The MFJS Reporter — Winter 2020 T-R

A total of 60 players showed up to participate in the tournament which eliminated players based on a double-elimination bracket. All players played an initial game consisting of 2 matches. The winner continues on in the bracket and the loser goes on to compete in a separate losers bracket. 

“I think the competitive atmosphere can be pretty stressful and in my experience it causes me to make mistakes that I normally wouldn’t,” said competitor Connor Hayes, a second-year student at CU, competing under the name Con. Hayes had lost his first game and gone on to lose his second game in the losers bracket soon after. Interestingly, Hayes’s first game was against Chad Lobster, the player who won the tournament. 

The atmosphere was notably tense throughout the entire event. As the fast-paced competitive event went on, the excitement of those in attendance became fragrant and the room became uncomfortably warm.  

The weekly tournament has a fairly regular attendance rate with many consistent returning competitors. 

“I expected the others to be pretty good since they were taking time to come to the tournament and they more than likely had been to quite a few in the past,” said Keoni Yamada, a second-year student at CU-Boulder who plays under the name Egg. The event may seem daunting to a first-time participant but overall, the players and organizers seemed more than welcoming to new players. 

“I also think that having a better mindset, not being so negative towards myself as well as not being as nervous, would be helpful,” Yamada also stated. Many players who had also lost in the first round were also clearly unhappy with their performance. 

Similarly, Hayes shared this viewpoint. “Next time I think I will try to be more calm and confident. I definitely performed worse than I should have, and I messed up simple things that usually aren’t a problem for me.”

CU Boulder Gaming hosts a weekly Smash tournament on Thursdays, usually in the University Memorial Center, and a larger monthly tournament. However, this week’s tournament was being held in a lecture hall in the Fleming Law building as an alternative. 

“I’m not sure if I’ll continue to go to these tournaments, but it was an interesting experience. I think it helped me understand more about what I can do better as a player,” said Hayes.