Torres|first=Juan Angel|date=June 18, 2014|website=El Nortero|access-date=April 9, 2015}} In the following years, ZeRo regularly traveled between Chile, Argentina, and the United States to compete in regional and international Smash tournaments and events.{{Cite web|url=http://irgamers.cl/index/mediocridad-ganas-reales-de-mejorar/|title=Mediocridad: Ganas reales de mejorar|date=April 27, 2013 |language=es-ES|access-date=December 31, 2018}}
In 2011, ZeRo' sister died at age 27 due to complications from a brain aneurysm.
= 2011–2018: vVv Gaming and rise to professional ''Smash'' tournaments =
Between 2011 and 2012, after competing in various local and regional Melee tournaments, ZeRo was sponsored by Los Angeles-based vVv Gaming. In 2012, he began competing in professional esports events including Apex,{{Cite web|url=https://venturebeat.com/2012/02/26/the-brawl-of-a-lifetime-alongside-vvv-zero-at-apex-2012/|title=The Brawl of a Lifetime – Alongside vVv ZeRo at Apex 2012|date=February 27, 2012|website=VentureBeat|language=en-US|access-date=March 20, 2019}} By early 2014, it was estimated that ZeRo was earning approximately {{usd}}40,000 a year from a combination of prize money, sponsorships, and Twitch streams.{{cite web|url=http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2015/05/feature_the_poor_career_choice_of_super_smash_bros_professionals|title=Feature: The Poor Career Choice of Super Smash Bros. Professionals|last=Lopez|first=Alan|date=May 16, 2015|website=Nintendo Life|access-date=August 10, 2015|archive-date=September 5, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905171957/http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2015/05/feature_the_poor_career_choice_of_super_smash_bros_professionals|url-status=dead}}
ZeRo then qualified for the MLG Anaheim 2014 championship bracket and finished in 17th place. During this time, he was ranked by Melee it on Me as the 35th best Melee player in the world.{{cite web|url=http://www.meleeitonme.com/ssbm-rank-2014-40-31/|title=SSBM Rank 2014 (40-31)|first=Daniel|last=Lee|website=Melee it on Me|access-date=April 8, 2015|archive-date=April 7, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150407023245/http://www.meleeitonme.com/ssbm-rank-2014-40-31/|url-status=dead}} In June 2014, he won the Super Smash Bros. for Wii U invitational at E3, moving up through the winner's bracket and defeating Hungrybox in the game's first-ever official tournament.{{Citation|last=TachyonXYZ|title=Super Smash Bros Wii U Invitational Tournament at E3!|date=June 10, 2014 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AK8En6dIdAg&t=8477|access-date=December 31, 2018}}
In November 2014, ZeRo criticized Diddy Kong's repetitive play style in Smash Bros. for Wii U, claiming that Diddy was "killing the game".{{cite web|url=http://kotaku.com/why-hardcore-smash-bros-cant-stand-diddy-kong-right-no-1676097957|title=Why Hardcore Smash Bros. Players Can't Stand Diddy Kong Right Now|first=Yannick|last=LeJacq|website=Kotaku|date=December 30, 2014|access-date=March 24, 2015}} However, ZeRo later retracted the statement and stated that Diddy Kong was his favorite character to play with, which eventually led to Diddy being his main character in tournaments.{{cite web |url=http://www.tsm.gg/index.php/teams/smash/zero |title=ZeRo | Team SoloMid |access-date=September 16, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150930035254/http://www.tsm.gg/index.php/teams/smash/zero |archive-date=September 30, 2015 }}
At EVO 2015, ZeRo defeated Mr. R in the largest Smash for Wii U tournament to date. In the following month, Team SoloMid announced ZeRo as the second player in their Super Smash Bros. division.{{cite web|last1=Wolf|first1=Jacob|title=ZeRo joins Team SoloMid|url=http://www.dailydot.com/esports/zero-join-team-solomid/|website=dailydot.com|publisher=Daily Dot|access-date=July 29, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923224912/http://www.dailydot.com/esports/zero-join-team-solomid/|archive-date=September 23, 2015|url-status=dead}}
At The Big House 5, ZeRo faced off in the grand finals against Team Liquid's Nairo. Despite a narrow escape from losses in the early tournament and a loss during the first set versus Nairo, ZeRo ended with a 3–2 win in the second set.{{Citation needed|date=November 2023}}
In MLG World Finals 2015, ZeRo defeated Nakat, StaticManny, Ally, and ESAM, moving on to challenge Nairo for the winner's bracket grand finals. There, Nairo took two sets off of ZeRo, ending ZeRo's reign at 56 consecutive victories.{{Cite web|url=http://www.majorleaguegaming.com/mlg-events/brackets/new-orleans-2015/super-smash-bros-wii-u-champ|title=MLG {{!}} MLG World Finals 2015 Super Smash Bros. for Wii U Bracket|website=www.majorleaguegaming.com|language=en|access-date=March 20, 2019|archive-date=October 21, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151021014754/http://www.majorleaguegaming.com/mlg-events/brackets/new-orleans-2015/super-smash-bros-wii-u-champ|url-status=dead}}
ZeRo suffered from a growth on his middle finger in early 2016 that required surgical removal, and prevented him from playing Smash for several months.{{Cite web|url=http://shoryuken.com/2016/05/14/zero-reveals-the-finger-injury-preventing-him-from-playing-super-smash-bros/|title=ZeRo Reveals the Finger Injury Preventing Him from Playing Super Smash Bros.|date=May 14, 2016|website=Shoryuken|language=en-US|access-date=March 20, 2019|archive-date=May 20, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160520142408/http://shoryuken.com/2016/05/14/zero-reveals-the-finger-injury-preventing-him-from-playing-super-smash-bros/|url-status=dead}}
=2018–present: Partnerships, sexual misconduct allegations and cut ties=
In November 2018, ZeRo simultaneously announced his return to professional competition for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and his signing to the Tempo Storm esports team.{{Cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/esports/story/_/id/25200150|title=ZeRo returns to Smash, signs with Tempo Storm|date=November 7, 2018|website=ESPN.com|language=en|access-date=March 20, 2019}} ZeRo announced a year later that he had signed an exclusive streaming rights deal with Facebook.{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/esports/story/_/id/28212049/zero-latest-leave-twitch-stream-facebook|title=ZeRo latest to leave Twitch; will stream for Facebook|date=December 2, 2019|website=ESPN.com|language=en|access-date=February 6, 2020}}
On July 3, 2020, ZeRo announced that he would be retiring from professional competition following allegations of sending sexual messages to minors when he was 19, and that he would also be ending all of his sponsorships. This includes an incident in 2014, where ZeRo allegedly asked "Katie", a 14-year-old girl at the time, to masturbate with ice and to take pictures.{{Cite news |last=Ocal |first=Arda |date=July 4, 2020 |title=Former Smash pro ZeRo admits to sending suggestive messages to minors |work=ESPN |url=https://www.espn.com/esports/story/_/id/29410624/former-smash-pro-zero-admits-sending-suggestive-messages-minors |access-date=July 6, 2020}}{{Cite news |last1=Michael |first1=Cale |last2=Byers |first2=Preston |date=July 4, 2020 |title=ZeRo self-imposes ban from Smash events after allegations of sexual misconduct with minors |work=Dot Esports |url=https://dotesports.com/fgc/news/zero-self-imposes-ban-from-smash-events-after-allegations-of-sexual-misconduct-with-minors |access-date=July 6, 2020}} ZeRo later made a statement on YouTube, saying he was sorry and was seeking therapy.{{Cite web|title=ZeRo - YouTube|url=https://www.youtube.com/post/Ugw3Tv3Gh2YNk-hlvRV4AaABCQ|access-date=October 26, 2021|website=www.youtube.com}} The following day, Tempo Storm announced that they would be severing ties with ZeRo, with Facebook following suit on July 5, and Twitch on July 23.{{Cite news|last=Michael|first=Cale|date=July 4, 2020|title=Tempo Storm severs ties with ZeRo following admission of sexual misconduct|work=Dot Esports|url=https://dotesports.com/fgc/news/tempo-storm-severs-ties-with-zero-following-admission-of-sexual-misconduct|access-date=July 6, 2020}}{{Cite web|date=July 29, 2020|title=Twitch severs ties with Super Smash Bros. streamer ZeRo|url=https://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/twitch-bans-zero/}} When Inven Global asked the team's CEO, Andrey "Reynad" Yanyuk, if he saw "a world in which ZeRo is able to rehabilitate himself and potentially re-join Tempo Storm in some capacity", he responded:
"I don't know, I don't like to speculate about the future. I just take things one day at a time, you know? I think ZeRo is a very different person today than he was when he wrote some Skype messages at 19 years old. I think he's had a lot of personal growth over the past few years that I've personally seen, so I'm optimistic about his ability to recover."{{Cite web |date=2020-07-21 |title=Super Smash Bros. Ultimate: Tempo Storm CEO Reynad breaks down organization's approach to allegations surrounding ZeRo |url=https://www.invenglobal.com/articles/11713/tempo-storm-ceo-reynad-breaks-down-organizations-approach-to-allegations-surrounding-zero|access-date=2020-07-23 |website=InvenGlobal |language=en}}
After months of silence, on March 23, 2021, ZeRo's then ex-girlfriend Vanessa announced on Twitter that he had attempted suicide and was sent in for further care after being treated in a hospital.{{Cite web|date=March 25, 2021|title=Former Smash Bros pro ZeRo reportedly in hospital after suicide attempt|url=https://www.dexerto.com/smash/former-smash-bros-pro-zero-reportedly-in-hospital-after-suicide-attempt-1541015/|access-date=March 26, 2021|website=Dexerto}} On April 26, 2021, ZeRo updated to the community that he successfully recovered from the hospital and has no intention to attempt suicide again.{{Cite web|title=ZeRo's Update Post-suicide |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/COJJAjfs7f-/?igshid=qd7aeg9xuaqk |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/COJJAjfs7f- |archive-date=December 24, 2021 |url-access=limited|publisher=Instagram |access-date=April 29, 2021}}{{cbignore}} On November 16, 2021, ZeRo uploaded a video to YouTube, stating that he was returning to creating content and retracting his previous admission.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=November 16, 2021|title="I've made a tremendous mistake:" ZeRo speaks up about grooming allegations and his future on YouTube|url=https://www.invenglobal.com/articles/15718/zero-returning-to-youtube-smash-ultimate-scandal|access-date=November 16, 2021|website=InvenGlobal|language=en}} On November 30, 2021, ZeRo sued his former roommate Jisu for defamation regarding four allegations she made against him in 2020.{{Cite web|last1=Wolf|first1=Jacob|last2=Michael|first2=Cale|date=November 30, 2021|title=Ex-Smash pro ZeRo sues former roommate Jisu, alleges defamation over past sexual misconduct claims|work=Dot Esports|url=https://dotesports.com/fgc/news/ex-smash-pro-zero-sues-former-roommate-jisu-alleges-defamation-over-past-sexual-misconduct-claims|access-date=January 5, 2022}} On September 9, 2022, ZeRo announced that a settlement had been reached in the lawsuit.{{cite news |last1=Snavely |first1=Adam |title=Former Smash pro ZeRo resolves defamation lawsuit with ex-roommate, will return to content creation |url=https://dotesports.com/fgc/news/former-smash-pro-zero-resolves-defamation-lawsuit-with-ex-roommate-will-return-to-content-creation |access-date=14 September 2022 |work=Dot Esports |date=9 September 2022}}
On October 19, 2024, on a YouTube livestream, ZeRo announced that he was engaged.
Awards and honors
ZeRo was considered the third best Brawl player in the world by Clash Tournaments in the 2014 SSBBRank.{{cite web|url=http://clashtournaments.com/ssbbrank-1-3-the-grand-finale/#more-1906|title=#SSBBRank 1 – 3: The Grand Finale|author=Chibo|website=Clash Tournaments|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141230161856/http://clashtournaments.com/ssbbrank-1-3-the-grand-finale/|archive-date=December 30, 2014|url-status=dead|access-date=March 24, 2015}}
ZeRo was ranked as the best Smash for WiiU player in the world on all 4 editions of the Panda Global Rankings (PGR) prior to his retirement
In 2016, ZeRo was featured in the Guinness Book of World Records Gamer's Edition for his 56 consecutive Smash tournament victories.{{Cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/esports/story/_/id/17506693|title=ZeRo to be in Guinness Book of World Records|date=September 9, 2016|website=ESPN.com|language=en|access-date=March 20, 2019}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{competitive Super Smash Bros.}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:ZeRo}}
Category:Sportspeople from Chillán
Category:YouTubers from Los Angeles
Category:Sportspeople from Phoenix, Arizona
Category:Super Smash Bros. for Wii U players
Category:Chilean esports players
Category:Chilean expatriates in the United States
Category:YouTubers from New Jersey