At just 13 years old, Willis Gibson has done what many thought impossible: he became the first person to beat the Tetris game.
Willis Gibson becomes the first person to beat the ‘Tetris’ game
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Hailing from Stillwater, Oklahoma, this young prodigy, also known as “Blue Scuti” in the gaming world, reached a level in the game that was previously thought to be unattainable by human players.
Gibson’s journey into the annals of gaming history was marked on 21 December 2023, when he advanced so far in the original Nintendo version of Tetris that his score froze at “999999”.
This monumental feat was achieved by reaching level 157, a level so high that it triggered what gamers refer to as a “kill screen,” where the game becomes unplayable due to programming limitations.
How did he do it?
Gibson’s achievement is not just a testament to his skill but also to his dedication.
He began playing Tetris at the age of 11, initially as a hobby after discovering the game on YouTube. What started as casual play quickly escalated into competitive gaming.
By participating in professional Tetris tournaments, including placing third at the Classic Tetris World Championship in 2023, Willis honed his skills to world-class levels.
His victory at Tetris came after less than two years of serious gameplay, showcasing his rapid ascent in the competitive Tetris community.
The history of the Tetris game
Tetris, developed by Soviet software engineer Alexey Pajitnov in 1984, revolutionised puzzle video games with its simple yet addictive gameplay.
The game challenges players to rotate and arrange falling tetrominoes to complete horizontal lines, which then disappear to prevent the game area from filling up.
Its creation during the Cold War and subsequent global distribution highlighted not only the universal appeal of the game but also the complexities of copyright and distribution rights during that era.
Tetris has since become one of the most iconic and enduring video games, influencing countless other games and becoming a staple in pop culture.